Tints Pics

[BlackJCW]

Hi, anyone got any pics of Light Smoke Tints all round? - mines Solid Black and might look a bit like a van if i go Dark on back 3 only. This is wierd, Pentagon charge differantly at their branches - varies by quite a lot.

[I love MINI, Laura]

Legally, tints aren't allowed on the front windows but thats your decision. I've recently bought MINI sunvisors for the rear passenger windows and rear windscreen and these act like tinted windows as they fit perfectly to the glass, they are removable as they twist smaller and have a storage bag and only £39.95 for both rear passenger windows and £39.95 for the rear windscreen.

Bargain!

[dlpruk]

Where from Laura?

[BlackJCW]

I know what you mean about it not being legal, is it gonna be one of those things that you'd be very unlucky to get done for? Pentagon say that the Light Tints are ok - but i suppose they would would'nt they. Interestingly they will tint darker at the front but you have to sign a waiver. I just wanted a slight tint all round - nothing drastic. Laura i've not seen the Sunvisors you mention - got any pics of them on yours? where did you get them?

[I love MINI, Laura]

From MINI parts department! Its a bit of a MINI secret my Dad had them first, I got him the rear one for fathers day and he loves them, so I got a set for Xmas.

At the last MINI meet I went to they were a big hit as they can be taken from mine and put in other MINIs to see what its like! Instant tinting. There is a plastic pronger that slips down into the plastic trim holding them there without them moving. I've not got my MINI at the moment (in dealer for sunroof fix) get it back on Saturday so I will post some pics with and without over the weekend.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...2008/ny808.jpg Heres a pic of my MINI with them in and if you see the inside behind the seats looks quite dark? I'll get a better set of pics for you over the weekend.

Dlpruk, not sure they make the Clubman size yet? Worth asking though.

[I love MINI, Laura]

Here are the parts for a R50 or 53.

RealOEM.COM * BMW R53 Cooper S SUN VISOR, FOLDING

Here are the parts for the R56:

RealOEM.COM * BMW R56 Cooper S SUN VISOR, FOLDING

I guess the sunblinds are the same as the R50/53

Theres no Clubman on Real OEM yet so can't find them for that yet sorry.

[BlackJCW]

Thanks Laura, pics would be great when you get yours back - hope Sunroof fix goes ok.

[I love MINI, Laura]

Hey no problem. I'll try and find a opportunity over the weekend. They are good though.

Rear sunroof shade doesn't have any sliders at the moment so it can go wherever it feels like - nothing serious.

[NeuroBeaker]

Thanks for the pic, links, pics to come, and the descriptions Laura!

One small question though: do the sun visors rattle at all or are they fairly solid when in place?

Many thanks,
Andrew.

[I love MINI, Laura]

I like to be thorough!

Don't rattle at all as they are the wire expandable sunvisor style (know what I mean?) and they are a perfect fit to the windows with a small plastic tab that holds it to the window frame. They are really too light to rattle anyway.

I'll get them out to show you all. They really are a bit of a MINI secret!

[r1_kde]

I word word up the warning about tinting all round! I was caught a fined once, and then the second time I was taken to court to have an example made of me they where all light smoke, I was let off with a caution and a fine, also to remove them in one working week or they would tow the car.

I would not advise the front tints, also it is harder to sell on with them, the rear three is the norm now.

Just my advise do what you want, just looking out for you and tell you how it is...

[dlpruk]

Quote: Originally Posted by r1_kde (original)

the rear three is the norm now.

Just my advise do what you want, just looking out for you and tell you how it is...

Sorry but the norm is NO tints. (Unless you live in California!)

[BlackJCW]

Thanks r1_kde at least now i know people do get caught out with them - but twice!! that's really bad luck. Are you running without any now? did you learn your lesson? - I'm interested to see Laura's pics of her secret visors.

[r1_kde]

I am just with the legal 3 rear medium tints which is accepted by the VOSA UK. It was really unlucky and I did learn from it.

You are legally aloud to tint every window but the front and sides, if you wish me to provide a copy of the legislation I can, the court gave me a copy. Also living in Birmingham I am from the area which is strict due to the killing of the two girls, the start of the clamp down.

here is mine now, I went for the closest to the stock option


oh by the way here is a useful section of the law, sourced

Automobile window tinting, by its nature, reduces the visible light transmittance through a car's windows. This can be problematic at night, when motorists must be able to see through the windows of other vehicles in order to spot hazards which would otherwise be obstructed. Police officers must also be able to identify the passengers in a vehicle.

In many jurisdictions, there are government rules and regulations in place to ensure darkness levels of films do not present a danger to motorists.

In the UK, the Department of Transportation specifies a minimum of 70% visible light transmission (VLT) for window tinting on the windshield and the windows to the immediate left and right of the driver. The DoT does not specify any VLT requirements for any other windows. The DoT regulates commercial vehicles, not private vehicles.

You can have a 30% tint on the front side windows. However, the police are advised to only caution the driver if a 45-50% tint is found on them (this comes from a police issued guidelines pamphlet).

You can have whatever tint you like on the rear window and rear side windows. You can even paint them matt black.

You must have NO added tint on the front windscreen, however.

Bear in mind that most newer cars already have a slight 5-10% tint built into the window glass themselves.

This is the car and tint that go me into so much trouble.


As you can clearly see it was light smoke all around. I was breaking the law.

[I love MINI, Laura]

I thought they could only do you if your car was newer than a certain age like a 03 or something. How can they prove your window tints weren't done years ago when the law wasn't in force?