Tint Advice - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

Monaco · 12-19-2012, 10:06 PM

Unusual these days, but my car did NOT come pre-tinted from the dealer. Here in Phoenix, window tints are something you cannot live without, as our summers are generally spent at temps in excess of 110-120.

Thus, I need to have my windows tinted, but I was hoping for some feedback about what tint brands are better than others. My dealer wants to charge me close to $400 for 3M, which seems crazy high to me.

Looking for any recommendations, and if you know a tinter in Phoenix, that would be great too.

EnerJi · 12-19-2012, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monaco

Unusual these days, but my car did NOT come pre-tinted from the dealer. Here in Phoenix, window tints are something you cannot live without, as our summers are generally spent at temps in excess of 110-120.

Thus, I need to have my windows tinted, but I was hoping for some feedback about what tint brands are better than others. My dealer wants to charge me close to $400 for 3M, which seems crazy high to me.

Looking for any recommendations, and if you know a tinter in Phoenix, that would be great too.

Which 3M tint, they have several? If the Crystalline, that seems to be a reasonable deal, based on what others have posted. It's expensive, but has superior heat rejection, which is probably what you're looking for? If you search the forum you'll find several other recommendations, although most recommendations seem to be for the color / "look" and not necessarily for how effectively they reject heat.

bnekic · 12-19-2012, 10:48 PM

Remember though on the F30 a felt strip has to be installed on all for windows to prevent scratching which means removing the door panels.

claykin · 12-19-2012, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnekic

Remember though on the F30 a felt strip has to be installed on all for windows to prevent scratching which means removing the door panels.

Serious? They didn't fix that after learning from E9x issues and customer complaints?

How about Llumar CTX?

bnekic · 12-19-2012, 11:55 PM

^ guess not. When I dropped my car off the tint guy called and said you have triple seals on your BMW so the door panels had to be removed and the felt liner installed.

NGuyadeen · 12-20-2012, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monaco

Unusual these days, but my car did NOT come pre-tinted from the dealer. Here in Phoenix, window tints are something you cannot live without, as our summers are generally spent at temps in excess of 110-120.

Thus, I need to have my windows tinted, but I was hoping for some feedback about what tint brands are better than others. My dealer wants to charge me close to $400 for 3M, which seems crazy high to me.

Looking for any recommendations, and if you know a tinter in Phoenix, that would be great too.

That's ridiculously overpriced, My guy is going to give the top of the line Nano-Film best on the market for $250 3m by the way

nano10 · 12-20-2012, 12:38 AM

3m crystalline for $250! May have to make trip from CA with my car instead of plane in Jan just fro the deal

claykin · 12-20-2012, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnekic

^ guess not. When I dropped my car off the tint guy called and said you have triple seals on your BMW so the door panels had to be removed and the felt liner installed.

Triple seals? The door seals don't have anything to do with whether the interior glass guides have felt or are hard plastic (like the e90).

I'm gonna hope your tint guy got this wrong or was just trying to sell you something you didn't need.

I google'd F30 tint felt and moleskin and have not found anyone saying the F30 requires it. Many references to the E90.

bnekic · 12-20-2012, 10:04 AM

He was possibly referring to triple seals inside/below the windows.

He does a lot of luxury/exotic vehicles so I would expect he knows what he's talking about.

tdizzle · 12-20-2012, 10:26 AM

I got mine with a lifetime warranty for around $200. Obviously, places that say they cater to luxury cars feel they can charge a lot more for the same product. It's not rocket science, nor does it take long if you have someone that knows what they're doing, but like everything else where a labor cost is involved, people are going to charge premium prices if they can get away with it.

NiceNotRiceBMW · 12-20-2012, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdizzle

I got mine with a lifetime warranty for around $200. Obviously, places that say they cater to luxury cars feel they can charge a lot more for the same product. It's not rocket science, nor does it take long if you have someone that knows what they're doing, but like everything else where a labor cost is involved, people are going to charge premium prices if they can get away with it.

+1... Well said

bnekic · 12-20-2012, 11:20 AM

Ok let me know if scratch lines start to appear later on...

NiceNotRiceBMW · 12-20-2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnekic

Ok let me know if scratch lines start to appear later on...

I've had tints (WITHOUT FELT STRIPS) since I got my car 7 months ago... Not a single scratch yet...

nick2013328i · 12-20-2012, 11:50 AM

I have 3M limo tint every window plus banner across front. Lifetime warrantee. 140$

Z4 · 12-20-2012, 12:30 PM

I have Wincos IR tint and it really helps reducing the heat in the summer of Texas. Compared it with Llumar and Huper Optik under InfraRed light and Wincos is the coolest among all of them(HO is very close). Wincos cost a bit more than HO but I think it worth every penny.

bcl0328 · 12-20-2012, 12:46 PM

i have 3M ceramic tint with no felt strips. got it done over the summer. no scratches at all.

jddssc121 · 12-20-2012, 01:07 PM

Forumla One Pinnacle

bnekic · 12-20-2012, 01:43 PM

My tint guy said he could have done my car without the felt/moleskin strips but if the tint scratched later on the tint manufacturer wouldn't honor the lifetime warranty because it wasn't installed properly.

DarkTrigger · 12-20-2012, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jddssc121

Forumla One Pinnacle

+1

What transmittance did you get?

