Window tinting blues. Am I being too picky?

[kloftus1044]

Hello everyone...

When I bought my CPO 135i, I opted to have the windows tinted. After the initial install, there were some small bubbles that were still there after a couple of weeks. After a lot of debate, I decided to have the dealer fix the tinting on the affected windows. Picked the car up today and this time there appears to be a nick in the tinting material on one of the windows. Its a small thing, might even be an air bubble that disappears in a few days. But it sure looks and feels more like a nick in the actual material.

So...take it back to the dealer and tell them to try again? Any input would be helpful.

---
Kevin

[doublevanosrc]

Be thankful the nick wasn't on your door.

[bmw1racer]

Yet another reason why I'd never tint my windows.

[1ToBeOn2Wheels]

Go back until it's right. I know this doesn't help, but as a general rule, dealers are HORRIBLE at window tinting, as it's just not their forte. A shop that specializes in automotive tinting is a much better choice (usually cheaper too).

[Colt]

Don't go to a crap tinting shop and you wouldn't have the bubbles to begin with.......

[themellly]

You should have never gone to the dealer to tint you windows, but since you paid for it go back until it's done right. I can't stand non-tinted cars.. in my opinion every car has to be tinted or else it just looks wrong.

[kloftus1044]

Originally Posted by 1ToBeOn2Wheels

Go back until it's right. I know this doesn't help, but as a general rule, dealers are HORRIBLE at window tinting, as it's just not their forte. A shop that specializes in automotive tinting is a much better choice (usually cheaper too).

Sadly, I didn't know the dealer was a less than optimal choice for installing window tint. I figured they would be really good at it, get it right the first time, and I'd be perfectly happy with the end result. Didn't happen.

I'll have to give it a few days to see if the spots clear up and if they don't, I'll take it back in and have them remove all the tinting. Probably end up on their "difficult customer" list.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Yet another reason why I'd never tint my windows.

Because you like UV damage and over running your AC?

I've worked with someone tinting BMWs, Porsches, Mercedes, etc and doing clear bra on higher end cars like Ferrari and Lamborghini when I was in high school and college summers. We were actually contracted out by Porsche and Mercedes to do their work.

Anyways, I've had Madico Ceramic film on my Z and 128 and don't regret it what-so ever. Proper application takes technique.

The film will be hazy and there may by water pockets for a week. After that they will disappear. The film will look cloudy.

Dirt looks like little pokadots. Usually white specs. Improper cleaning, or even pollen can get trapped.

As for the nicked film, take it back. It will only get worse, not better

[kloftus1044]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Because you like UV damage and over running your AC?

I've worked with someone tinting BMWs, Porsches, Mercedes, etc and doing clear bra on higher end cars like Ferrari and Lamborghini when I was in high school and college summers. We were actually contracted out by Porsche and Mercedes to do their work.

Anyways, I've had Madico Ceramic film on my Z and 128 and don't regret it what-so ever. Proper application takes technique.

The film will be hazy and there may by water pockets for a week. After that they will disappear. The film will look cloudy.

Dirt looks like little pokadots. Usually white specs. Improper cleaning, or even pollen can get trapped.

As for the nicked film, take it back. It will only get worse, not better

I'm not seeing any white specs right now. And maybe after a week or so the two spots that I'm concerned about will clear up. But you're right: if they turn out to be nicks in the film, it absolutely has to go back.

[1addyfan]

Originally Posted by kloftus1044

Sadly, I didn't know the dealer was a less than optimal choice for installing window tint.

Well, as a fat man from New York once said, "If you don't know... Now you know."

Call me impatient, but I'd take it back to the dealer and tell them to remove ALL of the tint they installed... and then to refund my money in full -- not a penny less. Then I would take it to a "real" tint shop and get it done the way it was intended to be.

I don't have time to be driving back and forth every week playing around with window tint. Time is money, and I have neither to waste.

Good luck with whatever route you take.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Because you like UV damage and over running your AC?

I've owned six BMWs over the years and I've never had any interior issues (cracking, shrinking, etc.) with any of them due to UV exposure... And I've never had my AC fail, either.

