Tinted windscreens

pgj2015

I am seeing a lot of these lately, usually driven by young lads in Audis or Passats ect how do they get them through the NCT? some of them you cant see who is driving them. It must be a risk to the police if driven by thugs, criminals etc

Atlantic Dawn

They don't, they remove them at NCT. Gardai have some measuring device if they pull over a car with them.

pgj2015

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

They don't, they remove them at NCT. Gardai have some measuring device if they pull over a car with them.

They remove the windscreen? thats mad.

Atlantic Dawn

pgj2015 wrote: »

They remove the windscreen? thats mad.

It's just a tint film they have attached to it, relatively easy to remove and replace.

pgj2015

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

It's just a tint film they have attached to it, relatively easy to remove and replace.

oh right, I thought they were replacing the windscreens for the NCT.

colm_mcm

It makes scumbags easy to spot.

pgj2015

colm_mcm wrote: »

It makes scumbags easy to spot.

Not sure if they are scumbags or just boy racers thinking they look cool.

colm_mcm

I reckon it’s people who don’t want to be recognised.

punisher5112

Are these the ones that look like petrol or oil in water, sort of a blue colour

colm_mcm

Saw a 520d today with black tint on the windscreen.

The one that looks like sunglasses is equally annoying.

I was of the opinion these are illegal, but I think I looked into it before and it isn’t strictly illegal.

punisher5112

colm_mcm wrote: »

Saw a 520d today with black tint on the windscreen.

The one that looks like sunglasses is equally annoying.

I was of the opinion these are illegal, but I think I looked into it before and it isn’t strictly illegal.

I thought it was if it were below the mark at the top ⅓ of the windscreen, there is a line at the side

French Toast

Remember they used to tint the top 10" or so of the windscreen and over time it gradually got lower and lower?

Remember those lads being described here on Boards "rats looking under a door" - excellent :P

pgj2015

French Toast wrote: »

Remember they used to tint the top 10" or so of the windscreen and over time it gradually got lower and lower?

Remember those lads being described here on Boards "rats looking under a door" - excellent :P

Sun strips. some of them cover three quarters of the windscreen.

User1998

NCT tester told me if the wipers touch the sun strip its a fail. He said technically I could just buy shorter wipers or remove it. I was happy to remove it as it was hideous anyway.

That sunglass time tint is called chameleon tint and passes an NCT. Looks awful

Jin luk

Oh give over you bunch of karens.

Its only tinted windows

punisher5112

Jin luk wrote: »

Oh give over you bunch of karens.

Its only tinted windows

Good luck with the Gardai and insurance company

Jin luk

punisher5112 wrote: »

Good luck with the Gardai and insurance company

No bother with them at all

BronsonTB

punisher5112 wrote: »

Good luck with the Gardai and insurance company

I've only ever seen the RPU giving anyone grief over the tints...and at that, its very rare to get that 1 that takes issue with it.

(Complete inconsistancy within the Gardai on issues like this, same goes for non standard number plates)

kirving

Jin luk wrote: »

No bother with them at all

Call up your insurance company there and tell them you have a tinted windscreen and see what they say. Record the call and put it up here.

Buddy Bubs

Saw a modified corsa with that horrible reflective sunglass tint locally yesterday. Speed demon or something to do with speed on a banner on back window. Only non modified part of it was the 1.2 badge on the boot.

Oh, and it was DL reg.

Miles per gardai stop and miles per gallon roughly similar I'd guess.

Cheensbo

'Polarized' screens are legal I thought? Don't many fords come with these? Possibly some opels too?

Tinted windscreens are tacky in my opinion. They really cheapen the look of a car. They look good on a car on a stage show when it's being 'unveiled' as a new model or something, but in real life they just look cheap.


Much like rally cars; look great on a track or TV or with a sponsor and such.. but putting stickers on your car in everyday life just makes you look a little silly.

colm_mcm

Cheensbo wrote: »

'Polarized' screens are legal I thought? Don't many fords come with these? Possibly some opels too?

Renault had them about 20 years ago. Seem to remember mk1 Megane facelifts having them.

Speaking of windows, is it just me, or do some (older?) Mercedes have a blue tint on their windows (all the windows on the car)?

Cheensbo

colm_mcm wrote: »

Renault had them about 20 years ago. Seem to remember mk1 Megane facelifts having them.

Wouldn't mind sticking a bit on my Transit for the sunny days and my weakening eyes. Might look gawdy as hell though

whisky_galore

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Tinted windscreens are tacky in my opinion. They really cheapen the look of a car. They look good on a car on a stage show when it's being 'unveiled' as a new model or something, but in real life they just look cheap.


