[danimal]

I just took delivery of an AW 228i this morning. Compared with my E90 328i, it seems to already have some degree of tint from the factory. I haven't parked them side by side yet, but I could swear the windows on the 228i are a shade or two darker and seem more reflective.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is there already a factory tint?

I'm really only interested in UV and heat blocking (not darkening), so I wonder if there's still a benefit to getting an extra layer of light (70 or 80%) tint put on the side windows and rear window.

[five3three]

Originally Posted by lichenlt

50% is definitely too light. I think 35% is pretty good as in dark enough for visual appeal and light enough for not impairing visibility at night. As for the heat rejection, you can always use a better film.

Yeah, I do like the kind of tint that I got as the 3M stuff is pretty good. I didn't go for the higher level 3M (Crystalline) mainly due to the bronze color of it, which I didn't think would go well with a dark grey car. Otherwise I would have likely paid the extra 2 or 300 premium for it.

[Vlad-Miami]

hi everyone, I am looking to do Crystalline tinting for my M235i. does anyone happen to know a good window tinting shop in south florida that does 3M tints? any advice will be very appreciated! i am hesitant to go to our cuban shops in miami, i am willing to go up to 100 miles up north for a good shop.

[danimal]

Couple follow-ups:

1. Regarding my question above, I started another thread about whether there is already a factory tint.
2. I did end up getting additional tint. Went with SunTek CXP 70% all around and nothing on the windshield. This gives me good UV protection and so far, seems to keep the car pretty cool. I didn't want to darken the windows too much. CXP is SunTek's top-of-the-line tint, but it's considerably cheaper than 3M Crystalline or Spectra PhotoSync. I haven't judged it in all conditions yet, but so far, I think it offers great value for the money.

Here are a couple photos, though I'm not sure it's very easy to judge how the tint looks because it's really all about lighting. In one photo, it looks like limousine tint, in the other, you can tell that it's really not that dark.

[hoppy6698]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

And done. Looks pretty good I think.





Huper Optik Drei (35%) on sides and back, Llumar AIR 80 (78%) on windshield.

This is my plan, minus the windshield. I have had 35% Huper Optik on my Audi A4 for the past 5 years - it still looks incredible. No interference and noticeably cooler on summer days. A perfect example - after a longish (4 hours) drive in the wife's Q5, my left arm had a tan on it, near sunburn. But that never happened in my A4.

Huper Optik is incredible stuff. I swear by ceramics now.

[Geektechlive]

Legal limit here in Wisconsin is 50%. I think seeing as my car is black sapphire metallic that 50% probably will be more than enough and adequate to be able to tint the car. I'm really only doing this because I like the way of a all black car and the windows currently look a little too clear to me.

We also have a overzealous police staff that seems to pull over anyone and check their tint so I don't really want to invoke the law as it is. We have a lot of younger folk with almost limo tint driving around and it seems like it's easier for the cops to just pull over anyone that has dark tint then anything else which makes sense

My question is the one place that my dealer gave me a recommendation to go to uses a product called LLamAR brand thoughts?

[Geektechlive]

Sorry for typo. It's actually called llumar. Their CTX series looks to be right what I would want.

Here is a link to their PDF sheet.
http://cdn.llumar.com/drupal/llautos...140715_0_0.pdf

[bimmer.535]

Just got it done. I went for solar gard (ultra performance/ceramic) with 30 front and 20back. Was expensive but looks pretty good.

[AWcoupe]

Dealer installed. 35 all around except windshield of course.

[dynamicsound]

If anyone is looking for a Huper Optik Dealer in Atlanta, GA...we are an Authorized Autobahn Dealer from Huper Optik. We carry Huper Optik Xtreme, Performa (Autobahn only), Ceramic, and Select series. Autobahn Dealers are trained at master facilities and have added benefits for customers. In addition to quality window film, you will receive a Nationwide Limited Lifetime Warranty, Transferable Warranty, and a one time No Fault Warranty...all only available at Autobahn Dealers. We also use Huper Optik for Commercial, Residential, and Security. If you have any questions, please give us a call or send us an email since we do not check this board daily. Our info is below...

