Alpine White M3. To tint or not?

OzStriker · 12-09-2007, 06:02 AM

Hi guys,
I don't know whether I should get my windows tinted, which means I will probably drive around without tint initially but would appreciate any input.

DonM3 · 12-09-2007, 06:10 AM

I'm not a big fan of tints and will not be getting them on my M3 regardless of the colour of the car. Additionally its not worth the hassle with cops over in the UK.

Big Windy · 12-09-2007, 06:33 AM

light tint. no more, no less.

geesus · 12-09-2007, 06:33 AM

I have ordered the factory sun protection glass which gives you darker glass on the rear side windows and the rear glass. I've seen it in the flesh and it looks pretty good. I think I'll leave the front windows though due to hassle from the cops.

southlight · 12-09-2007, 06:38 AM

IMHO no tint since it always has a different shade than the CF roof.

Best regards, south

RandyB · 12-09-2007, 08:39 AM

I haven't had window tint since the mid-90s. Don't care for it anymore.

Epacy · 12-09-2007, 08:53 AM

All I gots to say is tell me this doesn't look good.

Champagne · 12-09-2007, 09:05 AM

Tint! Always tint!

If not for the good looks, for the ability to leave expensive things in the backseat and not have to be worried about break ins.

ChinoOrtega · 12-09-2007, 09:41 AM

medium tint, black wheels!!!!!!!!!

gbb357 · 12-09-2007, 10:26 AM

Not an M3, but close enough. White with tint just looks sooo classy and sporty. Pics from e90post, btw.

southlight · 12-09-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epacy

All I gots to say is tell me this doesn't look good.

Illegal in Germany.

Best regards, south

Epacy · 12-09-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southlight

Illegal in Germany.

Best regards, south

Lame.

Front window tint is illegal in IL but in most parts of the state cops don't care.

southlight · 12-09-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epacy

Lame.

Front window tint is illegal in IL but in most parts of the state cops don't care.

Front window and front side window tint is illegal here, and the German police would care!

Best regards, south

Voltigeur · 12-09-2007, 11:37 AM

Well, also depends on where you live, clearly (not Bayern - grey winters and also the regulatory). Tint is a must in hot / bright climes like Australia, SW USA, TX, SAR ....

I also think a moderate tint looks good on Bimmers - especially w/ shadow trim. Both mine have a medium tint - looks good, and cuts glare.

nechronics · 12-09-2007, 12:08 PM

Alpine white, of all colors requires tint to look it's best IMO. South has a point that the shade won't always match with the CF roof (or maybe he's just bitter about german law

) but that color needs tint more than any other color if you ask me. It's hard for me to get the look of that color w/o the total white/black contrast.

Likewise, I think jerez/jet black require tint the least to look their best...but hey, that's just me.

GregW / Oregon · 12-09-2007, 12:16 PM

I've never had tint, myself. I think it can look good, especially with white. Here in Oregon several months are pretty gray, and I can't imagine how dismal it would be in the cabin with no sunroof and dark tint. Also, front window tint (beyond a light level) is illegal and gives the law a reason to stop you if they're looking for one. If I lived in like California or Florida or Oz I would probably do it.

Voltigeur · 12-09-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nechronics

Likewise, I think jerez/jet black require tint the least to look their best...but hey, that's just me.

A mate of mine saw a red w/ the dark 18" rims and tinted glass (on the Gold Coast, Queensland) and said it looked fantastic & menacing.

Is it just me or does it appear that the Melbourne red + CF roof doesn't look that great in pics - yet the several who have seen this colour in the metal say it looks great

UltimateBMW · 12-09-2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbb357

Hate that look. While the tint looks good, the slammed to the ground kills any class the car had. I like flush finishes between the wheels and wheel well, when it over laps like that I cringe and want to punt a baby.

Voltigeur · 12-09-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

Hate that look. While the tint looks good, the slammed to the ground kills any class the car had.

+1 And impractical to boot: don't want to drive that on TX country back-roads = body work inevitability

FifthStreetz · 12-09-2007, 03:35 PM

i would def. tint.

OzStriker · 12-09-2007, 03:39 PM

Thanks for your input everyone, especially for those pics, I didn't think to look at other BMW models in AW with tint.

I will be sure to take before and after photos!

x5love · 12-09-2007, 04:30 PM

I never liked heavy limo tints, especially on a white car i feel like the contrast is too jarring and sometimes makes the car look less authentic, more aftermarket, which for a car as spectacular as the M3 can be a major downfall, you want the car to look clean and pristine, not constrained by aftermarket additions (no offense to anyone)

I think a medium to light tint can look really classy, provides a nice contrast to the white and even adds to the classiness by taking away the mess of the weird contrast between the pillars and the clear glass. if that makes any sense.

in the end, whatever looks good to you, whatever makes you happy every time you look at your car in the garage is what's important, not necessarily what other people think.

View Poll Results: Would the M3 in AW look best with or without window tint?
Best with tint.	38	73.08%
Best without tint.	10	19.23%
I don't know...	4	7.69%
Voters: 52. You may not vote on this poll

12-09-2007, 06:02 AM	#1
OzStriker Captain Drives: Ford Falcon Ute, Ducati 1198S Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 923 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 2009 Ducati 1198S [0.00]	Alpine White M3. To tint or not? Hi guys, I don't know whether I should get my windows tinted, which means I will probably drive around without tint initially but would appreciate any input.
	Tweet

12-09-2007, 08:53 AM	#7
Epacy Reincarnated Drives: 02 Maxima SE Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: IL Posts: 4,227 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 M3 [0.00]	All I gots to say is tell me this doesn't look good. __________________ Pearl Bliss

12-09-2007, 10:26 AM	#10
gbb357 Captain Drives: IS300 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 707 iTrader: (0)	Definitely tint. Not an M3, but close enough. White with tint just looks sooo classy and sporty. Pics from e90post, btw.