Much like rally cars; look great on a track or TV or with a sponsor and such.. but putting stickers on your car in everyday life just makes you look a little silly.

It's like a school kid putting stickers on their pencil case.

Cheensbo

Cheensbo wrote: »

Wouldn't mind sticking a bit on my Transit for the sunny days and my weakening eyes. Might look gawdy as hell though

May aswell stick the racing stripes on the bonnet, too. Go full Howayaboss.

punisher5112

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Speaking of windows, is it just me, or do some (older?) Mercedes have a blue tint on their windows (all the windows on the car)?

Yes it's a Merc thing

i57dwun4yb1pt8

the Reactolite ones are worse ( Savile 9000 series )

Mango Joe

Jin luk wrote: »

Oh give over you bunch of karens.

Its only tinted windows

Surely it helps to be able to see the road ahead properly at night time?

Now I know the same Puberteens have most likely fitted horrible, poorly angled nuclear-powered aftermarket lights as well....but still, tinting your windscreen is incredibly dumb and short sighted (literally)

twin_beacon

Jin luk wrote: »

No bother with them at all

Getting insurance would not be a problem at all. The problem is if you need to make a claim, and your insurance company sees an illegal modification to the car.

twin_beacon

twin_beacon wrote: »

Getting insurance would not be a problem at all.

Of course it would. Your car isn't considered roadworthy if it can't get through an NCT. And a Stevie Wonder car is not going to be getting an NCT disc in the window anytime soon, hence them replacing the tint whenever the NCT is due.

TheQ_Man

colm_mcm wrote: »

It makes scumbags easy to spot.

My 40+ year old multi millionaire neighbour in his AMG Mercedes must be the biggest scumbag of all then with his tinted windscreen

fancy pigeon

colm_mcm wrote: »

Renault had them about 20 years ago. Seem to remember mk1 Megane facelifts having them.

My Peugeot 607 has it too. Diminishes the places you can put the toll tag as the screen blocks the signal, but the passengers don't get sunburned

bladespin

TheQ_Man wrote: »

My 40+ year old multi millionaire neighbour in his AMG Mercedes must be the biggest scumbag of all then with his tinted windscreen

Well, yeah (or a fool) if he tinted an AMG's windscreen - they're reactive anyway - no point tinting.

TheQ_Man

TheQ_Man wrote: »

My 40+ year old multi millionaire neighbour in his AMG Mercedes must be the biggest scumbag of all then with his tinted windscreen

Possibly. Dunno why age or money would or would not make someone a scumbag?
Do scumbags just suddenly not be scum if they win the lotto?

MarkR

It seems there are pretty clear rules in regard to what is allowed, according to the RSA website.

Window Tinting
Excessively tinted windscreens or front side windows present a significant safety hazard for vehicle drivers and their occupants. Visibility is greatly reduced, particularly for night time driving and at times of low light. There are also enforcement issues for An Garda Síochána in regard to driver recognition, the detection of driving offences e.g. holding a mobile phone while driving, and other criminal activity.

If the NCT vehicle inspector deems that the windscreen or front side windows are excessively tinted the level of light transmission of the window will be tested. The glass in the windscreen and front side windows will be required to have a light transmission level of not less than 65% in order to pass the NCT test. Tinting of these windows must not be greater than 35%.Unfortunately the National Car Testing Regulations do not allow for any exemptions in this regard.

Tint films tend to be quite easily removed and replaceable with a compliant film which would block UVA light and meet the requirement of not less than 65% light transmission. There is no limit on the tint level in the rear window and rear side windows.

I've seen some awful ones recently, not polarized, but with a very dark tint.

John_Rambo

TheQ_Man wrote: »

My 40+ year old multi millionaire neighbour in his AMG Mercedes must be the biggest scumbag of all then with his tinted windscreen

I’m guessing you're in Donegal where I saw a grown manchild in his 30’s diving around with “TYRES RIPPING, FANNIES DRIPPING” in huge display text across the back window of his BMW.

twin_beacon

Deleted User wrote: »

Of course it would. Your car isn't considered roadworthy if it can't get through an NCT. And a Stevie Wonder car is not going to be getting an NCT disc in the window anytime soon, hence them replacing the tint whenever the NCT is due.

