Tinting the un-tintable... Need assistance / advice

Per home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/, 17 states, including California, allow no form of tint on windshields. Only Indiana allows any tint, but a law is in the hopper to change that. Other states allow about 4-6 inches of tint at the top of the windshield.

I searched several sites for good information on headlight tints, didn't find anything comprehensive or useful. But here's a bit from a discussion of California law:

Blue and yellow headlights. Headlights must be white - blue and yellow are illegal (24011 VC). Look for the DOT symbol on the bulb and package.

Maybe that will help

 

Some of us used http://www.jonstintedtails.com/ to have our tail lights tinted. He can also tint the headlights too if you really want him to. Check with your state's regulations first though.

I simply painted all the Toyota emblems that I couldn't remove, using factory paint that can be bought at the dealership parts store.

As for removing the sideview mirrors, I don't think that's legal anywhere, even if you replace them with monitors, because if the monitors malfunction you still need mirrors.

Galaxee was able to get the windshield tinted, but it required some sort of paperwork from her optometrist or something like that.

 

do you have some kind of sadistic, evil, or otherwise disturbed reason to rush out and get your car impounded or what?

 

i'm pretty light sensitive- i have a rx for windshield tint and got it done at 45% VLT. my tint guy wouldn't do it until i had the paperwork. not that anyone's pulled me over for having the windshield tinted since the job was done last year.

it's almost universally illegal to tint headlights. but state law where i'm from just requires a certain distance visibility of the tail and brake lights. we played with the idea. you'd have to look up your local laws.

 

Somebody already thought of tinting the tail lights.

"Black Crystal" JDM full blacked-out tail lights $775US the pair. Yikes!

Sigma Automotive – Toyota Hybrid Prius 2004 - 2009 OEM & JDM auto accessories

(JDM -- Japanese Domestic Market)

 

i know you probably didn't mean it that way, but you don't want to experience pain and suffering upon walking into bright sunlight. i would also consider darkness of tint and night driving.

 

California... they just don't get it.

 

I can't answer all your questions, but have done SOME of the things you mention.

All the badges and emblems come off. I used a little heat and my finger nails to get them started. You might have to use something like an ice cream bar stick whittled into a wedge if your nails aren't strong. You just don't want to scratch the paint.

Some compound and polish should remove any evidence that the badge was there. My car was new, so there was zero fading. The front and rear emblems have pins that fit into little holes in the metal, as do the side hybrid badges. All the rest don't and leave no holes. I had success painting the emblems with plastic paint made by Krylon. Rust Oleum makes some, too. (Probably much less expensive than what a dealer might charge.) You do have to follow the instructions about dry times and re-coating since ignoring them results in a crinkled finish. In fact, I would recommend extending the dry time between coats. After a week, I was able to polish the paint and it held up very well.

At first I used a dark vinyl to cover the front turn signals only. I have since lightened the tint for safety reasons.

Edit: 3M makes an excellent general purpose adhesive cleaner which will remove any residue left after pulling off the badges and emblems. (It is expensive, but will save time if that is a concern.) Also, you will need a double-sided tape available at an auto paint store to replace the painted emblems.

As to the front windsheild, you'll probably need a friendly opthalmologist to verify that you have light-sensitive eyes and issue an Rx for you.