To tint, or not to tint?

[Prohibiting]

Recently picked up this lovely A4 Allroad and I keep changing my mind about getting the rear windows tinted or not. Here are some quick edits on my phone. Thoughts?

Left as standard = classy, understated
Tinted = Looks cool, sportier

[Muddle238]

Personally I wouldn't bother tinting them. Clear glass is much more elegant than tinted stuff.

[Bluevanman]

Rear tints are naff

[Radec]

If you have kids in the back and especially on sunny days, it helps keep the sun out, so they do have their uses.

I prefer with.

[and31]

Rear tints look awful-makes any car look like a van.

[xx99xx]

Cool and sportier aren't words I'd associate with window tints.

Keeping it as is would be what I'd do, but it's not my car so do what you want. A certain level of rear tint is common these days but too black looks a bit naff.

[MC Bodge]

and31 said:

Rear tints look awful-makes any car look like a van.

And reversing in the dark is more awkward

[AC43]

Radec said:

If you have kids in the back and especially on sunny days, it helps keep the sun out, so they do have their uses.

I prefer with.

Yeah and also handy because scrotes can't see in. I'm in.

[DoctorX]

MC Bodge said:

and31 said:

Rear tints look awful-makes any car look like a van.

And reversing in the dark is more awkward

Agreed, I had a car with dark tints. Couldn’t see a thing at night.

[Hackney2]

DoctorX said:

Agreed, I had a car with dark tints. Couldn’t see a thing at night.

Never ever had that issue,I am in Australia where tinting is very common,35% minimum is the legal requirement.Privacy glass is useless, it is only coloured glass nothing more.Good quality tint can reduce harmful rays by 98%.I will get my new car done in the new year, it has privacy glass, tinting will make it a lot better.

[Glosphil]

and31 said:

Rear tints look awful-makes any car look like a van.

Worked for a company where the MD had a people carrier with heavily tinted rear side windows. Everyone in the company referred to it as, "The MD's Transit".

[DoctorX]

Hackney2 said:

DoctorX said:

Agreed, I had a car with dark tints. Couldn’t see a thing at night.

Never ever had that issue,I am in Australia where tinting is very common,35% minimum is the legal requirement.Privacy glass is useless, it is only coloured glass nothing more.Good quality tint can reduce harmful rays by 98%.I will get my new car done in the new year, it has privacy glass, tinting will make it a lot better.

I think our laws only apply to the front windows. Anyway, I often had to pop the boot lid on this bugger when careful reversing required. Factory tints.

[Hackney2]

DoctorX said:

I think our laws only apply to the front windows. Anyway, I often had to pop the boot lid on this bugger when careful reversing required. Factory tints.

I think from memory most glass has a very light tint from the factory, how much percentage I don’t know.On commercial vehicles, etc..you can go very dark, but not in sedans, wagons & SUVs.If you go beyond the regulations( which you can) you get no receipt from the company acknowledging they tinted your vehicle.Some states you can extra dark I believe, Queensland being one I think.Your Mondeo looks good with dark tint especially in that dark grey.

[Roger Irrelevant]

If you have a practical reason to tint the windows then I would. If it's purely for looks then I wouldn't, however A) you may just like the tinted look more than I do, and B) if you tint there's an off-chance you might upset a grumpy PHer who sees your car while out and about, which is a valid motivation.

[Jimjimhim]

I've driven lots of cars with factory tints (including a Mondeo just like in that picture) and I've never had an issue when reversing, even in the dark. As you get older your eyes obviously change and you can struggle in the dark, so that could be an issue here.

OP, if you need privacy or have kids then go for it, same as if you like how it looks, not everyone will but that doesn't really matter.

[Greendubber]

LordGrover said:

Not.
I hate tinted windows, but I guess if you add them aftermarket at least it's reversible for the next owner.
Factory tints are just awful - try to find an above base-spec anything and they all come with dark-as-a-tomb rear. Plain dangerous reversing in rthe dark.
Pretty much every BMW I've owned in the last twenty years had them, including current but I really wish it didn't.

Plain dangerous, really?

I've had factory tints in the last 5 or 6 cars I've had and I've never once thought they were remotely dangerous. I've never been to or heard of a single RTC as a result of factory tinted glass, and I've been to hundreds over the years.

OP - it's your car, so your call.

[pd2]

I wouldn't bother. I'm a fan of the clear glass now.

Window blinds might be a better idea?
https://www.carshades.co.uk/

Edited by pd2 on Tuesday 24th December 08:55

[georgeyboy12345]

Tints are chavtastic. Will go great with your “4D” numberplate, eyebrows and blue washer jets.

[Ussrcossack]

I've privacy glass on mine as standard factory fit.

In my opinion yours looks better as it is

[InfamousK]

People struggling to reverse or see a thing at night is ridiculous. I know we like to exaggerate a little on the Internet but c'mon chaps.