[henryhu]

Hi. I would like to tint my windows for a 335d silver exterior and black interior.

1. Does anyone know how effective are they in reducing the heat in the car? My car is really hot when sitting outside for 30min during the day because of the black interior.

2. What % of tint do you recommend? I would like the tint to be consistent in the front and rear door windows. Maybe different for the back window.

3. Which brand is the best?

4. Do you know any good shops around Roanoke, VA for tinting the windows?

5. Does anyone has scratching issues? Do I need to install the tint protector?

6. I have auto dim mirrors. Do you think it will be affected in some way?

7. Pros and cons for tint windows?

Thanks. I will post some pictures after tinting the windows.

[tldoxmf87]

1. It's a night and day difference. When I didn't have the tint, the heat coming thru the window was extremely hot during the day. After I got the tint, the light coming thru the window is now very warm and soft.

2. 35% all around is the most popular. Not too dark, not too light and very classy.

3. F1 Pinnacle Ceramic or something like that.

5. 2011 models don't have scratching issues.

[fdriller9]

1. The % is the amount of light that is allows to pass through. It does help with heat but only to a certain extent. Obviously the lower % the, less amount of light/heat.

2. I personally like 35% all around.

3. I'm not sure about this one as I am in the market for tint as well....would like to know this as well.

4. Nope, sorry.

5. I think all early E9x cars have this issue, some worse than others. I notice it on my '06 E90 330xi, no tint. you can install felt on the interior rubber seal to prevent this issue.

6. I don't think it does but I may depend on type of tint installed...not sure about this one.

7. Con...If your local laws don't allow a certain % or front window tints...be prepared to get pulled over.

Pro...Heat reduction.

Pro...aesthetics (for some, con for others).

Con...if you go too dark, night driving becomes difficult.

Can't think of any others off the top of my head.

[pruettfan]

To block heat tint has to be high quality not dark. I live on the face of the sun and those of us out here in AZ that want the best tint get 3M Crystalline. It is a nano technology ceramic tint that at 40% is more effective that conventional tints at 5%. It is expensive but I have even had 70% applied to my windshield and on a 115degree day after a few minutes my ac is barely on because this stuff is so effective. In the E90's the rear windows the tint has a tendency to get scratched. I am not sure why but I have seen very small and light lines appear on the rear windows. Front is not a problem, for me at least. I have 40% all the way around. It is lighter than many cars here is AZ but because of the tint I used I have much better heat blocking and driving at night is much better since I am not trying to see through dark tint.

Just sharing my experiences so please don't turn this into a 3m versus F1 pinnacle thread.

[NaTuReB0Y]

black/black........tint does very little to help

i usually look for a shade to park.....even if it means walking farther.....

[persian54]

1. Does anyone know how effective are they in reducing the heat in the car? My car is really hot when sitting outside for 30min during the day because of the black interior.
Very much. My steering wheel isn't as hot. Then again, I also tinted my windshield.

2. What % of tint do you recommend? I would like the tint to be consistent in the front and rear door windows. Maybe different for the back window.
Preference.
I went 30 all around, 60 windshield.

3. Which brand is the best?
F1, but it's expensive; you can get 3M.

5. Does anyone has scratching issues? Do I need to install the tint protector?
No.

6. I have auto dim mirrors. Do you think it will be affected in some way?
No. But if you go too dark, it gets realllly hard to see. I have 30 and it can get difficult at times so I put the windows down... I can't imagine 5%..


7. Pros and cons for tint windows?
Cons:
Cops
Hard to see at night if it's too dark
Costs money
Dealer might give you shit for it (my roof had a smallll leak and they blamed it on the tint... I bitched and they finally addressed it)

Pros:
Enhances the look (if that's what you prefer)
Reduces Heat
Reduces glare and helps your eyes at night (I have had eye surgery, and without a tinted windshield, it's a bitch to drive when there's oncoming traffic, not impossible, but a hassle)
If you get UV resistant/reflector type tint, it can help reduce skin cancer :P (or so I would like to believe lol)

[henryhu]

I am looking at 50% all around. Do you think this is too light? I see some of you tint the windshield. I am looking into that as well, but I thought it is illegal. Do you know if a %100 tint on the windshield help heat reduction?

[chef_geek]

Hey henryhu. I also just purchased a 335d and am looking at tint as my first "mod" to the car. From my research (and I'm in VA too), we're allowed 35% tint on the back windows (back windshield and back side windows) and we're allowed 50% on the front two windows, tinting the front windshield is illegal. I'm like you, I want all my tint to be uniform...some of my coworkers are "getting away" with 35% all around. I guess as long as you're not stopped or you roll your front windows down before the cop gets there, you'll be ok. I was looking at Pinnacle F1 installers in the area, and they seem to be in Northern VA. I'll have to research the 3M Crystalline stuff, haven't heard of that one yet. The good thing about F1 and probably the 3M is it has a lifetime guarantee. So if anything happens to the tint down the road (bubbles, peeling, etc) they'll fix it free. I'm sure any tint will help...my last car was a black/black and I didn't have tint. It got really hot and the seat fabric faded...now I'll get tint right away so I can enjoy it longer!

[henryhu]

So far, I have looked at a few brands.

3M, F1, Solar gard, Huper Optik, Llumar.

Which one do you think is the best? Or best for its price?

[henryhu]

Originally Posted by chef_geek

Hey henryhu. I also just purchased a 335d and am looking at tint as my first "mod" to the car. From my research (and I'm in VA too), we're allowed 35% tint on the back windows (back windshield and back side windows) and we're allowed 50% on the front two windows, tinting the front windshield is illegal. I'm like you, I want all my tint to be uniform...some of my coworkers are "getting away" with 35% all around. I guess as long as you're not stopped or you roll your front windows down before the cop gets there, you'll be ok. I was looking at Pinnacle F1 installers in the area, and they seem to be in Northern VA. I'll have to research the 3M Crystalline stuff, haven't heard of that one yet. The good thing about F1 and probably the 3M is it has a lifetime guarantee. So if anything happens to the tint down the road (bubbles, peeling, etc) they'll fix it free. I'm sure any tint will help...my last car was a black/black and I didn't have tint. It got really hot and the seat fabric faded...now I'll get tint right away so I can enjoy it longer!

Great to hear. Let me know what % of tint do you choose in the end.
In what area are you in VA. I live in Blacksburg

[fdriller9]

100% tint is like having no tint on your glass....it allows 100% of light to come through. I don't think they even make tint that is 100%...

[gos]

Originally Posted by *********

100% tint is like having no tint on your glass....it allows 100% of light to come through. I don't think they even make tint that is 100%...

They're called tints because they block some visible light, but there are also coatings/films that only block UV/IR spectrum light. Most people have them on their eyeglasses.

[Viper Two Four]

I live in Va also but I am running 5%

[henryhu]

I am looking at 50% all around tint with F1 pinnacle. And Llumar Blue AIR 80 on the windshield.

Does anyone know if I may not be able to pass the Virginia State inspection because of the tint on the windshield? 80% tint is barely noticeable.

[Viper Two Four]

Originally Posted by henryhu

I am looking at 50% all around tint with F1 pinnacle. And Llumar Blue AIR 80 on the windshield.

Does anyone know if I may not be able to pass the Virginia State inspection because of the tint on the windshield? 80% tint is barely noticeable.

If you where glasses see if you can get a tint waver

[Spydeputy]

i had scratching issues, installed mole skin on all 4 windows. now it's a non-issue.
http://www.tintprotector.com/

[E92-Lighting]

F1 pinnacle tint at 35% all around