After searching for an '07 green XJR, I almost kept looking when the one in Orlando turned out to be festooned with limo black window film on everything except the windshield. Perfect I95 cocaine car...

My last FL car (BMW M5) had the same stuff on the windows. Also looked like a low rent gangstermobile.

Cheap window film can be a bitch to remove; esp the rear window (defroster and antenna circuits). Commercial removal goop is hell on upholstery and other stuff. Steaming works, but tends to get everything (including you) wet.

So (thanks to google), I tried wetting the stuff with 409, then laying on black plastic (eg, trash bag material) and leaving the car in the the sun for an hour or so. Works brilliantly, with very little razor scraping. 409 softens the adhesive. Suggest masking adjacent upholstery, though (409 is strong enough to make run stains)

Window film is dangerous at night. It attracts cops like a doughnut shop. It is so very 80's...

 

Finally ... someone who sees the light

Even reversing in a parking garage after coming
in from daylight can be a bitch.

 

Different strokes.... It's the first thing I do to a car here in the SW. 20% all the way around and I seriously consider doing the windshield about 40 ish.

 

Cool trick , thanks !
Although if I was to remove any of my tints it would be to replace with new tints !
I love tinted windows almost as mutch as I love cars .
To me a jag looks a bit gay or feminine with out the stuff ,
Looks aren't everything I know , and each to there own but i won't be seen dead in a gay car .

 

OK...

How many gold neck chains do you typically wear?

 

That would be none my friend.

I would guess 95% + of the cars here in the SW have tinted windows. Just look at the adverts on the board ( the XE at the top my page ) and almost EVERY car commercial you see they all have tinted glass,so Im guessing your exposure to tinted glass in the real world is a little limited or have only experienced the DIY kits from JC Whitney or AutoZone in which case it would come off to have something nice put on.

Im legal at 20% all the way around and if you've ever seen a good job 40-50% on the windshield its, subtle just taking the glare down a bit.

As far as not being able to see when you backing out f your garage because your low light vision isn't what it used to be hey its ok, all Jaguars Ive ever owned have that cool little button that rolls the window down and then just as easily back up for that bit of dangerous work that backing up a few feet can be.

 

I've got to admit, this thread has given me a chuckle or two. But, I'll chime in with my 2¢'s worth. I think that XJ's look so much better without black tinted windows. The I-95 cocaine car comment really had me cracking up as that is exactly what I was thinking (even if I kept it to myself ). A few years ago when I started my search for an XJR I saw the newer models with the giant chrome fender vents and limo black windows and that was the first thing I thought.

However, I live in the Northwest and rarely need to use the AC to cool the car down. In the past, I lived in South Texas for about 10 years and there is no doubt in my mind that if I lived in such a hot climate now, my windows would be tinted. I don't know that I would do black, but if I could find a silver/greyish tint that reflected the heat, I know that I would have used it.

To me this one comes down to practicality. I think that the car looks better untinted, but if it's 100 degrees outside, the last thing you want to do is go sit in a greenhouse.

 

Good comments!

...and sorry about the gold chains remark - it was catty

Agree if film keeps car cooler inside. I just hate removing the stuff...

And, believe its illegal in NC (the really opaque stuff), so it had to come off anyhow

Much prefer the unmasked windows, which have a slight factory tint

 

No problem its hard to read comments at times.

While I've seen the 0% limo black and its usually the auto zone 19.99 stuff and the drivers well....I can't say anything nice sooooo .

That being said its pretty mandatory here. The sun is brutal on the interiors and it helps keep the temps of a car parked outside during the day to somewhat manageable temps...if you can call 135 degrees manageable. Even with the A/C on having the late afternoon sun beating on your face thru clear glass isn't comfortable.

I'm looking at a replacement for my XJ40 both cars and both cars Im looking at are X300's without tint.

 

I'm not backing out of a garage.

The situation is entering a lighted apartment garage from bright sunlight,
then having to reverse into a spot with a column on the right hand side,
while cutting the wheel sharply to the left. Tinted window + tinted mirror
+ not enough time to adjust the pupils conspires against me.

Sometimes I have to resort to dropping the window, but the permanent
solution would be to remove the tint.

Sure I could drop the window, but why should I keep the tint if *I* don't
care for it. I didn't tell anyone else they couldn't have tint, so they shouldn't
feel the need to tell me that tint is de rigeur.

As for any science involved, it is impossible to argue that anyone can see
as well through tint as without while driving at night.

Even better than tint for heat buildup while parked is keeping the sunroof
tilted up at the rear.