Is factory window tint enough?

I was told when I bought mine, also a 2003, that they use 3M tint @ 99% UV blockout...

Hi there Zebu, I have tint on both my vehicles, hilux has cheap bleep on it and is pretty well use less as far as stopping the heat,am about to strip it off and get a good quality metal film, which doesnt go purple in time like the cheap one does,our commodore VX01 model has factory tint plus I put tint on as well but had good quality metal film put on, here in Sydney (not sure where you are located) on new years day was 47 c I had to go out took the commodore has better air then the hilux and you could put your arm against the window and not feel the heat coming through and would not burn your arm, the tint on the commodore is 50% which is not legal but has been on there now for 5 years and still looks like new, the hilux has already started to go a purple colour about it and lets a bleep load of heat through, so it pays to get a good quality tint. This stuff premier tint offer for 100$$ I would not touch yes they give you a life time waranty on the workmanship ONLY not the tint !!!!. As far as telling whether you have added tint or not just wind your window down a bit and either you will see a small section of glass that wont have tint on it or it will be tinted write to the top of glass and you should feel the edge of it with your finger nail. I am redoing the hilux with 25% on the rear window and 2 side rear windows the front will be done in 50% same as commodore. You can get away with the back windows being dark as you like because my hilux is classed as a commercial but the front have to be done at 75% to be legal.I have seen cop cars with tint as dark as my commodore but I suppose it comes down to the insurance company if you need to make a claim. If you have a canopy on the mitsi and you leave it on there I would only get the rear window of the canopy done not the cabin as at night the light reflects back through your review mirror and can be dangerous. Any tint mob that you go to should tell you this if they no there job. Doesnt' bother me cause I only put myn on when I'm going away not on around town. Also check with your state RTA to see what your laws are as well. If you are in Sydney and live out west way I can put you onto somebody that does a great job and cash in the hand and yes he does it every other day of the week for a living. Regards Steve M

Hey Zebu
Spoke to our company window tint friend who says that the factory tint as said above is green colour and in the glass. It is Ok in Europe but pretty useless in sunny Oz. The film they use is 99% UV and 78 % heat resistant.
We tint about 80% of the cars we sell that all have factory tint.
Well worth the money. (@$300 retail)

Zebu,
I might not have explained that very well. The figures quoted (99% & 78%) are for the 3m tint fitted aftermarket. The factory tint may vary in colour depending on manufacturer and country of origin but would nearly always be in the glass, and is nowhere near as effective.
Regards,

All my vehicles had factory tint, but I got them tinted with the darkest legal tint, and it made a huge difference here in Townsville. I have had many BCC's removed and wear longs all the time, so I am as careful as possible.

Agree with David O. A shame tinting just wasn't around 50 years ago,
- perchance my skin would look/feel less ugly.

Any young'ns buying a car -- fit window film BEFORE anything else. I'm amazed our over-zealous government hasn't legislated for that already.
(May all your biopsies return benign).
(ps. I' ve lived most of my adult life /so far\ in the Tropics, but I've heard Tassie isn't so good at times. Moral? TINT.
. Jeff H.