[fermion]

I've done some research and I am still pretty confused about tints.

Here are a couple of my questions, hopefully some of you can answer.

Types of tints. What are the pros and cons of metallic versus ceramic tints?

What are the main tints people use? I hear lots of talk about formula one. Are there other good brands I should look into?

I've seen two types of tints, a smokey type and some "shiny" ones. Can anybody explain what this difference is?

35% seems very popular. Do people with 35% in socal get pulled over often? How much difference between 35% and 50%? How about 35% and 40%?

Lastly, does anybody have good recommendations for socal tint installers that do a good job with the dot matrix?

Thanks in advance

[StarrDlux]

LLumar and 3m make a high quality metallic (based) tint. lifetime guarantee. as long as the installer is trained and certified. The tint will never come out wrong/bubble/blue (no ammonia cleaners!)

Btw if you put 35% on our cars with 3-4% factory tint you'll blow a 28 or 29 on the test. Georgia law states a maximum deviance of 29% due to their $50 tint test machines and dirt yadda. i blew a 28; had baby in back seat; told officer i'd respect by rolling down the windows when i saw him in the HOV lane. he said that is cool. But you gotta realize the PC was too dark windows and if you don't give him PC you won't get pulled over as often.

Keep that in mind when tinting.


One of my favourite tints was 20% charcoal. It was lighter during the day but at night pure blackness. damn the mang and the tint laws.

maybe my boobs where just hanging out that day

[mJ335]

Here's mine -- 20% Charcoal all around. Hope this answers your question. This pic was taken as soon as I got the tints (6 months ago) now, seems as if the tint got a little lighter.. maybe I'm just trippin.

[rtfd241]

Go ceramic it is clearer to see out of and does not mess with the Nav. and AM. The metal can some times hurt the reception of both.

[lux.sh]

1. metallic tint reported several problems regarding decreasing the remote control distance.
2. "Shiny ones"(known as reflective tint in some tint shops), are illegal in a lot of places. Cops don't like 'em. And honestly, they only belong to gangsta vehicles.
3. Cali law. http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/CA/
4. My car with 24% charcoal front/back side windows, 22% for the rear window.


this was stock tint.

[ralmeida]

I dunno about CA law, but in SC max tint is 28% - I got SunTek Carbon 35 installed, and it looks awesome, though not as dark as I'd like. It's non-metallic and has a lifetime warranty. Cost me $180 for the install.

[fermion]

hey guys, thanks for all the replies.

are there any advantages of metallic tints over ceramic tints? so far, i've only heard about disadvantages of metallic such as worse reception for cell phones and gps.

i think i am leaning now towards a ceramic charcoal tint. can anybody suggest some good brands and installers?

[BK]

Originally Posted by fermion

are there any advantages of metallic tints over ceramic tints? so far, i've only heard about disadvantages of metallic such as worse reception for cell phones and gps.

The drawbacks are less reliable Comfort Access and potentially worse AM radio reception. The positives are that metallic tint is less expensive, more common so it is easier to find an installer, more varieties to choose from, and possibly easier to install -- HO ceramic tint, for example, is said to be difficult to install because it is thicker and less flexible than most metallic tints.

I like FormulaONE ceramic tint. 35% looks fantastic IMO.

[fermion]

does anybody have pictures of 35%?

also, how much risk do you run of getting pulled over if you have 35%?

[e92leon]

I did 20.

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by fermion

does anybody have pictures of 35%?

also, how much risk do you run of getting pulled over if you have 35%?

I do 35% on all my cars. As far as the risk of getting pulled over, it depends on where you live (i.e. what does the law permit), and how important is illegal tint to LEO's.

[92tripleblack]

Ceramic tint doesn't interfere with electrical signals. Radar detection, radio reception from glass embedded antennas, remotes, etc. Get the ceramic.

[mJ335]

Originally Posted by fermion

does anybody have pictures of 35%?

also, how much risk do you run of getting pulled over if you have 35%?

