Tinting windshield risky??

SilverSlug · 10-15-2021, 02:13 AM

I'm contemplating tinting my windshield with Air Blue 80… It's almost not visible, but makes a huge difference in terms of glare, UV and heat.

Finally found a shop that supplies it, but they said they don't do windshields because of the possibility that water can leak down behind the dash and onto electronics during installation.

Is that even possible on a E9X?

SilverSlug · 10-15-2021, 02:18 AM

Btw in case anyone is wondering, this is what the tint look like from inside and outside.

[IMG][/IMG]

Ajolives · 10-15-2021, 06:20 AM

Should be fine; I just got my windshield tinted in June and haven't had anything go wrong. Kind of a weird thing for the shop to be worried about; someone must of screwed up royally in the past to have a concern like that, lol.

Cyberdemon · 10-15-2021, 08:15 AM

It sounds like they're worried about water during installation, not from leaks or the rain.

Only thing I can think of is they screwed up someones camera array or dashboard top-firing speaker or something by getting water into it so thats why they don't do it.

My windshield came tinted with the car but I don't really like it. Makes it harder driving at night and I never really park outside anyways.

nrubenstein · 10-15-2021, 09:49 AM

Tint installation is an extremely wet process. So the short answer is that it can absolutely happen. I wouldn't expect it to be harmful, but as noted above, it sounds like someone at the shop had a bad experience.

A friend's old E90 came with the windshield tinted with (I think) Air Blue. It was generally quite nice, with the caveat that you could not drive with polarized sunglasses on. It had essentially no impact on night time drivability, unlike when people put a normal tint on.

(We don't know for a fact what the tint was, but it was such a light tint that no one realized that it was tinted until a safety inspector tried scraping off his previous year's inspection sticker.)

Melbourn3 · 10-15-2021, 10:17 AM

Yes I’ve done it to all my cars, makes a huge difference and is 100% worth it

peterc05 · 10-15-2021, 12:13 PM

I have windshield tint as well. No issues

15% on the windshield. Heat rejection is nice

jmeenach · 10-15-2021, 12:23 PM

I have a light tint on my windshield with no issues. Crazy enough, my tint is actually on the exterior. I was worried about streaks from the wipers, etc. but haven't had any issues with one year of with it.

SilverSlug · 10-15-2021, 12:45 PM

Did you guys follow any special procedure during installation to prevent water drip? Towels tucked below or anything?

romero1990 · 10-15-2021, 02:30 PM

more like legal risk?

SilverSlug · 10-15-2021, 06:38 PM

It's fairly not noticeable at 80%, and most people have dark tint on front door windows, and not really enforced.

Plus the Vice cops here ride around with like 5% tint on all windows including windshield, so everyone partakes lol

Vedubin01 · 10-15-2021, 06:41 PM

I ran with a very light tint on my car for years and then started to get pulled over for it. After the 3rd $200 ticket it was time to remove it. Sadly it was super great for glare and heat reduction.

Redd · 10-15-2021, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

I'm contemplating tinting my windshield with Air Blue 80… It's almost not visible, but makes a huge difference in terms of glare, UV and heat.

Finally found a shop that supplies it, but they said they don't do windshields because of the possibility that water can leak down behind the dash and onto electronics during installation.

Is that even possible on a E9X?

Every car in my country is tinted as its very hot here. I've never heard about a properly done tint job harming car electronics. Find an installer who has more confidence/expertise.

SnohoRaptor · 10-15-2021, 06:57 PM

Water down the dash of an e92? Sounds like a silly excuse. They didn't balk when they tinted my G05, nor when I inquired about doing the pano roof panels.

M43S7RO · 10-15-2021, 10:00 PM

I had tint installed on the windshield before replacing to avoid the potential water issue. Im paranoid.

SilverSlug · 10-15-2021, 10:04 PM

Do you mean before replacing the windshield itself? Was it cracked?

M43S7RO · 10-15-2021, 10:27 PM

Yea crack in the windshield from rock damage. Figured it was a good time to tint the windshield and I got a better rate on it because it was easier for the tint guy to do.

NeverL8 · 10-15-2021, 11:20 PM

Find a different shop.

Had mine done 3 years ago and I love it. Will do it to every car I own

SilverSlug · 10-16-2021, 02:11 PM

Somehow difficult to find shops that have the Air Blue 80 available

NeverL8 · 10-16-2021, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

Somehow difficult to find shops that have the Air Blue 80 available

Where are you located?

SilverSlug · 10-16-2021, 09:24 PM

I'm in San Francisco… Called a bunch of shops in and around the city.

NeverL8 · 10-16-2021, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

I'm in San Francisco… Called a bunch of shops in and around the city.

I’m surprised in a big city like that you can’t find it. I recall many shops in San Diego had it when I was looking at it couple years ago. Maybe supply issue with Covid?

