Tint the windshield?

yo_swampy · 11-24-2008, 09:27 AM

How many people have done this? What are the Pro's & Con's?

I hadn't really thought about it before but I guess it makes some sense. My major concern is the flying rock that puts a nice chip/crack in the windshield 2 days after having the tint.

Would appreciate opinions on whether it's worth doing.

Thanks

IND-Distribution · 11-24-2008, 09:46 AM

From my experience, Chicago police will pull you over nearly instantly for a tinted front windshield, so it's not worth it around here.

In terms of visibility, I'd suggest something like a 45%, as you can still see out of that with relative ease.

FStop7 · 11-24-2008, 09:53 AM

My E46 had 50% on the windshield. It was OK, I don't think I'd do it again. Too much reduced visibility at night or in underground garages.

chompino · 11-24-2008, 11:53 AM

My last car had 50% as well. It was perfect. It helps so much during the day time and I really couldn't tell the reduced visibility at night. I'm planning on getting mine done soon. I've seen a couple cars with 35%. It looked good, but probably a little dark for me.

Technic · 11-24-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yo_swampy

How many people have done this? What are the Pro's & Con's?

I hadn't really thought about it before but I guess it makes some sense. My major concern is the flying rock that puts a nice chip/crack in the windshield 2 days after having the tint.

Would appreciate opinions on whether it's worth doing.

Thanks

My last two cars (E46 M3 and VW GTI) and my current two cars (E90 M3, VW Passat) all have had their front windshield tinted with 50% film. No visibility issues under any lighting or weather conditions, the climate control works much better, no police stops and the car looks better. Most of the people outside the car cannot realize that the windshield is in fact tinted.

Examples:

I don't think that darker than 50% film will work as well, though.

pittsy · 11-24-2008, 12:54 PM

I had 2% all around on my last car and 10% on the windshield. I never got pulled over which was very suprising, that thing was SOO dark!! However I never drove that car at night! The car I did drive at night had 50% on the windshield and it was fine, no problems at all!

FStop7 · 11-24-2008, 03:37 PM

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...i/DSCF0030.jpg

That is one of the best photos of an E46 M3 I have ever seen. It captures everything about the car that made it such a huge head-turner when it first debuted. It looks amazing in that pic. Perfect stance, shows all the lines, the widened fenders, and the lip is awesome.

Vorsteiner really needs to make a version of that same lip for the E9x M3.

spectrumphoto · 11-25-2008, 04:42 AM

I have the Pinnacle 50% on my front mostly for summer sun and a black leather interior. It works wonderfully. I really do not notice light loss much rather a gain in contrast especially on days when it is overcast.

I would suspect that there is maybe a 5-10% chance that anyone could actually tell that my windshield is tinted... It looks more like a factory UV coat than anything.

11-24-2008, 09:27 AM	#1
yo_swampy New Member 2 Rep 7 Posts Drives: M3 Sedan DCT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Tint the windshield? How many people have done this? What are the Pro's & Con's? I hadn't really thought about it before but I guess it makes some sense. My major concern is the flying rock that puts a nice chip/crack in the windshield 2 days after having the tint. Would appreciate opinions on whether it's worth doing. Thanks
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11-24-2008, 09:46 AM	#2
IND-Distribution BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 9588 Rep 10,878 Posts Drives: G82 M4 / G87 M2 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago iTrader: (3)	From my experience, Chicago police will pull you over nearly instantly for a tinted front windshield, so it's not worth it around here. In terms of visibility, I'd suggest something like a 45%, as you can still see out of that with relative ease. __________________ IND DISTRIBUTION \| 866-963-4520 • INSTAGRAM • YOUTUBE • FACEBOOK • FLICKR
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11-24-2008, 09:53 AM	#3
FStop7 I like cars 329 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	My E46 had 50% on the windshield. It was OK, I don't think I'd do it again. Too much reduced visibility at night or in underground garages.
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11-24-2008, 11:53 AM	#4
chompino First Lieutenant 50 Rep 372 Posts Drives: 08 AW M3 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Santa Monica, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 M3 [0.00]	My last car had 50% as well. It was perfect. It helps so much during the day time and I really couldn't tell the reduced visibility at night. I'm planning on getting mine done soon. I've seen a couple cars with 35%. It looked good, but probably a little dark for me.
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11-24-2008, 12:54 PM	#6
pittsy Captain 62 Rep 860 Posts Drives: Jerez...E92 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	I had 2% all around on my last car and 10% on the windshield. I never got pulled over which was very suprising, that thing was SOO dark!! However I never drove that car at night! The car I did drive at night had 50% on the windshield and it was fine, no problems at all! __________________ 08 E92 M3 Jerez Black \| Bamboo \| 6MT \| 18s \| 5% tint \| No iDrive \| Heated Seats \| V1 hardwire \| ///M Alu Pedals \| Matte Black Grills \| Painted Reflectors \| CF Roundels \| GP Thunder 8500k \| Remus Race Exhaust \| VMR V701 18s Matte Black
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11-24-2008, 03:37 PM	#7
FStop7 I like cars 329 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...i/DSCF0030.jpg That is one of the best photos of an E46 M3 I have ever seen. It captures everything about the car that made it such a huge head-turner when it first debuted. It looks amazing in that pic. Perfect stance, shows all the lines, the widened fenders, and the lip is awesome. Vorsteiner really needs to make a version of that same lip for the E9x M3.
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11-25-2008, 04:42 AM	#8
spectrumphoto Just another peanut in the Turd! 92 Rep 598 Posts Drives: g16M850;f30M550;f80M3-ED;e90M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Hollywierd, SoCal iTrader: (2)	I have the Pinnacle 50% on my front mostly for summer sun and a black leather interior. It works wonderfully. I really do not notice light loss much rather a gain in contrast especially on days when it is overcast. I would suspect that there is maybe a 5-10% chance that anyone could actually tell that my windshield is tinted... It looks more like a factory UV coat than anything.
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