Not really, your insurance company will take payment and give you a disk no problem, based on the information you give them. Any modifications you make, or have been made to the car before you bought it need to be disclosed to the insurance company. If you have an illegal tint on your windows, and the insurance company was not informed, then that breaches the insurance principle "utmost good faith", and your insurance is void.
This only comes to light if you are the cause of a crash and either you try or someone else tries to claim against your insurance, the claim may be rejected IF the insurance company sends out an assessor to inspect the damage, and they see modification to your car that was not disclosed to them, they are within their rights to not pay out.



From my experience, insurance companies don't care about the NCT. Why should they, if my car passed the NCT 23 months ago, it doesn't mean its roadworthy today. Ive never been asked for my cars NCT by an insurance company.

French Toast

John_Rambo wrote: »

I’m guessing you're in Donegal where I saw a grown manchild in his 30’s diving around with “TYRES RIPPING, FANNIES DRIPPING” in huge display text across the back window of his BMW.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLANE
PULLS LIKE A TRAIN
FAST AS A CHEETAH
SNIFFING COCAINE

... on the rear of a 1.9 daysul Passat.

Makes you miss the previous generation of 1.4 Civics and Saxo VTRs.

John_Rambo

French Toast wrote: »

SOUNDS LIKE A PLANE
PULLS LIKE A TRAIN
FAST AS A CHEETAH
SNIFFING COCAINE

... on the rear of a 1.9 daysul Passat.

Makes you miss the previous generation of 1.4 Civics and Saxo VTRs.

It's the age of these men in Donegal!!! They're not kids!

ednwireland

damn i was thinking of getting the rear windows on my estate tinted - not so sure now :pac:

phill106

French Toast wrote: »

SOUNDS LIKE A PLANE
PULLS LIKE A TRAIN
FAST AS A CHEETAH
SNIFFING COCAINE

... on the rear of a 1.9 daysul Passat.

Makes you miss the previous generation of 1.4 Civics and Saxo VTRs.

Certain percentage of the "modified motors enthusiasts/boy racers" just keep at it , as they get older.
That along with generational changes moves them from civics, saxos and 205gtis to bmws/audis. Dont see many mercs though!

CoBo55

French Toast wrote: »

SOUNDS LIKE A PLANE
PULLS LIKE A TRAIN
FAST AS A CHEETAH
SNIFFING COCAINE

... on the rear of a 1.9 daysul Passat.

Makes you miss the previous generation of 1.4 Civics and Saxo VTRs.

Classic, they've come a long was from "Max Power"

frozenfrozen

ednwireland wrote: »

damn i was thinking of getting the rear windows on my estate tinted - not so sure now :pac:

tint in the rear passenger windows and back screen look completely fine to me

twin_beacon

John_Rambo wrote: »

It's the age of these men in Donegal!!! They're not kids!

I did laugh

twin_beacon

twin_beacon wrote: »

Not really

You said "getting insurance would not be a problem at all", implying that if you were to tell the insurance company about it, that they'd be happy enough.


OBVIOUSLY if you don't tell them about it, you'll get insurance. I'm starting to think you've a few stickers on your car.

twin_beacon

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You said "getting insurance would not be a problem at all", implying that if you were to tell the insurance company about it, that they'd be happy enough.


OBVIOUSLY if you don't tell them about it, you'll get insurance. I'm starting to think you've a few stickers on your car.

Just the one on the inside of the windscreen to hold the tax and insurance!

kirving

MarkR wrote: »

It seems there are pretty clear rules in regard to what is allowed, according to the RSA website.

I've seen some awful ones recently, not polarized, but with a very dark tint.

The RSA website is a bit vague, as the correct term would be "visible light transmission".

There's a world of difference between "standard" tint film, which often cuts intensity of all wavelengths and looks dark, and the likes of IR and UVA coatings applied to some cars from the factory.

The specification for "visible light" is about 350nm to 780nm, but humans can actually see outside that range into UV ad IR.

So if a windscreen had a coating which reflected UV it might look a little blue (they all do really), and if it reflected IR Is might look a little purple (blue + red) but actually allows the 75% of all "visible light" through so is legally.

I see plenty of high-end cars with tint that can only be aftermarket on the side front windows though, Gardai don't care it seems.

pgj2015

what is the story with the black & decker photo? I assume you would be in trouble for the sticker? such a cringy sticker.
I remember a friend of mine telling me his cousin had a passat that was in some way modified, I think he had a sticker on it that said lower than your grannys nipples. hopefully he grew up since.

pgj2015

pgj2015 wrote: »

what is the story with the black & decker photo?

Copyright theft.











...or parked on double yellows.