It is illegal NO MATTER WHAT if you even have the slightest hue of tint on the FRONT windows in California. Also, there is a lesser chance that you, driving a BMW, will get pulled over because of tints compared to non-luxurious cars. I drove my previous car (TL) for almost 6 years with 35% tint all around but never got pulled over for tints. My buddy with his fixed up Integra once got pulled over in Irvine THREE times in two months just because of tint. Right now, I have 20% all around.. cop rolls next to me on street signals, some even looked at my car, but never gave me any shit regarding tints. Therefore, we really don't have that much of a risk getting pulled over for tint

[beatloafer]

My wife has 20% on her 328 coupe with Beige interior and she has been pulled over twice in less than a year by CHP for her tint. I have 35% on my 335 with Black interior and have never been pulled over for tint. We've had 35% on our previous 3 cars and neither of us had ever been pulled over until now. I would say don't get 20% if you're concerned about being pulled over at all.

Here's my 335 with 35% at night.

[Gig103]

Originally Posted by StarrDlux

Btw if you put 35% on our cars with 3-4% factory tint

Can anyone confirm this number, in particular for the sedan? I don't want to go too dar, and now I'm thinking of 40% instead of 35%, to take into account the factory tint...

[roozie2001]

so i know this is a stupid question, but TX law says 25%. So if factory is 3 - 4% does that mean if i get a 30% tint here im good to go. i'm guessing with factory it would be 26-27% correct??

[col4bin]

Originally Posted by roozie2001

so i know this is a stupid question, but TX law says 25%. So if factory is 3 - 4% does that mean if i get a 30% tint here im good to go. i'm guessing with factory it would be 26-27% correct??

That is correct.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by Gig103

Can anyone confirm this number, in particular for the sedan? I don't want to go too dar, and now I'm thinking of 40% instead of 35%, to take into account the factory tint...

That is correct. I have 35% (charcoal) all around (and 20% on the back window) and just got recently pulled over (initially for a speeding offense). Cop decided that wasn't enough so he pulled out his tint-buster instrument and registered a 31% (I have the citation to prove it). That is in line with what has been said about factory glass coming in with 3-4% tint.

Btw this was the first tint incidence in over 2 years. For the most parts, 35% is pretty discrete, but in combination with the 20% (back window) and a black interior, at different parts of the day, the tints can appear darker (but not too dark).

Hope that helps.

[Thespillmonkey]

I know im ressurecting an old ass thread, but I noticed that several people who said they have 35% were registering under that if they were tested (like the post just above me).

When you say you have 35%, did you get a 35% over stock (meaning it would really be about 38-39%) or did you get a 30% over stock?

Also, is it normal for the cops tint checking device to register under the actual amount?

Here in CT the legal limit is 35% If i were to put 35% on top of stock, get pulled over, would it test legal?

Thanks!

-G

[fluidkaos]

If 35% is the limit, and you put 35% over the factory tint, it would not be within legal limits. You would in effect have apx. 31% tint on your windows. I think you've got things backwards. The % is the amount of light that is transmitted through the tint. The lower the number the darker the tint. So a 5% tint, is darn near opaque black, and 50% let's 1/2 of the light though.

[Miami]

any one know what THE MAN says about tints in south florida?

cus a buddy of mine that works for tint world says cops around south florida are more lenient because of the holymotherofgodSUN that we get down here.

sorry bout the


BTW: Carnage - Sick E46 M3!!!

[Thespillmonkey]

Originally Posted by fluidkaos

If 35% is the limit, and you put 35% over the factory tint, it would not be within legal limits. You would in effect have apx. 31% tint on your windows. I think you've got things backwards. The % is the amount of light that is transmitted through the tint. The lower the number the darker the tint. So a 5% tint, is darn near opaque black, and 50% let's 1/2 of the light though.

Ok, I think you are right, I had it reversed.
CT law says... "Must allow more than 35% of light in."


So, with the law above, would I be looking to put a 40% tint over the the stock 3-4%
to stay just above 35% ?