thoughts on tints...

chicagoshark · 09-30-2016, 09:31 AM

ive never been a tint guy, so i know nothing, but i plan to tint this car (if i ever get it). My infiniti had no sun protection, and i drive a lot, and my skin is susceptible to sun damage, especially my left arm...

so i figured a tint might help with that.

i was thinking 35%. I think legal limit in illinois is 25%. Thoughts on what is a good tint. Im not in arizona, so it doesnt have to be super dark, nor do i want it to be. But i think the added UV protection might be nice...

shawntech · 09-30-2016, 09:37 AM

I did 20% rear glass, 35% on doors... looks good, only negative is tough to read instrument cluster during the day...

MuffinMan910 · 09-30-2016, 09:37 AM

If you don't want to give the appearance of the tint being super dark, go with 35% all around. It's just enough to block the heat during the day and the tint is more subtle and during the night you'll have no issues seeing outside

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44300

mhutchins14 · 09-30-2016, 10:24 AM

I was never a big tint guy either, but I did get my M3 tinted and it's amazing what a difference it makes. I got 35% so it's not super dark as I don't really like that either. When you notice it is when you get a loaner BMW and it has no tint and when you leave to go eat lunch during the day it's super hot inside, whereas my car with tint isn't nearly as hot.

Eriphill · 09-30-2016, 02:00 PM

Driver side tints are illegal where I live so I went with 30 rear window, 35 back sides, 50 on front sides and I really like it. Not too dark not too light.

metallicpea · 09-30-2016, 03:18 PM

I went 35% all around. I have tinted for the Chicago weather several times now, I have tried lighter and darker, and think this is the sweet spot between temperature and visibility.

If you need a recommendation for a great shop. Sunset Glass Tinting in Plainfield is worth the trip. Brad is the only guy I trust on my cars.

metallicpea · 09-30-2016, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls3c6

I did 20% rear glass, 35% on doors... looks good, only negative is tough to read instrument cluster during the day...

Hey, nice looking car!

chicagoshark · 09-30-2016, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metallicpea

I went 35% all around. I have tinted for the Chicago weather several times now, I have tried lighter and darker, and think this is the sweet spot between temperature and visibility.

If you need a recommendation for a great shop. Sunset Glass Tinting in Plainfield is worth the trip. Brad is the only guy I trust on my cars.

idea on pricing?

also, a general question. tinting and leases? any issues

Score04 · 09-30-2016, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagoshark

ive never been a tint guy, so i know nothing, but i plan to tint this car (if i ever get it). My infiniti had no sun protection, and i drive a lot, and my skin is susceptible to sun damage, especially my left arm...

so i figured a tint might help with that.

i was thinking 35%. I think legal limit in illinois is 25%. Thoughts on what is a good tint. Im not in arizona, so it doesnt have to be super dark, nor do i want it to be. But i think the added UV protection might be nice...

I live in in Illinois and it is 35%. I got my tints here:

http://www.umbrawindowtinting.com/Um...w_tinting.html

Great service and worker! Good luck!

Bob in IL · 09-30-2016, 04:27 PM

Illinois here too. I have 35% all around (except the windshield) on the BMW and for me it's just right. Not too light and not too dark. The interior is tan which helps give it a lighter appearance.

Our Audi has 40% Crystalline and with the black interior and headliner it looks the same. maybe a touch darker than the 35%.

Blubaron79 · 09-30-2016, 04:36 PM

On luxury cars I think anything darker than 35 makes it look 'riced' or too 'hood'.

tturedraider · 09-30-2016, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagoshark

ive never been a tint guy, so i know nothing, but i plan to tint this car (if i ever get it). My infiniti had no sun protection, and i drive a lot, and my skin is susceptible to sun damage, especially my left arm...

so i figured a tint might help with that.

i was thinking 35%. I think legal limit in illinois is 25%. Thoughts on what is a good tint. Im not in arizona, so it doesnt have to be super dark, nor do i want it to be. But i think the added UV protection might be nice...

