30% Window Film

2006 GLIs come equipped with stock tinted blue glass. It is a signature trademark to these models only and it was sadly discontinued for 2007 vehicles. A good example of what it looks like can be seen on the picture to the left. Blue glass is admittedly one of my favorite aesthetic features about the car and the only reason why I was hesitant about tinting the windows. Not only does it give the car an upscale European look, the tint also affects how everything looks inside the car, giving everything a cool blue hue. I eventually decided to tint the windows because the summer months in Seattle can get pretty hot and tint protects the interior. I also wanted enhanced privacy inside the vehicle and think slightly darker glass is a visual enhancement on a sporty car. However, I wanted to ensure the tint would not overpower the stock blue hue to the point where it would disappear completely. Overall I think I achieved the goal.

I researched several different film brands to suit my specific needs. I wanted a neutral gray film, with no bronze or green in it at all, which is somewhat difficult to find since most tint makers put a slight shade color of some kind. The other option was to put on darker blue tint but the few examples I had seen, quickly changed my mind as they appear excessively blue and the appeal is lost at that point. Discussing this with one of the local installers I was told about Greystone Johnson Window Film which is a non-metallic, double layer pigment film. The legal limit for window tint in Washington is 35%. However, Greystone does not come in that shade. It was either 41% or 30% so I went with 30%.

The painstaking installation process took well over 4 hours; thankfully, the installer Frankie does house calls and can install at home as long as you have a garage in which he can work. He also used this method in which the very edge of the tint sheet was filed into the glass edge for a complete OEM look around the window edges. The only areas in which you can tell tint was applied to the glass is around the edges of the rear windshield and the rear door small windows due to the dot matrix which cannot be covered with film. In the end, I am pleased with the results. The OEM blue tint still shines though on clear days and the benefits and aesthetic enhancement of darker glass are all there.