BMW have tested their AC systems in extremes like Death Valley, so I'm not worried at all about "overrunning" the AC.

[pinmagic]

Tinting just makes it harder to see out at night. Wouldn't do it to my car.

Having said that, you should probably alert the dealer imeediately, so they don't claim that you nicked it.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by pinmagic

Tinting just makes it harder to see out at night.

This is completely false. Tint makes it harder to see in during the day but at night it is virtually undetectable. Tint (at the legal level) has almost no effect on night time vision. Hell, my rear window is tinted to 5% and I see quite clearly at night. My sides are tinted to 15% and my night time vision is perfectly fine. Sit in the back of any SUV and tell me you can't see out... most are 20% from the factory. 75% of what you need to see is through your non-tinted front windshield anyway, but I reiterate that it does NOT hamper night vision.

If you find it "hard" to see out of a tinted car at night, you probably shouldn't be driving because you have another vision issue.

OP, do you have any pics of the issue?

[Webb70]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

False. Tint makes it harder to see in during the day but at night it is virtually undetectable. Tint (at the legal level) has almost no effect on night time vision. Hell, my rear window is tinted to 5% and I see quite clearly at night. My sides are tinted to 15% and my night time vision is perfectly fine. Sit in the back of any SUV and tell me you can't see out... most are 20% from the factory. 75% of what you need to see is through your non-tinted front windshield anyway, but I reiterate that it does NOT hamper night vision.

Sorry, I'm no rocket engineer here, but how can something that makes your windows DARKER have no effect on night time vision ??
Thats like saying wearing sunglasses at night has no effect on your night-time vision ??
Tint does make a difference, day and night.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Webb70

Sorry, I'm no rocket engineer here, but how can something that makes your windows DARKER have no effect on night time vision ??
Thats like saying wearing sunglasses at night has no effect on your night-time vision ??
It does make a difference.

The effect is minimal (I did say "almost" no effect). I don't know how dark sunglasses are but I see very clearly through my windows at night. If you are on the darker side of a tinted window, you can always see more easily than being on the lighter side looking in. The inside of your car is darker during the day and night.

[Jettt]

Why someone would not want tints is beyond me.


I think a car without tints just looks weird.


I even did my windshield. Lol



I had tint issues too. Because of the frameless door and when I open it the window goes down a bit. So the first time I got em done they started to peel at the bottom and a 700 dollar tint job shouldn't b doing that. They redid them no problem tho Nd I haven had an issue since.

And I can c perfect at night so if u can't pls don't drive lol

[Bob Z.]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Yet another reason why I'd never tint my windows.

And I could never live without tinted windows, especially here in Florida.

If you use a good tint shop that uses a good quality film (i.e., 3M) you should not have any problems.

[kloftus1044]

Upon closer inspection of the two questionable spots on my window, they appear to be pieces of lint trapped between the tinting and the glass. While they're not huge, they are unfortunately right in my field of view when I look in the passenger side mirror. Looks like I'll be going back to the dealer. Again.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

I've owned six BMWs over the years and I've never had any interior issues (cracking, shrinking, etc.) with any of them due to UV exposure... And I've never had my AC fail, either.

BMW have tested their AC systems in extremes like Death Valley, so I'm not worried at all about "overrunning" the AC.

You previously had an E36 right? You can't tell me with a straight face that car had good AC.

[cheshirecat79]

I really don't understand why people would be so adverse to tint. It keeps the car cooler and gives an element of privacy. You don't have to go super-dark with it and the UV protection is a huge plus.

But, whatever, it's your car, do what you want.

[Bob Z.]

I actually did not have my rear vert. window tinted, just the sides (as dark as possible); that helps let some light in and makes it easier to see out of the back window when it is dark.

[Section147]

Regardless of whether or not you tint, it DOES protect the interior (and keeps it much cooler) and
it DOES NOT make it "harder to see" at night. My vehicles are always tinted within two weeks of
purchase by an expert craftsman using high-quality materials who does nothing else but tint.
I agree with others here who think most cars look naked without tint...it just "completes" the look
to me. That said, if you choose not to, it's your call...and no one else's!