35% is an excellent choice. It's classy and it gets the job done. I've been tinting my cars for years and 35% works well in the Texas sun. www.llumar.com or www.formulaone.com Pinnacle series (Llumar's ceramic brand) are my choices.

N0Chill 335i · 10-01-2016, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

On luxury cars I think anything darker than 35 makes it look 'riced' or too 'hood'.

What's "luxury" about a 3 series?

Anywho... I've always been a "tints" guy and 20% is the preferred choice for most people in the DC metropolitan area.

It's not just about tint percentage, it's also about technology. I decided to go with Carbon Ceramic as it's right in the middle range. I love the privacy it affords me from the outside, but visibility from the inside is excellent. I've had crappy 20% tint jobs with inferior products that made it damn near impossible to see out of at night. It really comes down to preference, like most things in life. I hope this helps.

RoundelM3 · 10-01-2016, 11:24 AM

I had 30% (max legal in TX) on my 335i until I moved to North Carolina, where 35% is as far as you can go. I had my car re-done to 35% and it is actually easier to see out of at night than with 30%. I have Pinnacle F1 film on both my 335i and my wife's 228i convertible.

metallicpea · 10-03-2016, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagoshark

idea on pricing?

also, a general question. tinting and leases? any issues

290 for everything except the windshield. It is Llumar film.

CalCarNut · 10-03-2016, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

On luxury cars I think anything darker than 35 makes it look 'riced' or too 'hood'.

Riced?

I run 25% all around...(only legal in CA until you get pulled over for it lol)

vitriol · 10-04-2016, 04:27 PM

I've always done 35% all around (not widshield) on every car I've had. All my cars have been either black/gray/silver and I thought the 35% was a perfect complement to these colors.

When I got my new 340 (alpine white), for whatever reason I wanted a very light tint; 35% felt too dark. I ended up going 70% 3M Crystaline all around (including the windshield). Personally I love it. Depending on viewing angle it actually looks pretty dark, though from most angles it's a lot lighter than 35%. Some people say it looks like no tint at all... personally I don't agree... you can tell there's tint, but not enough to get a ticket.

Plus the Crystaline has outstanding heat rejection properties (70% blocks as much heat as 20% standard tint), and it has a cool blue hue that I like.

chiefneil · 10-04-2016, 04:41 PM

I think 35% is a nice medium level. People can still tell there's somebody in the car, but not really make out your features and you can still see reasonably well at night.

When you get down below 25% it's more difficult to back up at night, especially if you're over 30. As you get older you need more light to see; there's some crazy statistic like having half as much sensitivity to light by the time you're 40 vs 20 so age should be a consideration in how dark to go with respect to night driving.

I currently have Crystalline 40% and really like it. It's a touch lighter than I'd like during the day but then it barely impacts visibility at night.

wilbur_the_goose · 10-04-2016, 07:48 PM

I'll be a contrarian. I rented a car in London, UK that had a tinted rear window.

I hated it - Looking out the back via the mirror made me think it was a dark, cloudy day, and visibility for cars without driving lights on was poor.

BEM-S4 · 10-05-2016, 08:01 AM

Going any darker than 35% is purely cosmetic, that's the sweet spot where you get all the benefits and any darker has minimal gains. Non ceramic should be around $200. I wouldn't do ceramic on a lease not worth the money.

donkey · 10-05-2016, 12:42 PM

ANY tint is illegal in my area, so I went with 20% all around

If a cop is having a bad day and I'm getting pulled over anyway, I'd rather have the tint I want on it.
It's not like they're going to guesstimate the shade percentage before pulling you over.

It definitely seemed dark at first (looking out from the inside), but I got used to it and now I can barely tell its there. It did make backing up hard at night so I retrofitted a backup cam.

