I've seen several C5s with really dark tinted windows and they look sharp. Is this factory tinting, or are they having them tinted? I would be leery about having them tinted unless it can be done to look factory. I've seen so many tint jobs that are nothing but a bunch of air bubbles and it looks like crap. Do any of you have dark tinted windows that you had done, and if so, was it expensive?

 

No, a dark tint will not be factory. Not many vehicles that are two door with no rear quarter window will have a factory tint other than possibly a small UV shield.

The biggest issue that owners have when they get their C5's windows tinted is the rear window. The curvature of the glass along with the bubble of the dot matrix pattern makes tinting difficult.

 

5% on sides and rear for me, but they rear window could have turned out better if not for those factory "pebbling".

 

Referring to the back window, are you guys talking about an FRC or a hatch back?

 

I believe 35% minimum is what is legal here. I tinted mine 20% which is darker and I haven't had any problems with it and love the darkness of the tint. My installer suggested it because my Z is black and he claimed a darker tint on a black vehicle is not as noticeable. This was also the first time I tinted the front with what I think he called a ceramic tint and the overall tinting makes the cabin so nice in the Summer as it keeps it cooler and I don't even need to wear sunglasses when driving it which I normally am religious about. Here is the before tint and lowering and after:

 

That looks sweet! How are the bubbles?

 

Dark side windows are illegal in some states, just senseless in other states. Imagine being an enforcement officer approaching a vehicle when he can't see the occupants and or weapons inside. There certainly in no improvement in night time visibility. OK it looks cool. Just another MOD I can live without.

 

It is the dot matrix that causes the issue on the top of the glass, my installer used glue on the matrix portion on my Z.

It turned out decent, but you can still tell, its a different shade in that area. No bubbles, its hard to explain.

I have read about some people using black vinyl over the dot, then butting tint up to that.

My tint guy was glad I had a Z, he said the coupes are worse to tint.

The side glass is curved top/bottom and front/back like a bowl, he had to use a fair amount of heat to get it to shrink.

 

In the rear window at the very top, the tint did not stick down completely. The tint guy told me to bring it back in and he would fix it. He said the C5 is a real bear to tint, esp in that back window cause of the dot patterns towards the top of the window. I just haven't found the time to run it back there but they guarantee the tint job for life.

 

5% is illegal on the drivers' window in AZ, but most cops here overlook it unless you're being douchie for some other reason.

Yeah, FRC here...

 

35% here, mine is 20% so every February I have to have it removed ($20), Inspected, then reinstalled ($100). Just the way the game is played.

 

Living in South Florida, a real dark tint...10% is almost a must. The police also use a 10% tint. Have been using a 10% tint down here for over 10 years without any problems.

 

I have mine 1 shade darker then legal. Not sure what % that is off hand. My daughter had hers limo dark on her front windows and it was kind of difficult to see out of at night. The bubbles you speak of that you're leary of happens when people put the tint on themselves and have no clue on how to do it. They also use the cheapest stuff they can find. If you have a pro install it you shouldn't have any issues and you should get a warranty with it. A person really needs it here in Arizona.

 

There are zero statics correlating an increase in danger to LEO and window tint. That excuse is pretty bad as those laws only apply to the front windows and not the rear where real danger could be. Also, when a LEO lights you up their lights can help see through the tint and your windows should be down.

Second, having the best possible UV protection for the interior of your car is near priceless. No cracked dash, better quality leather, non faded plastics etc.

Third, privacy is important and it is shown that tint reduces vehicle break-ins as they are usually a crime of opportunity. If you happen to leave something of perceived value, your window is more likely to be smashed when items are easily spotted. Anecdotally my friend left a small bag on his passenger floor, the bag contained nothing of value but it was easy enough for someone to smash and grab in the hopes they got a laptop/ipad or other items of value.

Even though my DD is 5% all around my vette is not and I'm not saying people should be driving a dark room around either. My point is the pros for tint far out weigh the cons which there's only one, the possibility of poor night vision (I don't have a problem but some may).

 

I just got mine tinted...5% on sides and back.
Looks great. No bubbles. Small issue with the polka-dot area, but I have just been massaging it down.

 

Another example of an overreaching government. I prefer dark windows for the privacy and the security INSIDE MY VEHICLE. Maybe we should open all our doors and windows to let the police and govt look in our houses too? Another example of placing restraints on innocent, law abiding citizens.

 

As for night time visibility, tint sure cuts down on blinding lights behind me, especially in a low vehicle such as a Corvette.

 

My windows are tinted 80%. Looks great! No problem driving-------forward. I can't see backing into my driveway unless I put my windows down. I have been ticketed before in an Expedition so I will probably be going to a legal tint eventually. In Virginia, the law is 50% visible light transmission, but they allow 45% vlt.

 

Around here, tinting shops are so good, it looks factory, there is not a window they can't do. I've never seen a bubble or a delamination. some one here said 20 dollars to remove and 100 to reinstall. Around here, tinting a Corvette C5 Coupe is 225 dollars. removing is 100. the only difference from factory is, the side windows have a 3/8th inch area around the edge without tint which is not noticeable with the windows up.

Around here, if a LEO can not see in the car, you get a ticket and have 10 days to have it removed or the car is impounded. Cops do not want to walk up on a car they can not see inside. Fully supported by the justice system. It does make the car cooler but diminishes visibility at night , on the side windows and back windows. Very easy to get a ticket at night, around here if a LEO notices a car and can not see the driver.

 

Here in NY, literally ANYTHING is illegal for tint, Hell even my neighbors truck that came FACTORY with "illegal" tint just got failed on inspection because of it.

With that being said i have mine at 5% which is pretty much blacked out. I will get pics when it comes back from the shop in a bit