Is there some kind of meter to measure darkness of tint?

Dark_Knight_335 · 04-23-2011, 04:19 PM

I'm thinking mine is actually 35%, but just can't seem to get a straight answer from the tint shop, who insists it is 50%

Express · 04-23-2011, 04:22 PM

get pulled over.

GTiceman · 04-23-2011, 04:39 PM

go to another tint shop ha ... it is called a light meter

Dark_Knight_335 · 04-23-2011, 05:02 PM

Lmao express!! Yea you're right- not exactly thrilled with the material they tinted with anyway- feels like cellophane...

skinrock · 04-23-2011, 05:06 PM

I could be wrong, but the tint shop I went to made this point: the stock tint is like 70% (not sure if that's true), so when viewing their tint samples, 50% will turn out darker. There are also things to consider like the color of your car and interior. My black on black makes the tint look pretty dark.

Dark_Knight_335 · 04-23-2011, 05:50 PM

You might be on to something there skin- I have black leather inside with black and space grey outside, could be an illusion

Everling · 04-23-2011, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinrock

I could be wrong, but the tint shop I went to made this point: the stock tint is like 70% (not sure if that's true), so when viewing their tint samples, 50% will turn out darker. There are also things to consider like the color of your car and interior. My black on black makes the tint look pretty dark.

no such thing as stock tint. they are BSing you. although i do agree with u on the color of the interior. My gf has an e46 with 20% tint. I have the same tint but on a black interior e92. her interior is light grey and my car looks a lot darker even with same tint.

Dark_Knight_335 · 04-23-2011, 09:52 PM

There is definitely a darker look to my car due to the dark interior however, I am certain of that much.

ceb · 04-23-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterhoang1988

no such thing as stock tint. they are BSing you. although i do agree with u on the color of the interior. My gf has an e46 with 20% tint. I have the same tint but on a black interior e92. her interior is light grey and my car looks a lot darker even with same tint.

Not quite correct. Our windows have a slight tint that measure 85-88% depending on the year.

Accordingly, 50% tint in addition to the 85-88 works out to 42-44% instead of 50%.

Dark_Knight_335 · 04-24-2011, 12:09 AM

I'm gonna try to look up what it was in 2009 for a 3 series coupe..damn you piqued my curiosity now!

1bad335 · 04-24-2011, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceb

Not quite correct. Our windows have a slight tint that measure 85-88% depending on the year.

Accordingly, 50% tint in addition to the 85-88 works out to 42-44% instead of 50%.

You're right. Why most don't realize this, is because it is baked into the glass from the factory (it's not a film).

skinrock · 04-24-2011, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1bad335

You're right. Why most don't realize this, is because it is baked into the glass from the factory (it's not a film).

Right, there is a name for it. Solar something, I think it's on the glass. Anyways, after googling this issue, I found a lot of posts saying this has been standard after A/C became standard in cars in an attempt to keep A/C usage down.

ceb · 04-24-2011, 10:13 AM

Virtually all cars have come from the factory with some sort of tinted glass for the past 40 years or so. It isn't a film but an integral part of the glass - just like the darker tinted glass in SUV's.

Look at any BMW on a sunny day. Do the side windows look completely clear? Of course not.

drummer12 · 04-24-2011, 11:17 AM

Yeah, on a lot of cars it's 70%. I know b/c it's written right on the window

So yes, 50% tint + stock tint + black interior WILL look darker than 50%. And yes, if the law is 50%, you are running illegal tint with that combo. Whether or not anyone cares is another matter...

I'm surprised more tint shops don't own the light meters the cops have...

04-23-2011, 04:19 PM	#1
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1140 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Is there some kind of meter to measure darkness of tint? I'm thinking mine is actually 35%, but just can't seem to get a straight answer from the tint shop, who insists it is 50%
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04-23-2011, 04:22 PM	#2
Express Major General 392 Rep 8,688 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Promise Land iTrader: (17) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.30]	get pulled over.
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04-23-2011, 04:39 PM	#3
GTiceman Parrothead 140 Rep 1,234 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (5) Garage List 2020 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2009 BMW M3 [0.00]	go to another tint shop ha ... it is called a light meter __________________ \|e46 M3 Stahlgrau/Red\| - Sold \|E92 335i BSM/Saddle\| - Sold \|e90 M3 Space Gray/Fox Red/6MT\| See Garage for Mods
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04-23-2011, 05:02 PM	#4
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1140 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Lmao express!! Yea you're right- not exactly thrilled with the material they tinted with anyway- feels like cellophane...
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04-23-2011, 05:06 PM	#5
skinrock Agent Smith 281 Rep 3,344 Posts Drives: 2016 i8 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: The Matrix iTrader: (9) Garage List 2016 BMW i8 [10.00]	I could be wrong, but the tint shop I went to made this point: the stock tint is like 70% (not sure if that's true), so when viewing their tint samples, 50% will turn out darker. There are also things to consider like the color of your car and interior. My black on black makes the tint look pretty dark. __________________ The i8 needs a V8 amirite?
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04-23-2011, 05:50 PM	#6
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1140 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	You might be on to something there skin- I have black leather inside with black and space grey outside, could be an illusion
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04-23-2011, 09:52 PM	#8
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1140 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	There is definitely a darker look to my car due to the dark interior however, I am certain of that much.
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04-24-2011, 12:09 AM	#10
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1140 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	I'm gonna try to look up what it was in 2009 for a 3 series coupe..damn you piqued my curiosity now!
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04-24-2011, 10:13 AM	#13
ceb NHTSA Nazi 32 Rep 1,983 Posts Drives: 335ix Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD iTrader: (1)	Virtually all cars have come from the factory with some sort of tinted glass for the past 40 years or so. It isn't a film but an integral part of the glass - just like the darker tinted glass in SUV's. Look at any BMW on a sunny day. Do the side windows look completely clear? Of course not.
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04-24-2011, 11:17 AM	#14
drummer12 First Lieutenant 20 Rep 307 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	Yeah, on a lot of cars it's 70%. I know b/c it's written right on the window So yes, 50% tint + stock tint + black interior WILL look darker than 50%. And yes, if the law is 50%, you are running illegal tint with that combo. Whether or not anyone cares is another matter... I'm surprised more tint shops don't own the light meters the cops have...
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