Good price/Bad price - Tinting

[admranger]

That's a nice scraper. Gonna have to pick one of those up and toss the metal ones that allow the blade to retract when you push "hard".

Originally Posted by weasel56

Just make extra sure they don't use a razor blade on the rear windshield (you will have to specify) as admranger said. But same goes for the left rear side window that has the radio antenna built into it. And denatured alcohol will work very well to remove the left behind glue on those windows too as realchef said.

But trust me as I recently removed the messed up tint on my last girlfriends car, spend a couple extra dollars on a scraper handle for single edge blades. They are only a couple dollars at the auto parts store.

[JCAPX5]

North NJ paid $140 for E46 M3 and they'll do the X5 for around $200 with good quality 3M film and good work.

Try Phil at Top of the line tint, Lodi NJ. He's a good dude.

[Rabbit]

if you were in houston there is a guy who will come to you and do it. he is good fast cheep and he will warrent it for a year. it cost me 90$ non limo i just got the light.

[HBSRA10]

Thank you guys! Especially for ammonia based window cleaner and razor suggestion. I was able to take it out myself. My old tint was so old and dry, all windows came out really easily (and in one piece).

Now, two follow-up questions on style and rules.

1. My X5 is Black with Beige interior. If I want a classy, non-limo look, what % tint (between 20% and 35%) would look good? (I don't remember the % of the old one, which I liked)

2. If your (registration/plate) state allows 18% or higher, and let's say you got 25% tint, can you be stopped at another state (say, a state with 35% or higher rule) by the police?

Many thanks!

[Rabbit]

most of the time they will not mess with you. but if your rolling 28" spinners and boom'n down the road looking like you are up to no good.. you will get messed with. i have has a lot of cars with alot of tint. i find that the light tint looks great and still is good with night driving. it will also last longer than darker tint. i go for the oem tint % it looks good. thats what i like. but to each his own.

[rcapilli]

You can remove it yourself. Just get an edge going and rip it off. Put some ALCOHOL in a spray bottle and work the glue off with a razor while keeping the window wet with alcohol. I did Tint for years, easy wnough to take off.

[anerbe]

factory tint is around 35%. Go this route to avoid having the real "dark" look. I matched the fronts with the rear, and it's pretty much a perfect match.

[HBSRA10]

Originally Posted by anerbe

factory tint is around 35%. Go this route to avoid having the real "dark" look. I matched the fronts with the rear, and it's pretty much a perfect match.

Thanks. I was thinking the same but I am afraid it might not hold FL's hot summer. Anyone from FL here? Thoughts?

[RPX5]

Originally Posted by HBSRA10

Thanks. I was thinking the same but I am afraid it might not hold FL's hot summer. Anyone from FL here? Thoughts?

I don't live in fla, but i have some pretty dark tint on my rear windows. there is more leniency here in MA with the rear windows over the front. So my rear windows are at about 5% tint (which i love, it is like limousine tint). It doesn't affect any vision, since you're never really looking out your rear windows, and on the very rear window, it actually helps dilute headlight glare from the back.

I used to have my front windows at about 15% tint, but got hefty ticket from a local cop in my town, and had to make a deal to remove it and at least put on legal tint for him to rip up the ticket. I now have 35% tint on the front, it is enough to dilute the sun, but doesn't affect vision at all. It doesn't look as "uniformed" as it used to when all windows were dark and fading to the front, but my vision is now better at night, and the cops aren't busting my chops any more.

I know Florida law is more lenient on tinting, so if I were you, I'd tint the rear windows at 5%, and put abut 15% on the front. It looks very uniformed and will block out the sun glare for sure, but it isn't overwhelmingly dark when looking out at night (the rear will be, but you dont drive from the back seat )

[RPX5]

OH, and about being stopped in another state with dark tint. I'm sure its a case by case basis, and from what I hear, if your registered in FL, and you're polite and explain to the cop that you're just passing through, and your tint is legal in your state, I'm sure they'll let you slide.