Dynamic Sound
6300 Jimmy Carter Blvd #104
Norcross, GA 30071
678-622-7144
Sales@DynamicSoundATL.com
www.DynamicSoundATL.com
www.AtlantaTint.com
www.Facebook.com/DynamicSoundATL

[benes136]

just got 3M crystalline 40 on the back 3 windows and 50 on the driver and passanger windows. Love the look.

[StarMan]

I looked at this thread prior to tinting my car. Figured i'll bring it back from the dead.

Those wondering why others look darker than others with the same percentages:

One major thing is the lighting and angle it is coming from when the picture was taken. Also the camera setting used can make it look darker or lighter than what the tint is. Obviously a cloudy day will make the tint look darker, black interior will make tint look darker, at what angle you look at the car and the brand tint will make it look darker than others.

F1 Pinnacle 35 is actually 38% tint when metering stand alone. once installed it is closer to 33% tint.

3M FXST 35 is actually 33% and about 28% when installed on a window

3M Crystalline is arguably the best when it comes to preventing heat entering your car. It is also the most expensive and does not offer under 40. Their 40 is true to 40% tint but will better heat protection when comparing to say a 20% entry level tint. Their 40% will meter out to 35-37% on our cars when installed. But it won't look as dark, in fact it gives it a bronze view at certain angles due to the elements within the tint.

I opted for Suntek CXP 45, their top of the line, but half the price of 3M Crystalline. I'd say this gives the car a more "classy" look. You can't get away in picking your nose, but dark enough to distort your face.

Here is Suntek CXP 45, which is actually 40% tint, which actually meters out to 35% tint when installed on my M235i.

DSLR Manual mode camera, what you see here is what i see with naked eye (well assuming you have a good quality monitor).

Black interior and overcast day. If you were 6ft 5in. then this tint would look blacked out. Average height it would look "smoke" like

[jigogarcia]

I have an 2016 AW M235i with 25% on front windows and 15% back and rear windshield. It looks great with especially against the AW.

[bryan_G01]

They should have tinted your small rear windows much darker.

[Pparana]

Originally Posted by bryan_e90

They should have tinted your small rear windows much darker.

tinted mine, A. I live in FL, B. the greenhouse on this car looks big without the tint. Went with whatever was legal in FL, looks good to me.

[tenfour]

starvmarv

looks great! looks exactly like the same percentage of my tint. in Hawaii, its 32% +/- 3%, i believe, for it to be legal. looks darker than i thought it was going to be, but i did ask for the darkest possible with it being legal. very happy with the outcome.

[bryan_G01]

Its cloudy and rain today, and took this through the window, but you can see.
The back rears are basically limo black (legal) and fronts are just a bit lighter.

[BPC]

Approx 27%

[flavp5]

35% all around

[Beartato]

Had mine done by a local shop, it's the SunTek Carbon type at 50% in the front/18% in the back. I can't decide if they did a bad job or not. There's a few bubbles here and there that should go away as it dries, but the line on the third brake light looks kind of odd.







I pointed out the line on the brake light to the installer and he said to let it dry before I come back to have it fixed.

Question: How far up on the front windows do they tint them? My installer did it all the way to the top and right to the edge of the dot matrix pattern. That won't effect the weather seal right? Doesn't seem to I just wanna ask.

[BPC]

Did he do it by hand or did he get a computer generated model? Mine tried the computer but didn't find the 2016 M235 vert specs - so he did it by hand - resulting in a few areas like yours where the tint edge is short of the window edge. With a convertible I have no problem with it because of the seals that ultimately cover those areas

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by BPC

Did he do it by hand or did he get a computer generated model? Mine tried the computer but didn't find the 2016 M235 vert specs - so he did it by hand - resulting in a few areas like yours where the tint edge is short of the window edge. With a convertible I have no problem with it because of the seals that ultimately cover those areas

It was all by hand. I figure if the bubbles go away the brake light isn't worth going back and complaining about. You can't even notice unless you look up close. The only area of concern for the bubbles is on the driver's door right in my line of sight is a significant bubble about the size of a dime that after I tried pushing out with a credit card split into the size of two peas. Hopefully it goes away. I did do a thorough inspection when I picked it up and the guy was more than happy to push out a few bubbles that had developed in the rear window but the one on the driver's door was really shallow and I didn't notice until I was already home.