12-09-2007, 11:37 AM	#14
Voltigeur MacroRisk Drives: M3 E92 ED'09 / 335d Sport DD Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: TX Posts: 2,369 iTrader: (0)	Well, also depends on where you live, clearly (not Bayern - grey winters and also the regulatory). Tint is a must in hot / bright climes like Australia, SW USA, TX, SAR .... I also think a moderate tint looks good on Bimmers - especially w/ shadow trim. Both mine have a medium tint - looks good, and cuts glare. __________________ Just thinking of something witty ///M3 E92 '09 Jerez Black \| 6MT \| Ext Fox Red \| Tech \| Prem \| 19s \|Heated Seats \| iPod \|Smartphone \| Euro Deliv June 09 Sold: 540iT / 530i / 323i

12-09-2007, 06:10 AM	#2
DonM3 Captain Drives: AW e92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London Posts: 629 iTrader: (1)	I'm not a big fan of tints and will not be getting them on my M3 regardless of the colour of the car. Additionally its not worth the hassle with cops over in the UK.

12-09-2007, 06:33 AM	#3
Big Windy Major General Drives: audi s4 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: seatac, wa Posts: 5,165 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 E92 M3 [0.00] 2000 Saleen S281 Su ... [0.00]	light tint. no more, no less.

12-09-2007, 06:33 AM	#4
geesus The General Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Leicester, United Kingdom of Great Britian Posts: 107 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 M3 E92 [0.00] 2007 BMW M3 E92 [0.00] 2005 350z [0.00]	I have ordered the factory sun protection glass which gives you darker glass on the rear side windows and the rear glass. I've seen it in the flesh and it looks pretty good. I think I'll leave the front windows though due to hassle from the cops.

12-09-2007, 06:38 AM	#5
southlight Moderator / European Editor Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 6,332 iTrader: (0)	IMHO no tint since it always has a different shade than the CF roof. Best regards, south

12-09-2007, 08:39 AM	#6
RandyB Lieutenant Colonel Drives: '03 330i, '09 M3 Coupe Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,504 iTrader: (0)	I haven't had window tint since the mid-90s. Don't care for it anymore.

12-09-2007, 09:05 AM	#8
Champagne Second Lieutenant Drives: E92 M3 Coupé Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sweden, Stockholm Posts: 271 iTrader: (0)	Tint! Always tint! If not for the good looks, for the ability to leave expensive things in the backseat and not have to be worried about break ins.

12-09-2007, 09:41 AM	#9
ChinoOrtega Lieutenant Drives: M3 e92 Space Gray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Guatemala Posts: 578 iTrader: (0)	medium tint, black wheels!!!!!!!!!

12-09-2007, 12:08 PM	#15
nechronics Lieutenant Drives: M3 Join Date: May 2007 Location: south tampa Posts: 438 iTrader: (0)	Alpine white, of all colors requires tint to look it's best IMO. South has a point that the shade won't always match with the CF roof (or maybe he's just bitter about german law ) but that color needs tint more than any other color if you ask me. It's hard for me to get the look of that color w/o the total white/black contrast. Likewise, I think jerez/jet black require tint the least to look their best...but hey, that's just me.

12-09-2007, 12:16 PM	#16
GregW / Oregon Commander-In-Chief Drives: 2008 M3 Coupe, 2006 ML350 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 6,051 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 M-B ML350 [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 Coupe [4.75]	AW with tint I've never had tint, myself. I think it can look good, especially with white. Here in Oregon several months are pretty gray, and I can't imagine how dismal it would be in the cabin with no sunroof and dark tint. Also, front window tint (beyond a light level) is illegal and gives the law a reason to stop you if they're looking for one. If I lived in like California or Florida or Oz I would probably do it. __________________ Greg Lake Oswego, Oregon, USA 2008 M3 Coupe - Alpine/Fox Red/Carbon 2001 M3 Coupe - SOLD 3/08 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350 (2012 ML350 BlueTEC on order)

12-09-2007, 03:35 PM	#20
FifthStreetz O! So Sour!! Drives: Fast e30 / Slow M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Fort Lee, NJ Posts: 15,221 iTrader: (20) Garage List 2008 M3 [4.50]	i would def. tint. __________________

12-09-2007, 03:39 PM	#21
OzStriker Captain Drives: Ford Falcon Ute, Ducati 1198S Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 923 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 2009 Ducati 1198S [0.00]	Thanks for your input everyone, especially for those pics, I didn't think to look at other BMW models in AW with tint. I will be sure to take before and after photos!

12-09-2007, 04:30 PM	#22
x5love Captain Drives: 08 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: CA Posts: 633 iTrader: (0)	I never liked heavy limo tints, especially on a white car i feel like the contrast is too jarring and sometimes makes the car look less authentic, more aftermarket, which for a car as spectacular as the M3 can be a major downfall, you want the car to look clean and pristine, not constrained by aftermarket additions (no offense to anyone) I think a medium to light tint can look really classy, provides a nice contrast to the white and even adds to the classiness by taking away the mess of the weird contrast between the pillars and the clear glass. if that makes any sense. in the end, whatever looks good to you, whatever makes you happy every time you look at your car in the garage is what's important, not necessarily what other people think.