2nd gen factory window tint is more of a bronze color. Put black tint on your front windows and it won't match at all. It is not a plastic tint applied to the glass like the aftermarket stuff. It is a coating of some sort. I had to remove old purple tint to put the new tint on so I ended up putting a couple very minor scratches in the factory tint. It wasn't noticable once I put a new layer of 3M over the factory tint. I put 35% all the way around. It matches nicely and you can only see the bronze reflection in certain light conditions.

A trick for removing the glue of old tint: Use Windex (any ammonia window cleaner) and a flat razor. The Windex helps break down the glue and lubes the blade so you don't scratch the hell out of one area. I'll look for a site I found - the guy had a trick for softening old tint but dunno if that will prevent as much glue being left behind.

 

I've got tinting on everything except the doors and windshield, at 5%... I love it, but at night it can be a little irratating... I usually have to roll down the back glass to back up, and thanks to toyota theres a switch for that!

 

Almost a year later, I got the front doen 20% today. I am happy with how it matches.

 

Speaking of tint, im getting my 2nd gen done sometime this month. The front and passenger sides have no or VERY little tint, the rear sides have darker tint on the outter part of the window, whereas the main area is lighter.
Im wanting 20% to 30% all the way around...so what would you guys recommend i do?
Does the old tint need to come off in the rear or can the new tint be put over it?
Heres an old picture i dug up:

 

does anyone have a pic of what 50% looks like on the front windows? it said on that site thats as dark as you're supposed to go on the fronts here..

 

I did 20% all around except the front (35% Or law limiate). Very happy with the results.

 

bike4miles, did you already have factory tint on the rear windows when you had it done?
if so, did they leave it on and put new tint over it?

 

I had factory tint on the rear quarters only. No tint on the rear window. I just put 20% on top of it. I wouldn't recomened 20% over a factory tinted rear window. Too dark.

 

You guys in CO, who's doing the work? I'd like to find someone who's gonna do a good job.

 

lee... i went with 35% when i had mine done. a little lighter than the factory rears, but very very nice to have. at night, it hides the aftermarket stereo just fine, and it is not nearly dark enough for the cops to bother you. i don't know when it jumped up to 70% here in mass, but 3 years ago when i had mine done, it was 35%. i was actually slightly darker, as the windows had i think a 97% (meaning they only blocked 3%) from the factory. there is a guy in gardner, ma that i have dealt with since i was 16. good work, and he has done about 10 cars in my family and all the cops' private cars in milford at one point or another. i will hunt down his number if you should need it.

 

i had no idea why you directed that at me till i saw i posted when this topic was new

yea, i found a place down the street from my work here in quincy that will do 30-35% legally, and darker if you pay cash, no receipt. theyll do it in like 20-30 minutes while you wait... its $100 for the 2 front windows.

thats probably what ill do soon...

 

Mine came with the factory tint on the rear and sides and it's great. You can't see in the back of the extended cab at all and the drivers and passengers side is tinted just right. It also has a 6" tinted strip on top of the windshield for sun control. Mike

 

gotta love cash!