NateDog07V · 12-20-2012, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceNotRiceBMW

I've had tints (WITHOUT FELT STRIPS) since I got my car 7 months ago... Not a single scratch yet...

This.... Solargard 18% all around (minus windshield) for $270 in DC area... not a single scratch... lifetime warranty

VSmotorsports · 12-20-2012, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jddssc121

Forumla One Pinnacle

+1 on that, seeing that you are out in Phoenix this is the tint that I would highly recommend. Thicker and works very well in your area

Monaco · 12-20-2012, 04:54 PM

Just called the shop that does all the tinting for the high end dealers in town. There are 3 options I would consider:

Pinnacle Formula One (Nano-Ceramic) - $299
Huper Optik Stark (Ceramic) - $499
Huper Optik Drei - $699

The two HO lines supposedly reflect away the heat in the summer time, leading to cooler temps within the car. They have a heat lamp demonstration of each tint line in the store that I am going to check out this weekend.

Spending that much on tint seems nuts, but I don't want to regret my decision in July when it is 118 degrees outside.

12-19-2012, 10:06 PM	#1
Monaco Enlisted Member Drives: 2013 328i Sport Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 31 iTrader: (0)	Tint Advice Unusual these days, but my car did NOT come pre-tinted from the dealer. Here in Phoenix, window tints are something you cannot live without, as our summers are generally spent at temps in excess of 110-120. Thus, I need to have my windows tinted, but I was hoping for some feedback about what tint brands are better than others. My dealer wants to charge me close to $400 for 3M, which seems crazy high to me. Looking for any recommendations, and if you know a tinter in Phoenix, that would be great too.
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12-20-2012, 12:38 AM	#7
nano10 Captain Drives: 2013 335i aka Kal-El Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 973 iTrader: (3)	3m crystalline for $250! May have to make trip from CA with my car instead of plane in Jan just fro the deal __________________ 2013 335i Estoril Blue M Sport/ Coral Red Interior/ M Performance Red Brakes/ Enhanced Bluetooth/ Premium Audio/Performance Grills/BBS CX-R

12-20-2012, 12:30 PM	#15
Z4 Private Drives: bmw Join Date: May 2012 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 60 iTrader: (0)	I have Wincos IR tint and it really helps reducing the heat in the summer of Texas. Compared it with Llumar and Huper Optik under InfraRed light and Wincos is the coolest among all of them(HO is very close). Wincos cost a bit more than HO but I think it worth every penny. __________________ 2013 F30 328i Alpine White Sportline / Black Leatherette / Tech / Xenons (Timeline)

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12-19-2012, 10:48 PM	#3
bnekic First Lieutenant Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Sport Line Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 359 iTrader: (0)	Remember though on the F30 a felt strip has to be installed on all for windows to prevent scratching which means removing the door panels.

12-19-2012, 11:55 PM	#5
bnekic First Lieutenant Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Sport Line Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 359 iTrader: (0)	^ guess not. When I dropped my car off the tint guy called and said you have triple seals on your BMW so the door panels had to be removed and the felt liner installed.

12-20-2012, 10:04 AM	#9
bnekic First Lieutenant Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Sport Line Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 359 iTrader: (0)	He was possibly referring to triple seals inside/below the windows. He does a lot of luxury/exotic vehicles so I would expect he knows what he's talking about.

12-20-2012, 10:26 AM	#10
tdizzle Captain Drives: 2012 335i Sport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Memphis Posts: 642 iTrader: (0)	I got mine with a lifetime warranty for around $200. Obviously, places that say they cater to luxury cars feel they can charge a lot more for the same product. It's not rocket science, nor does it take long if you have someone that knows what they're doing, but like everything else where a labor cost is involved, people are going to charge premium prices if they can get away with it.

12-20-2012, 11:20 AM	#12
bnekic First Lieutenant Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Sport Line Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 359 iTrader: (0)	Ok let me know if scratch lines start to appear later on...

12-20-2012, 11:50 AM	#14
nick2013328i Private First Class Drives: 2013 328i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: So CAL, LA Posts: 197 iTrader: (0)	I have 3M limo tint every window plus banner across front. Lifetime warrantee. 140$

12-20-2012, 12:46 PM	#16
bcl0328 Captain Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Abingdon, MD Posts: 955 iTrader: (0)	i have 3M ceramic tint with no felt strips. got it done over the summer. no scratches at all.

12-20-2012, 01:07 PM	#17
jddssc121 Second Lieutenant Drives: vroom Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 206 iTrader: (0)	Forumla One Pinnacle

12-20-2012, 01:43 PM	#18
bnekic First Lieutenant Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Sport Line Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 359 iTrader: (0)	My tint guy said he could have done my car without the felt/moleskin strips but if the tint scratched later on the tint manufacturer wouldn't honor the lifetime warranty because it wasn't installed properly.

12-20-2012, 04:54 PM	#22
Monaco Enlisted Member Drives: 2013 328i Sport Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 31 iTrader: (0)	Just called the shop that does all the tinting for the high end dealers in town. There are 3 options I would consider: Pinnacle Formula One (Nano-Ceramic) - $299 Huper Optik Stark (Ceramic) - $499 Huper Optik Drei - $699 The two HO lines supposedly reflect away the heat in the summer time, leading to cooler temps within the car. They have a heat lamp demonstration of each tint line in the store that I am going to check out this weekend. Spending that much on tint seems nuts, but I don't want to regret my decision in July when it is 118 degrees outside.