Need suggestions on window tint on Z4 - PICS POSTED !

J

JackB1

Member
 Gainesville, Florida
I just bought my leased Z4 and now am free to tint windows.

I did a search on several forums but not a lot facts.

The sun is bright in Florida and the South and on our last couple trips, we would really have liked a darker tint.

Went to a Dealer recommended tint place and they suggested 35% on windows and 20% on back window and front strip (if I wanted it - not very much to it). He says that it does not interfere with electronics and has done Z4s before. Price $119. I will ask him about doing the hardtop and our F150 truck too.

Do you add the % of tint on the existing window to the %tint you are adding for a total? Or to gauge the total percent of pass through light? Some people mention a meter that law enforcement uses.

I don't want it too dark and want to stay legal for Florida and surrounding states. Legal pass through for Florida is 28% front side windows and 15% back. Some other southern states are South Carolina 27% all, Georgia 32% all, Tennessee 35% all windows.

Last - I think it would look GREAT on my Sapphire Black Metallic w/ Black top !!!

Thanks for your help!

Best!
Jack
 
As long as you are tagged in Florida, that is what you need to be concerned with. I had 35% all the way around on my old vehicle, since I found 20% too hard to see out of at night (think reversing into a parking spot). Ask to sit in a vehicle during the late afternoon or early morning that has the darker tint, and choose for yourself :thumbsup:
 
ovrkll said:
As long as you are tagged in Florida, that is what you need to be concerned with. I had 35% all the way around on my old vehicle, since I found 20% too hard to see out of at night (think reversing into a parking spot). Ask to sit in a vehicle during the late afternoon or early morning that has the darker tint, and choose for yourself :thumbsup:
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ABSOLUTELY AGREE. I used to have dark tint on a previous car and it was tough to see out the back window at night. But I am not a fan of tinting roadsters to begin with, but to each their own right?

Good luck :thumbsup:
 
ovrkll said:
As long as you are tagged in Florida, that is what you need to be concerned with. I had 35% all the way around on my old vehicle, since I found 20% too hard to see out of at night (think reversing into a parking spot). Ask to sit in a vehicle during the late afternoon or early morning that has the darker tint, and choose for yourself :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks! Think I will go with 40% sides and back. No strip on the front as it only adds about 1".

Best!
Jack
 
Tinting roadsters windows looks wierd, especially if you have the roof down, but the windows up ?.....looks well naff in my opinion.
 
easty027 said:
Tinting roadsters windows looks wierd, especially if you have the roof down, but the windows up ?.....looks well naff in my opinion.
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Certainly agree with you for the UK and with a softtop down it does look odd. Indeed if we tinted to any decent level on the side windows we'd have a ticket real quick.

I can understand the desire to tint in somewhere like Florida with heat and light and especially with a hardtop fitted. In fact I wish our weather created that need....
 
Totally agree. My girlfriend got stopped the other day as her windows on her beetle are tinted slightly, well we bought it that way and never actually realised that they were tinted that much.

Got a £30 fine (he said he would do her a favour and not give her points - so gratefull !). He also said that it could pass an MOT with tints but would still be illegal, a bit weird i thought ? They really have nothing else to do, but thats a whole different can of worms.

But agree with the wether comment, would be awesome, those American guys really have no idea how good they've got it ! Its sunny here now but i know as soon as home time comes round the heavens will open up destroying any chance of having the roof down.
 
gannet said:
how can it pass an MOT and still be illegal - that dont make sense to me :?
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Exactly, cops dont know their a$$ from their elbow.
 
I have 30% on the sides and rear windows and 50% on the entire windshield...not a stip. These are legal limits in Arizona. It looks great with the black softtop! And honestly, I could have gone even darker ;-)
 
Got window tint done today ! Very pleased ! Not too dark and really good job ! I finally decided on 30% tint sides and back - none on front. Still need to take hardtop by to tint it's back window.

Good shop with 10 years experience, warranty and doing business for 10 years and with most of the local dealers including all for ALL PRO BMW. Cost was $149 for 2 side windows and 2 back windows.

Here's some driveway pics -

2005Z4Tint640004.jpg


2005Z4Tint640003.jpg


2005Z4Tint640002.jpg


To answer an earlier question, I never drive with the top down and the windows up - so it doesn't matter if that looks bad!

I really like how it looks with my Sapphire Black Metallic!

Best!
Jack
 
I use to be a big fan of tints in my younger days..I like the classy look w/o on my 325Ci and maybe the back window of the Z4 being tinted but that would be the extent of it..

To each his own.. :thumbsup:
 
JackB1 said:
Got window tint done today ! Very pleased ! Not too dark and really good job ! I finally decided on 30% tint sides and back - none on front. Still need to take hardtop by to tint it's back window.

Good shop with 10 years experience, warranty and doing business for 10 years and with most of the local dealers including all for ALL PRO BMW. Cost was $149 for 2 side windows and 2 back windows.

Here's some driveway pics -

2005Z4Tint640004.jpg


2005Z4Tint640003.jpg


2005Z4Tint640002.jpg


To answer an earlier question, I never drive with the top down and the windows up - so it doesn't matter if that looks bad!

I really like how it looks with my Sapphire Black Metallic!

Best!
Jack
Click to expand...

In that case, good move. Glad you enjoy it. Have driving!! :driving: :thumbsup:
 
gannet said:
how can it pass an MOT and still be illegal - that dont make sense to me :?
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I was speaking to an MOT tester today and he told me that the police and the MOT stations operae under different laws which should in the future be aligned.
Odities include:

Window tints - some police forces have a measuring meter to test fro % light passing through, but VOSA cannot afford to issue to all MOT stations so at some future point they will be issued a piece of tinted glass as a measure and then have it incorporated in the test

Registration plates. Police work to font sizes, spacing etc. but MOT stations just to the correct position. It could have pink letters but they could not fail on that

He gave me more but I cannot recall.

UK law sometinmes is an ass
 
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