[Furry87]

I'm planning on getting my f55 SD windows tinted and wondered on any tips or how dark should I go without it looking like a drug dealers car lol.

 

[Cessa]

A major factor will come down to legalities. In Australia, there are some strict restrictions placed on window tinting, for example they must let at least 35% light through. Keeping in mind if you get 35% tint and put it on windows that already have a tinge on it, then you now have illegal tint on your windows.
Recommend to check the laws out in your area, you can also get clear tint that is almost as effective as dark tint in reducing UV, heat etc etc.

Police don't regulate these laws too much so you can get away with it unless if they wanted an excuse to pull you over they can demand to get the windows tested for transmission of light, if you fail then your driving a non legal car.
There are also different colour tints available that have a blue / green/ bronze / chrome etc shades in the tint that adds to the cars looks.
There are also metalic tints and non metalic tints. Metalic tints are fine to use on the mini as the aerial is on the outside however it may slightly affect your remote locking and phone reception. There are advantages / disadvantages to both.

May i recommend you do some more research and then if you have specific questions, they will be easier to answer. Good luck

 

[Furry87]

A major factor will come down to legalities. In Australia, there are some strict restrictions placed on window tinting, for example they must let at least 35% light through. Keeping in mind if you get 35% tint and put it on windows that already have a tinge on it, then you now have illegal tint on your windows.
Recommend to check the laws out in your area, you can also get clear tint that is almost as effective as dark tint in reducing UV, heat etc etc.

Police don't regulate these laws too much so you can get away with it unless if they wanted an excuse to pull you over they can demand to get the windows tested for transmission of light, if you fail then your driving a non legal car.
There are also different colour tints available that have a blue / green/ bronze / chrome etc shades in the tint that adds to the cars looks.
There are also metalic tints and non metalic tints. Metalic tints are fine to use on the mini as the aerial is on the outside however it may slightly affect your remote locking and phone reception. There are advantages / disadvantages to both.

May i recommend you do some more research and then if you have specific questions, they will be easier to answer. Good luck

I live in the UK and want the rear windows not front. I always thought you could have the rear windows completely black out but maybe I'm wrong, I just wanted something with privacy and UV protection for my 2 year old in the back but not too dark so that he can't see out.

 

[Fartnugget]

You can go as dark as you wish in the back and front are already to the max but I have gone a little more


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[Cessa]

Funny thing about tinting, it may look as black as spades from the outside on a sunny day but inside there is only a slight dull in light and you can see out very easily, however at night it is much harder to see out if you have more light from inside the car than the outside then the effect is reversed.
Sorry, dont know about UK laws but in Australia, depends if your driving a commercial vehicle, you can go as dark as you want on the back but still 35% at the front. Not allowed to touch the windscreen with tint unless you do a small strip at the very top that is higher then where the wiper blade goes. Any factory darkening of the windows is legal on any window including the windscreen as the car has already been approved by transport and it has not been touched by aftermarket enhancements.
I'm waffling on again, back to the mini, your best advice is to look at your local requirements of what you can / cant do and take it from there. Talk to some of the tinting shops and see what they recommend - talk to more than 1 though as they will only give you a biased opinion.

 

[Evlkarl]

Tint is a must in Arizona but since we have stupid rules here my rear and back windows are limo tint and my side windows are limo tint too (btw not legal all the way around in AZ they only allow 33 % on the side windows) but you just have to break the rules to make your Mini look better.

Never knew there are soooooo many rules for tint in Az.:|

Window tint darkness in Arizona
The percent of visible light allowed through your car windows is called VLT: Visible Light Transmission. The percentage of light allowed through your film and glass in Arizona is very specific and different for sedan cars and SUV cars or vans.

Tint darkness for sedans:
Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
Front Side windows: Must allow more than 33% of light in.
Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
Rear Window: Any darkness can be used.
Tint darkness for SUV and vans:
Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
Front Side windows: Must allow more than 33% of light in.
Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
Rear Window: Any darkness can be used.
Window tint reflection in Arizona
Window tint can reflect incoming light and reduce glare and heat. Arizona window tint law permits a certain window reflection when using a tint so make sure you pay attention to this as well.