Now there's no issues and I think it looks great. Haven't gotten pulled over in the 5 months I've had it either (knock on wood).

bad karma · 10-05-2016, 12:54 PM

I've been running 20% on my F31 all around (rear/sides, not windscreen obviously) for over a year with no issues here in Oregon, where 35% is the legal limit. It's not so dark as to be a target, and the four times I've been pulled over I just put all four windows down and turn the cabin lights on immediately, which officers appreciate from a safety standpoint.

09-30-2016, 09:31 AM	#1
chicagoshark Captain 309 Rep 641 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Join Date: May 2016 Location: chicago iTrader: (0)	thoughts on tints... ive never been a tint guy, so i know nothing, but i plan to tint this car (if i ever get it). My infiniti had no sun protection, and i drive a lot, and my skin is susceptible to sun damage, especially my left arm... so i figured a tint might help with that. i was thinking 35%. I think legal limit in illinois is 25%. Thoughts on what is a good tint. Im not in arizona, so it doesnt have to be super dark, nor do i want it to be. But i think the added UV protection might be nice...
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09-30-2016, 09:37 AM	#2
shawntech The Wolf 247 Rep 987 Posts Drives: stuff Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] 2019 BMW M850i conv ... [0.00]	I did 20% rear glass, 35% on doors... looks good, only negative is tough to read instrument cluster during the day... __________________ -2019 BMW m850i convertible -2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody Last edited by shawntech; 09-30-2016 at 10:00 AM..
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09-30-2016, 09:37 AM	#3
MuffinMan910 Lieutenant 135 Rep 524 Posts Drives: 2013 f30 335i xDrive mSport Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (0)	If you don't want to give the appearance of the tint being super dark, go with 35% all around. It's just enough to block the heat during the day and the tint is more subtle and during the night you'll have no issues seeing outside http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44300
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09-30-2016, 10:24 AM	#4
mhutchins14 Lieutenant 34 Rep 445 Posts Drives: MG 2017 340i, 6sp, MPPSK Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, TX, United States iTrader: (0)	I was never a big tint guy either, but I did get my M3 tinted and it's amazing what a difference it makes. I got 35% so it's not super dark as I don't really like that either. When you notice it is when you get a loaner BMW and it has no tint and when you leave to go eat lunch during the day it's super hot inside, whereas my car with tint isn't nearly as hot. __________________ HUTCH 2017 340i 6sp 2015 458 Italia
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09-30-2016, 02:00 PM	#5
Eriphill Lieutenant Colonel 2564 Rep 1,710 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Down by the sea iTrader: (0)	Driver side tints are illegal where I live so I went with 30 rear window, 35 back sides, 50 on front sides and I really like it. Not too dark not too light. Last edited by Eriphill; 09-30-2016 at 03:35 PM..
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09-30-2016, 03:18 PM	#6
metallicpea Major 714 Rep 1,329 Posts Drives: 320i ZSP & E46 M3 6MT Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (1)	I went 35% all around. I have tinted for the Chicago weather several times now, I have tried lighter and darker, and think this is the sweet spot between temperature and visibility. If you need a recommendation for a great shop. Sunset Glass Tinting in Plainfield is worth the trip. Brad is the only guy I trust on my cars. __________________ 2002 325i sport - sold 2009 135i M sport - sold 2009 550i M sport - sold 2005 M3 6MT Jet Black w/Cinnamon 2016 F30 320i ZSP 2003 E46 325it ZSP 5MT
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09-30-2016, 04:27 PM	#10
Bob in IL Captain 790 Rep 997 Posts Drives: 2024 G01 X3, 2019 G30 5 Series Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Chicago area iTrader: (0)	Illinois here too. I have 35% all around (except the windshield) on the BMW and for me it's just right. Not too light and not too dark. The interior is tan which helps give it a lighter appearance. Our Audi has 40% Crystalline and with the black interior and headliner it looks the same. maybe a touch darker than the 35%.
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09-30-2016, 04:36 PM	#11
Blubaron79 Brigadier General 1435 Rep 4,724 Posts Drives: 2021 M340i xDrive Join Date: May 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	On luxury cars I think anything darker than 35 makes it look 'riced' or too 'hood'. __________________ Current: 2021 M340i xDrive Previous: '18 340i xDrive; '15 335 xDrive; '14 435i xDrive; '09 335 E92 xDrive
