Anyone tint their front windshield?

[m3peat]

I’m trying to reduce the heat and UV rays as my car spends a lot of time outside these days.
Not really looking for a dark tint, just something that helps keep the heat out but retain visibility.

I saw someone recommended Spectra Photosync IRD on Rennlist. Anyone familiar?

Thanks

[SnohoRaptor]

I have 80% ceramic tint on the front windshield of my Raptor and I love it. Just the right amount of glare reducing with no heat transfer.
The newly acquired e92 has an almost clear tint that you'd never see from inside or out (from previous owner). The ceramic 80% tint with a little darkening is better in my opinion.

Just for reference, we live in the PNW and not Arizona. Driving in weather or at night is no problem

[omgzirra_exe]

me and my friend have the oem optional climate windshield (its purple) we got it replaced by satellite after our windows got cracked covered by insurance.

before my window cracked i had a Llumar air 80

[JRunSW20]

I had a very light blue ceramic 70% tint on my 335i and did 30% ceramic on the remaining windows. Really helps a ton.

[amrazM]

yes tint it, i have ceramic 35% inside of car remains pretty cool.

[m3peat]

Thanks for the replies.

Any shops near Burbank that you can recommend?

[Richneerd]

Not allowed in California but if you have a doctors note you’ll be okay.

[mikejnc]

My car used to spend time outside as well so I tinted my windows and windshield. For the windshield I went with Llumar air80. It's barely tinted but does offer heat rejection.

If I was to do it again, I probably would just opt for Air80 all around, including windows since the car sits in a garage mostly nowadays.

I live in socal and haven't had issues with law enforcement. But I do drive like a grandpa most of the time unless I'm driving for fun on back roads.

[Vuu]

Originally Posted by ohmygodzirra

me and my friend have the oem optional climate windshield (its purple) we got it replaced by satellite after our windows got cracked covered by insurance.

before my window cracked i had a Llumar air 80

You don't speak for me.

[HunterLee]

I've ran a few different levels on my cars. My Ram 2500 has 50% on the windshield and my old Acura had 80% which is basically clear. Both work great and held up to the sun and heat in south Florida. Haven't done my M3 yet but I will probably go with 60-70% on it. Love the 50% on my truck but it can be a pain in the ass to see at night from time to time. The 80% was great for heat reduction, I just wished it was a little darker to cut down on glare, hinge why I'll be going somewhere in the middle for the M3.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by Vuu

You don't speak for me.

Go back to the gulag

[Shmelgy]

Originally Posted by m3peat

Thanks for the replies.

Any shops near Burbank that you can recommend?

I've always got my cars tinted at Sunshield off the 101 at Van Nuys Blvd

[roastbeef]

i did the lightest tint of ceramic all around in my daily driver (smart car) and it helped tremendously with heat rejection.

[Bpark1977]

Originally Posted by ohmygodzirra

Go back to the gulag

Time for a little "argie bargie"?

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by Bpark1977

Time for a little "argie bargie"?

gotta put him in his place.

[Gto3]

I tinted my front windshield 6 years ago. One of the most underrated things you can do to help preserve the integrity of your dash and interior. Wonderful bang for buck. Especially during summer time!

[asaprockybalboa]

I have the Rayno AIR 70 on my front windshield. I think it helps and it’s barley noticeable that you have tint in the front.

[nyc_dude]

Most shops in LA/CA will tint any glass on your car to any VLT you want. CA regulations are another story.

So you have to pick your ceramic IR tint brand and a shop that installs it. I did XPEL PRIME XR Plus 70% for the front windshield. It is basically clear.

https://www.xpel.com/web-assets/down...t-USA-V2-1.pdf

This XPEL spec sheet shows the lightest VLT you can get for each tint product. Most tints only go as high as 70%...but some are up to 88% (~90%). You might save a few $$$ if you get XR vs. XR Plus.

3M Crystaline is the highest performance ceramic IR tint from that brand.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-...8721690&rt=rud

3M Crystaline does come in a 70% and a 90% VLT. Rule of thumb is that the higher the VLT the more clear it is than you would imagine. 70% doesn't sound completely clear, but it is.

Applying IR Ceramic Tint on all your glass is important, since both the UV and IR energy destroys/cooks the expensive plastic and leather materials in your interior. Try to park in a garage at home and a parking garage at work to preserve your interior. Most sensitive interior leather components are very expensive to replace on BMWs. Most important to do this if you live in very hot climates, like the Southeast and Southwest USA.

It is funny...most tint brands force their installers to only offer one brand of tint and block them from offering their competitor's brand. I have to go to one shop for XPEL PPF and a different shop for XPEL tint. The XPEL PPF shop only offers 3M tint, and not XPEL Prime tint, even though they are a certified XPEL product installer.

If you have a tricked out M3 with super loud exhaust and a supercharger, plus 5% tint all around, you don't want to get a darker tint on the windshield in case the CHP or local sheriff pulls you over.

You can find local tint installers on the XPEL and 3M websites.

ClearPlex and EXOShield make PPF film for the windshield. If you track your car or drive on LA freeways on a long daily commute...it might help protect the glass from debris and shrapnel. Let the tint cure for a week or more before doing the ClearPlex.

NOTE: Nano Ceramic IR TINT has no metallic content (like older IR tints), so it doesn't interfere with RF and electronic signals (cellphones, wifi, keyless entry, toll devices, etc.).


Cheers

[m3peat]

Appreciate all the feedback!

For my front windshield only:

I went and looked at the 3M crystalline 70 and 90. By day, the 70 looked fine but I have a feeling it would be too dark for me at night.

Doing some research and what nyc_dude said, XPEL XR PLUS looks good and more clear than the same VLT crystalline.

I’m also considering the Llumar air blue 80 but haven’t seen it in person.

I’m waiting on additional price quotes but the 3M was quoted at $350. Seems like a lot. Is that normal and is XPEL less?

Edit:

I’m going with XPEL XR Plus at Sunshield. Pricing is much better and XPEL gets good reviews.