Tint reflection for sedans:
Front Side windows: Must not be more than 35% reflective.
Back Side windows: Must not be more than 35% reflective.
Tint reflection for SUV and vans:
Front Side windows: Must not be more than 35% reflective.
Back Side windows: Must not be more than 35% reflective.
Other Arizona window tint rules and regulations:
Arizona does have several other important laws, rules and regulations pertaining to window tinting. They include the following:

Side Mirrors: Dual side mirrors are required if back window is tinted.
Restricted Colors: Arizona state law prohibits using red and amber tint colors.
Certificates: Film manufacturers don't need to certify the film they sell in this state.
Stickers: No sticker to identify legal tinting is required by law.
Medical Exceptions: Arizona allows medical exemptions for special tint. For more details about the specific terms of the exemption, consult your state law.
Keep in mind that Arizona tinting laws and regulations may be interpreted differently in your county or place of residence and we always recommend you double-check our information with your local DMV or law enforcement authorities.

 

[brandonbardsley]

I got a standard manufacturers tint of 70% done on my F56 Cooper D last year by the company who is used by my local Land Rover, MINI and BMW garages.. Simply due to the fact my insurance provider wouldn't cover me otherwise. I'd go darker than manufacturers standard and say maybe 80-85% any more and you're getting towards limo style tints which I personally think just looks ridiculous. Please be aware though the film doesn't look anywhere near as dark in your hand than it does actually on your windows so make sure you're not being deceived!!

 

[bjblyth]

If anyone wants window tinting doing in the East Midlands or Buckinghamshire let me know.

The guy who did my R53 is awesome and fully Suntek qualified.

 

[Furry87]

If anyone wants window tinting doing in the East Midlands or Buckinghamshire let me know.

The guy who did my R53 is awesome and fully Suntek qualified.

If you don't mind me asking how much on average should I be paying for all the back windows on a 5 door, it's just so I don't get ripped off as I know nothing about it.

 

[brandonbardsley]

If you don't mind me asking how much on average should I be paying for all the back windows on a 5 door, it's just so I don't get ripped off as I know nothing about it.

I paid £150 for a F56, so I presume your F55 won't be too dissimilar.

 

[Evlkarl]

Furry, my Dealer has several Mini,s on the lot with add on,s like tint for $ 399.99 on the F56/55. I had mine done( F56) from a Indy Dealer with a life time warranty for $ 129.00 and they did a fantastic job.

 

[Furry87]

I paid £150 for a F56, so I presume your F55 won't be too dissimilar.

Great I will have a good look in my area see what I get quoted, thanks for reply.

 

[bjblyth]

£150 was about right. I got it at half that for mates rates But £150 for back 3 is a fair price, don't pay any more!

 

[Cessa]

Again, I agree on the prices, looks like a universal price. In Aus, between $300 - 400 will get you the top tints, middle range tints are also good but please avoid the cheap tints as they will bubble, turn purple and just be a waste of money.

 

[Tonyau]

Hey Cessa - getting my new MCS in a couple of weeks, can you recommend someone in Brissie to tint Windows?

 

[Cessa]

First of all, congrats and welcome. They are lots of fun.

I used a company called Tint-a-Car. Got the film called Octane. It is a metal based film but doesn't affect radio, GPS or mobile reception.
Looks good, I did go slightly darker than legal on the back but legal on the front.
Price was $295.
They were able to do it in a half a day.
I'm very happy with the result and it should last a long time. You can actually feel the difference with window tint and no tint.

Let me know how you get on?

 

[Tonyau]

First of all, congrats and welcome. They are lots of fun.

I used a company called Tint-a-Car. Got the film called Octane. It is a metal based film but doesn't affect radio, GPS or mobile reception.
Looks good, I did go slightly darker than legal on the back but legal on the front.
Price was $295.
They were able to do it in a half a day.
I'm very happy with the result and it should last a long time. You can actually feel the difference with window tint and no tint.

Let me know how you get on?

Thanks! will definitely let you know...I need to get the car first...2-3 week wait lol, Im counting the hours.

 

[Cessa]

The waiting is the worst part. Its ok, the time will fly fast enough.

 

[Keith77]

Hi, I had a tint with 20% light transmission added to my Paceman. Going too dark can cheapen the look in my opinion. The tint company should be able to show you some examples on cars they have.


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[Davyboy]

Hi, I had a tint with 20% light transmission added to my Paceman. Going too dark can cheapen the look in my opinion. The tint company should be able to show you some examples on cars they have.


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Disagree to a degree, the shape, size and colour of the car can either make it look great or cheap..