I just got off the phone with my tint guy. The car is going over there first thing tomorrow to be tinted. His question was what to do about the 3rd brake light. Options being tint over it or have a cut out so you can still see the light. Personally I think it will look better without the cutout. Does anyone have pics or suggestions? I haven't run into this issue before. Also...I'm getting 15% back 35% on all sides w/ Llumar Stealth tint. Should I do 15% all around? Thanks guys!!

 

to make it easier, remove the brake light ur self, and have him do the entire window
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ht=brake+light

 

Tinting over the third brake light is illegal here in maryland. Having said that, I tinted over it but I have a spoiler with the brake light on it. Check what the laws are in your area.

 

Thanks guys...I guess I'll just pop that thing off before I drop I go over tomorrow. Tint is 100% Illegal in PA anyhow. So the 3rd brake light will just be one more reason to pull me over. Of course I've had it on every car I've ever owned.

 

I think it looks cleaner over the light, but if you think cops will hassel you then ...

 

whoooah! wait in pa you can't have tint on your windows? I thought it was legal?!?! Great there goes my plan of moving there. I live in NJ now and I pulled the 3rd brake light off and had my guy tint the whole window. My car is in 20% all the way around and you can still see it in the daylight. I haven't been bsuted for that in particular yet.

 

I went with 15% all the way around and the place I took it to did the whole back window automatically. I like the 15% because when there's a lot of light outside shooting in through the windshield, it almost makes the driver and passenger windows look a little lighter (legal) so the cops don't mess with you. On days with less UV rays or in the afternoon/night, it looks like limo tint so it's like the best of both worlds.

 

Thanks again for the input guys. If you had the time to post pics that would be great too!

 

its illegal to tint over the third brake light. at first when i got tinted they did a cut out and the tail light is not mounted flush to the rear deck. With frost interior it looked like ***. So i made them redo it and it much better. I may have a pick on my cardomain site with it fully tinted.

 

I got mine tinted over the entire rear window. The 3rd brake light is easy to remove and get out of the way. I can't see how cops would give any hastle over a 3rd brake light as not sure they are really mandatory in some states. Actually, I would like to take the 3rd brake light and tint the light itself, make it say MAXIMA when I brake. Just my 2 cents.

 

Couldn't you just remove the tint around the brake light area if the MAN hassles you about it? Thats what I'd do. Tint it and if there was an issue later just cut around the brake light area and remove that tint only.

CM

 

Carcus - The high mounted third brake light is a federal thing, required in all states. Tint, however, is state-regulated.

Here in Georgia, devices to measure the tint have been issued to all troopers, and most local law enforcement agencies are also getting them. Tint that exceeds the legal limit is one thing they are looking for at this time.

There was a roadblock about two miles west of my home this past Saturday. We went through it several times (they were there for eight hours), and, last time through, I asked them if they were finding many drunks. They said a few, but mostly license, insurance, and tint violations.

Not being a tint fan, I didn't bother to notice the percentage allowed, but I'm sure factory tint or a low percentage (15%; maybe even 20%) tint would be no problem.

 

if it helps (i know they're different cars), here's a picture of my rear with 20% tints :

 

Check out this site http://www.iwfa.com/iwfa/Law_Chart/S...aw%20Chart.htm shows you can have tint in Pa. If tint was illegal, how come they are not closing down tint shops? Warren

 

Pa's legal limit is at 70%... which might as well be the tint from the glass itself. SUV's arn't limit to any tint laws though.. kinda unfair.

 

NY is the same but I have 35% tint which you still can see into the car and have not been pulled over.

 

With PA's limit for cars set at 70% there's really no reason to even bother to tint them legally. The stock glass will meter close to 70% without any tint on them. Here in Ohio it's 50% on the front two doors and anything goes on the rest. With privacy glass on every mini van and SUV, why would PA. make cars adhere to 70% on all the windows when mom in her SUV has 15% from the factory. From the "factory" being the key word.
I've been tinting since 1975 and I understand where the law enforcement is coming from. But come on!
Personally, I like the lighter shades (30-45%).
Tint your windows to your own taste and roll the dice!!!!!!!!!
By the way, cover the brake light. You can still see it when it's lit.

 

Thanks you for all the input. I"m well aware of the law. Like I mentioned before I've had tint on every car I own and this will be no different. Infact I have 5% all around and 35% on the wind shield of my Z. Normally tickets go like this: pulled over, 5 day fix-it ticket, take the car to a local red neck inspection station, slip them $20, they sign off, and I'm good to go! My only problem is if tinting over the 3rd brake light some how makes it an actual ticket now rather than just a fix-it.

 

Sweet pic...

 

Hey...I tried to search, but the server isn't back up, so sorry! I'm yet another newbie who just purchased a 05 SL w/ 10 miles on it. I am looking to tint my windows 15% all around and 35% or 50% on the front windshield. Those of you who have Liquid Silver, what's the darkest you have? Here in Ky, the police are not strict. I had 20% all the way around on my previous car and never had a problem. I really was looking at 5%, but I think it's going to be too dangerous, what do you all think? Also, is there anything I need to look for when they tint? Like the back and front windows w/ dots and antenna. Finally, do any of you have your radar hardwire into your car? I'm am looking to doing this as well. Wasn't really sure where to place it, I think it may go either above the rear view window or below. Thanks for the help and sorry for the redundancy.

 

Im in PA and i have 20% all around (except front windsheild)... havnt been pulled over yet (fingers crossed)

 

Well to follow up with this thread, I had 15% in the back and 35% all around done this past Saturday and it looks great. I wish I would have gone a bit darker but over all this a big improvement.

 

isnt tinting it illigal?

 

I had them tint over mine. 5% all arouond. It hot here in FL so any little thing I can do to keep the car cooler I try.

 

Is is really dark at night? I worried about being able to see to make turns and such. Also, what about when it's raining or foggy? I would love to go 5% all the way around, but worried about those areas.


As anyone hot wired a radar to their Max? If so, where did you wire it to and place the radar?

 

ok guys while on the topic of tinting I was wondering what you guys think of 5% on the back windows and 15% on the front? Would that combo look decent?

 

read through the Stickies before you make another post.

 

It only hard to see if your on a very dark street. This is the first car i have had that it was not double 5%. Worst case you roll down your wind to see.

 

Ok guys, I need your help! I'm getting ready to tint my 05 SL w/ HP 15% AT-R and wanted to make sure they tint the back window properly. I know they should pop off the brake light, but about the dot matrix?

Do any of you have this tint and do you like it? It seems like most shops around here use Llumar products, I'm assuming it's a good quality.

 

What you are saying is that you have to stick your head out of the window to look towards the direction that you are going. I quess that your windshield is also 5%. Be safe Warren

 

The matrix on mine came out perfect (I tinted them myself)! The Max has a pretty small band across the top and really shouldn't pose a problem for a good tinter.
I use Solar Gard film exclusively, but Llumar and a few others are all good films. A lifetime or limited lifetime warranty usually comes with better films.
As far as 15% goes, I try to keep my customers within reason of the states tint laws. I'd talk to your tinter and go with his opinion on how dark to tint. Every state has different percentages so I'm sure he knows what would be the right choice.
Ultimately, it's your money. Fines and retints are all extra!
Just my opinion......................