lets do this again: Sunglasses

[RedRockin]

According to the Window Tint Laws that Thunder22 posted, some states allow "medical Exemptions". I have known this for years and actually have a prescription from my ophthalmologist to permit extra dark tinting (medically diagnosed high sensitivity to bright light). I have had many cars with 20- tints. And, on my last car G35S, I had the tint put on 20 front windows and limo on back doors and rear windshield. The problem I found, as soon as I got the car home, is where I live there are absolutely no street lights. When the moon is full, you can almost read a newspaper but when it is not, it can get real dark - so dark that I often could not see out of the car enough to feel safe (all previous vehicles while living here were big SUVs with easy and high lines of sight - not so on the low to the road G w/small windows). By contrast, it is very bright here many days and REALLY bright in summer. Solution for G (first tint was on dealer), took it back to the tinter and had it removed and replaced w/AZ legal (35 front doors/20 all others) and just wear extra dark polarized eyeglasses.

Given that I have the prescription, I have often considered tinting windshields, but watching even the slightest tint film distortions in the side windows while looking to the side-view mirrors (most noticeable at night), has dissuaded me from risking such possible distortions on my windshield. An additional consideration, here in AZ, has been the clear heat reducing tint for windshield but I continue to reject the idea for the same reason (risking distortions). With all other windows tinted, heat-waves can be felt coming thru windshield. Haven't decided about the X yet (with her black dashboard which will likely draw heat) but my previous SUVs i bought the lightest color sueded dash-toppers to help deflect some of that heat. sorta cheap looking but certainly does help. The X is really pretty and nice materials so I can't decide if I want to cover her dash or not. When summer comes... will have to wait and see...

Needless to say, I carry several pairs of glasses. Sunglasses are ALL polarized. So I keep three pairs (extra pr sun, pr clear and pr yellow for flat light conditions), all in clamshell cases, and in my new X5 I keep all three sets in the center console with plenty of more room for other stuff. The G had absolutely zero storage (teeny tiny console wouldn't even fit one clamshell) so I bought a "messenger bag" (15" laptop type) to keep any/all storage stuff and threw that behind my seat.

Meanwhile, for those looking for some creative solutions that will not, or should not, damage visors:
Amazon.com: Totes(R) Visor Eyeglass Caddy: Automotive

AutoSport Catalog - Luxury Eyeglass Holder 800-953-0814

Auto Sunglass Holder

Amazon.com: Type S Double Sunglass Holder: Automotive

There are others that are pretty easy to find, with a google search, like a little organizer that slips between the seat and console to store cell phone, glasses, etc. There are also slim organizers that strap onto visor that have various compartments for glasses, pens, and anything relative slim and small that you want to store someplace.

As for the door pocket - well, my X5 is only a week old so I keep the owner manual there! I have a pdf copy on my computer too but that doesn't help me much when out on the road! -> G was a 6 speed stick so I'm sorta diggin the M/S!!!