10-15-2021, 02:13 AM	#1
SilverSlug Hey, where have you been all my life? 680 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (2)	I'm contemplating tinting my windshield with Air Blue 80… It's almost not visible, but makes a huge difference in terms of glare, UV and heat. Finally found a shop that supplies it, but they said they don't do windshields because of the possibility that water can leak down behind the dash and onto electronics during installation. Is that even possible on a E9X?
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10-15-2021, 02:18 AM	#2
SilverSlug Hey, where have you been all my life? 680 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (2)	Btw in case anyone is wondering, this is what the tint look like from inside and outside. [IMG][/IMG] Attached Images
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10-15-2021, 06:20 AM	#3
Ajolives Captain 922 Rep 933 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 Audi SQ5 [0.00] 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	Should be fine; I just got my windshield tinted in June and haven't had anything go wrong. Kind of a weird thing for the shop to be worried about; someone must of screwed up royally in the past to have a concern like that, lol.
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10-15-2021, 08:15 AM	#4
Cyberdemon Brigadier General 1538 Rep 3,331 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 40i, 2018 M3 Comp Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (3)	It sounds like they're worried about water during installation, not from leaks or the rain. Only thing I can think of is they screwed up someones camera array or dashboard top-firing speaker or something by getting water into it so thats why they don't do it. My windshield came tinted with the car but I don't really like it. Makes it harder driving at night and I never really park outside anyways. __________________ Current: '20 X5, '18 M3 ZCP Previous: '11 E90 335i, '11 E90 M3, '16 VW GTI, '15 M235i, '13 335i, '08 TL-S, '00 Corvette
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10-15-2021, 09:49 AM	#5
nrubenstein Captain 567 Rep 801 Posts Drives: E30 M3/E36 M3/E46 M3/E90 M3 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (2)	Tint installation is an extremely wet process. So the short answer is that it can absolutely happen. I wouldn't expect it to be harmful, but as noted above, it sounds like someone at the shop had a bad experience. A friend's old E90 came with the windshield tinted with (I think) Air Blue. It was generally quite nice, with the caveat that you could not drive with polarized sunglasses on. It had essentially no impact on night time drivability, unlike when people put a normal tint on. (We don't know for a fact what the tint was, but it was such a light tint that no one realized that it was tinted until a safety inspector tried scraping off his previous year's inspection sticker.) __________________ 2011.75 E90 M3 \| 2006 GMC Sierra LBZ \| 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT \| 1995 M3 S50B32 \| 1990 325is \| 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1996 911 Turbo \| 1989 325iX
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10-15-2021, 10:17 AM	#6
Melbourn3 First Lieutenant 342 Rep 387 Posts Drives: E90 M3 ZCP STRIPPER Join Date: May 2020 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (3)	Yes I’ve done it to all my cars, makes a huge difference and is 100% worth it
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10-15-2021, 12:13 PM	#7
peterc05 Banned 114 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2018 M4 Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	I have windshield tint as well. No issues 15% on the windshield. Heat rejection is nice
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10-15-2021, 12:23 PM	#8
jmeenach Private First Class 79 Rep 117 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	I have a light tint on my windshield with no issues. Crazy enough, my tint is actually on the exterior. I was worried about streaks from the wipers, etc. but haven't had any issues with one year of with it.
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10-15-2021, 12:45 PM	#9
SilverSlug Hey, where have you been all my life? 680 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (2)	Did you guys follow any special procedure during installation to prevent water drip? Towels tucked below or anything?
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10-15-2021, 02:30 PM	#10
romero1990 Lieutenant 173 Rep 585 Posts Drives: E92 M3, F25 X3 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 X3 [0.00] 2009 M3 [0.00]	more like legal risk?
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10-15-2021, 06:38 PM	#11
SilverSlug Hey, where have you been all my life? 680 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (2)	It's fairly not noticeable at 80%, and most people have dark tint on front door windows, and not really enforced. Plus the Vice cops here ride around with like 5% tint on all windows including windshield, so everyone partakes lol
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10-15-2021, 06:41 PM	#12
Vedubin01 Banned 943 Rep 635 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Orlando iTrader: (0)	I ran with a very light tint on my car for years and then started to get pulled over for it. After the 3rd $200 ticket it was time to remove it. Sadly it was super great for glare and heat reduction.
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10-15-2021, 06:57 PM	#14
SnohoRaptor First Lieutenant 535 Rep 364 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E92 ZCP 6MT Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Snohomish, WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2021 Toyota Tacoma [0.00] 2020 BMW X5 [9.00] 2020 Subaru WRX [0.00] 2019 Ford Raptor [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Water down the dash of an e92? Sounds like a silly excuse. They didn't balk when they tinted my G05, nor when I inquired about doing the pano roof panels. Attached Images __________________ AW 2011 E92 ZCP 6MT single hump w/speed cloth. Alpine Stage 2 \| Apex Manufacturing X-Pipe \| Corsa \| BayOptiks \| Haimus Racing CF Plenum MW 2020 G05 X5 with delicious coffee interior
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10-15-2021, 10:00 PM	#15
M43S7RO Major 502 Rep 1,055 Posts Drives: Jerez Black E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Peoria, AZ iTrader: (13)	I had tint installed on the windshield before replacing to avoid the potential water issue. Im paranoid.
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10-15-2021, 10:04 PM	#16
SilverSlug Hey, where have you been all my life? 680 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (2)	Do you mean before replacing the windshield itself? Was it cracked?
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10-15-2021, 10:27 PM	#17
M43S7RO Major 502 Rep 1,055 Posts Drives: Jerez Black E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Peoria, AZ iTrader: (13)	Yea crack in the windshield from rock damage. Figured it was a good time to tint the windshield and I got a better rate on it because it was easier for the tint guy to do.
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10-15-2021, 11:20 PM	#18
NeverL8 Captain 522 Rep 743 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: SD iTrader: (0)	Find a different shop. Had mine done 3 years ago and I love it. Will do it to every car I own
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10-16-2021, 02:11 PM	#19
SilverSlug Hey, where have you been all my life? 680 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (2)	Somehow difficult to find shops that have the Air Blue 80 available
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10-16-2021, 09:24 PM	#21
SilverSlug Hey, where have you been all my life? 680 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (2)	I'm in San Francisco… Called a bunch of shops in and around the city.
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