tinted windows

[cavx5]

hi everyone need an opinion...i want to tint the windows on the x but i dont know if i should go with a 20% or 35%...i have seen both and one appears to be to dark and the other to light..my x is sterling gray(dark gray) with light gray interior..usually with a light interior you can get away with the darker tint..thanks rob..also can anyone recommend a reputable installer on long island or the boroughs..thanks

[chigga]

i have a Silver X and i went limo on all except front drive and passenger where i did 20%, depending on the DMV of you city, you may get busted... it's illegal where i am, but it sure makes driving in the sun a whole lot cooler (pun intended).

[tonycajjo]

to me, darker the better. i had to remove my fronts to pass inspection after getting a ticket while pulled over. i plan on putting something legal for my area back on. (CT i think is 30 or 35% for the front) since the X is classified as a special interest vehicle or something of the sort you can but whatever you want in the back. not part of the test, at least in CT.

dont know of any places in NY but can imagine there are many that do reputable work.

[NyMench]

Well the older I get the harder it is to see at night.....i would not advise anything less then 35% on the 2 fronts for safety sake( which is what i have on a blue/tan x5 with the factory privacy glass elsewhere) .....all other 20% or 5% but that is dark.

[chilliwilli]

Rears can be as dark as you wish...however NYC must be no lower than 35% for fronts. I posted a while back about NYPD walking between cars at a red light, if your fronts look dark, they ask you to roll your windows down and they clamp some type of instrument to read your tints.

Per the instrument, my fronts were 28%...the officer mentioned that i was close enough to the 35% NYC limit and let me go.

[StanF18]

20% is NOT too dark. Best for balance of looks and visibility is 20% IMO. Looks nice and dark from outside, but still great visibility from inside. However, if you want to stay "legal" for NYC, go with 35% fronts and 20% for rears. It still blends well going from 35% to the 20% on the rears. Cetainly looks better than no tints on the fronts and 20% on the rears.

As far as reputable installers, I did mine in NJ. If you don't mind crossing the river, go to Top of the Line Tint in Lodi. Ask for Phil. Unbelievably professional job! (Ask for the 3M lifetime tint, never ever fades).

[X Foomph]

Originally Posted by StanF18

......... ............. ............However, if you want to stay "legal" for NYC, go with 35% fronts and 20% for rears. It still blends well going from 35% to the 20% on the rears. Cetainly looks better than no tints on the fronts and 20% on the rears.

Pardom my ignorance but what is the 'stock tinting' front & back when they leave the factory ??

[meandmyX]

35% is working for me and my black x

[Hit Redline]

I have a black on black 02, that has factory tint for the rear and back side windows. I did 20% all around so the fronts are 20% and the rest is between limo and 15% percent. If I was to do it again, which I will down the road. I would have done the 20% for the backs and 15% for my front windows. I also did a sun strip which is limo.

You need to go pretty dark with the X5. Big windows letting in lots of light.

[TaMbALoLoNg]

Count me in for (1) 35% tint vote.