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10-01-2016, 11:24 AM	#14
RoundelM3 Major General 1837 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	I had 30% (max legal in TX) on my 335i until I moved to North Carolina, where 35% is as far as you can go. I had my car re-done to 35% and it is actually easier to see out of at night than with 30%. I have Pinnacle F1 film on both my 335i and my wife's 228i convertible. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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10-04-2016, 04:27 PM	#17
vitriol Private First Class 15 Rep 128 Posts Drives: 2016 340i M Sport Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	I've always done 35% all around (not widshield) on every car I've had. All my cars have been either black/gray/silver and I thought the 35% was a perfect complement to these colors. When I got my new 340 (alpine white), for whatever reason I wanted a very light tint; 35% felt too dark. I ended up going 70% 3M Crystaline all around (including the windshield). Personally I love it. Depending on viewing angle it actually looks pretty dark, though from most angles it's a lot lighter than 35%. Some people say it looks like no tint at all... personally I don't agree... you can tell there's tint, but not enough to get a ticket. Plus the Crystaline has outstanding heat rejection properties (70% blocks as much heat as 20% standard tint), and it has a cool blue hue that I like.
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10-04-2016, 04:41 PM	#18
chiefneil Lieutenant Colonel 772 Rep 1,502 Posts Drives: 2014 335i M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	I think 35% is a nice medium level. People can still tell there's somebody in the car, but not really make out your features and you can still see reasonably well at night. When you get down below 25% it's more difficult to back up at night, especially if you're over 30. As you get older you need more light to see; there's some crazy statistic like having half as much sensitivity to light by the time you're 40 vs 20 so age should be a consideration in how dark to go with respect to night driving. I currently have Crystalline 40% and really like it. It's a touch lighter than I'd like during the day but then it barely impacts visibility at night.
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10-04-2016, 07:48 PM	#19
wilbur_the_goose Major 353 Rep 1,245 Posts Drives: 2018 330ix Gran Turismo Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Metro Philly iTrader: (0)	I'll be a contrarian. I rented a car in London, UK that had a tinted rear window. I hated it - Looking out the back via the mirror made me think it was a dark, cloudy day, and visibility for cars without driving lights on was poor.
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10-05-2016, 08:01 AM	#20
BEM-S4 Major General 4516 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	Going any darker than 35% is purely cosmetic, that's the sweet spot where you get all the benefits and any darker has minimal gains. Non ceramic should be around $200. I wouldn't do ceramic on a lease not worth the money. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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10-05-2016, 12:42 PM	#21
donkey Captain 464 Rep 716 Posts Drives: 6MT M2 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Flavortown iTrader: (0)	ANY tint is illegal in my area, so I went with 20% all around If a cop is having a bad day and I'm getting pulled over anyway, I'd rather have the tint I want on it. It's not like they're going to guesstimate the shade percentage before pulling you over. It definitely seemed dark at first (looking out from the inside), but I got used to it and now I can barely tell its there. It did make backing up hard at night so I retrofitted a backup cam. Now there's no issues and I think it looks great. Haven't gotten pulled over in the 5 months I've had it either (knock on wood). Last edited by donkey; 10-05-2016 at 12:51 PM..
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10-05-2016, 12:54 PM	#22
bad karma Captain 445 Rep 752 Posts Drives: 2015 328i F31 M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	I've been running 20% on my F31 all around (rear/sides, not windscreen obviously) for over a year with no issues here in Oregon, where 35% is the legal limit. It's not so dark as to be a target, and the four times I've been pulled over I just put all four windows down and turn the cabin lights on immediately, which officers appreciate from a safety standpoint. __________________
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