tint

[mallards]

whats the best kinda tint for the e46 sedan line ....

i dont like anything chrome or purple looking ... all i want is a (legal) black tint on all four windows and the back ... (something around the same tint as the moon roof)

also ... around the back two doors there are those back dots on the window ... is that going to be a problem?

any suggestions? thanks in adv.

Ben

ps- im in the dallas - austin area of Texas so if you know any good tint places near, please let me know

 

[codex57]

Plain black tint? Huper Optik is the best by far. It also costs accordingly. I was quoted $375 for all 5 windows. I ended up just doing the back two for $275.

The best tints are Huper Optik and V-Kool. V-Kool was developed either by Mercedes or for Mercedes. I don't like it cuz it's metallic based so it's kinda reflecty. Huper is ceramic based so it doesn't have the disadvantages of metallic based tint. However, V-Kool blocks more heat with lighter shades, thus being able to offer tint in a 70 and 75 shade which almost looks like there's no tint at all.

 

[bmwrocks]

also ... around the back two doors there are those back dots on the window ... is that going to be a problem?

I think the dots around the door windows are not a problem. They are in a narrow enough strip so that the tint material can be cut to fit inside of them without the problem of too much light getting in where the dots are. In other words, ask them to not put tint material on the dots themselves.

The rear windshield is a different story. If yours is like mine, the top and bottom has a relatively wide row of dots. You have two options here.

Option 1: You can tint the whole window including the dots. If you do this, it will not look as clean because the tint material does not adhere as well to the dot material as the glass, so it is noticeable (disadvantage). However there will be no strip where the light entering will be brighter (advantage) when looking from the inside.

Option 2: You can have the tint cut to fit inside the dots. This looks cleaner (advantage). However light coming in from the top and bottom will be noticeably brighter (disadvantage).

There is a third option which I think is stupid though (mod to option 1). You can sand off the dots until they are flat so the tint material will adhere better and will look cleaner. I would not do this because you are mucking with the car's finish.

I prefer option 1 as it doesn't look all that bad. Also you can always have the part on the dots removed later if you just can't live with it.

 

[codex57]

A good tint shop won't have a problem with the dot matrix. If they mention any of the following methods (and others) sanding, using black vinyl to cover it, painting, not covering it at all, etc. that just means they suck. Go somewhere else. You can simply call and ask if they know how to handle it. It's really not that hard. Just takes time and effort on the part of the installer. Basically, they have to make sure the excess water is gone/evaporated as they install over the dot matrix. It does take longer so plan on leaving your car there for a few hours.

 

[MrElussive]

codex, you were quoted at $375 for 5 windows? On my Jetta, my 5 windows were tinted for $200. For my G35C, my rear windshield was tinted 15% for $120 and I thought that was a steep price.

 

[MyHarley]

Just a suggestion, but ask your dealership salesman who they use...........that way you will know who handles the BMW's the best........all five windows of mine were done for $175.00 and it is perfect including the dots...........well I do have a scratch that I did taking out the wind deflector........

 

[mallards]

Just a suggestion, but ask your dealership salesman who they use...........that way you will know who handles the BMW's the best........all five windows of mine were done for $175.00 and it is perfect including the dots...........well I do have a scratch that I did taking out the wind deflector........

wind deflector?

ben

 

[MyHarley]

its a black mesh screen with BMW lettering that fits behind the front seats for when the top is down..........most guys here think you need to go natural with the top down, but I like the look of the lettering reflecting at night, plus my hair does not look like a bird nest when I get home..........

 

[Average Jae]

got my rear two and rear windshield done in 20% titanium for $260. my friend had two of his cars tinted the same way, and the titanium films aren't as dark from the outside, but is supposed to resist fading present in some of hte cheaper films. i thought about doing the limo tint, but i like the way it turned out.

if i ever get my digi cam fixed, i'll post some..

 

[codex57]

codex, you were quoted at $375 for 5 windows? On my Jetta, my 5 windows were tinted for $200. For my G35C, my rear windshield was tinted 15% for $120 and I thought that was a steep price.

That was for the Huper Optik tint. If I wanted V-Kool on all 5, it woulda been abou $415. My tint is expensive stuff b/c it blocks heat way more than regular tint. Stuff is pretty amazing. W/ just the sunshade up and sitting in the hot sun for a few hours, my car just feels a bit warm. The air is slightly warm as you open it up but goes away after a couple of seconds. The seats are just warm to the touch and sitting in them w/ shorts is no problem. This is on a car w/ black leatherette too. I had Limo tint on my civic and in direct sunlight, the heat was still overwhelming when you first open the car. And the Civic was white too.

Regular tint can go as low as $100 for all 5 windows around here. Our E-class was done for $130 w/ metallic tint too. Course, the install job on the E and the install job on mine were far different in quality. You gotta pay about $200 or a bit more for a real good install job w/ regular tint.

 

[Average Jae]

curious thing about tints, will it affect your radar detector perf? esp if you tint the rear windshield, will it pretty much make your radar's rear coverage pretty much blind?

cuz when you install the radar in your front windshild, you want to place it under the bluish tint to maximize the detection range. thanks

 

[codex57]

Supposedly it will affect radar detectors some, but then, even the windshield will affect it to some degree. Metallic tint affects it the most supposedly.