'Street Legal' tint by BMW Australia

[SimonB]

Hi guys,

In Perth, we usually always need to tint our cars. BMW Australia (or maybe it's just Auto Classic) flog this thing called a 'Street Legal Tint' which is apparently the darkest legal tint. It's got an RRP of $695. I managed to get 'em down to $645 (woohoo) today when they called me.

Has anyone any comments on this? My only reason for being tempted to get Auto Classic to do it is that it's then, presumably, encumbant on them to fix any issues I may have with Comfort Access problems. If I get it done myself and have issues, I fully expect to me on my own.

Thoughts? Worth the price? Aha, this seems like an appropriate smilie: :w00t:

[Zuzu]

WOW $645.00 thats big bucks...even from BMW for a Tint..

My BMW dealer in Sydney sells it for $285.00...and thats expensive..

[TimMc]

Sounds expensive, but I too am shopping for either tint or the factory blinds.

[xa-coupe]

As you pointed out, the benefit of getting it done by the dealer/BMW is that is things are unhappy, they get to fix it. Having said that, if you shop around I would expect tinting for ~$280. If you make sure the tint isn't metalised then I would expect that the comfort access would be fine.

[SimonB]

Yes, I thought it was expensive too. There's big debate on other forums as to whether metallic tints are the problem or not. It shouldn't be, but the general consensus is ceramic is the way to go and to ensure the fitter doesn't get water in the doors if CA is fitted. Anyone in Perth got any recommendations for good tinters?

Oh yeah, remember my post about monopolies? The brochure looks like it's a stock brochure, but it is Auto Classic branded. The iPod cable is $161 and the Performance Front Seats are $10,927 for the 2 extremes :-)

[amk2912]

SimonB...I've got this product on my 135i, in fact I've had it on all my BMWs. It is a Tint-a-Car product but it is supposedly only available thru AC. It is a bit exp but I just got a Hyundai i30 tinted for $495 so I don''t think it's that bad.

Also, if there's a prob you can get AC to sort it out.

[harpoon]

I got BMW to tint my car on delivery for the same reason but they out-source it to Solace anyway. I never actually got charged for it I don't think so that was good. I have comfort access and so far have had no issues with it. The tint I got was supposed to be the darkest legal but I don't think it is.

That does sound expensive for a tint. There's not much glass to even tint!

[WAY]

SimonB, Andrew posted that the Performance seats are now only $31XX each. I saw it at his workshop the other day. Sure is tempting!!!

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by harpoon

I got BMW to tint my car on delivery for the same reason but they out-source it to Solace anyway. I never actually got charged for it I don't think so that was good. I have comfort access and so far have had no issues with it. The tint I got was supposed to be the darkest legal but I don't think it is.

That does sound expensive for a tint. There's not much glass to even tint!

That $695 seems standard because my X5, 530i, 130i and 135i ALL cost the same to tint with Street Legal Tint thru AutoClassic.

[SimonB]

Thanks guys, I will check out alternatives. amk2912, are you happy with the tint? Not that we've had any hot days since you got it!

[WAY]

Anyone who bought their car from BMW Melbourne will tell you what is the most expensive tint offered by BMW is...$865! It's the only tint ever approved by BMW Australia apparently...and the only tint approved by the cancer council.

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by SimonB

Thanks guys, I will check out alternatives. amk2912, are you happy with the tint? Not that we've had any hot days since you got it!

I've had this tint on 5 BMWs now and I like it because its dark ( I always get the darkest non-metallic charcoal tint), and apart from deliberate acts of vandalism by the kids it is difficult to scratch.

I would recommend it. It does make a huge difference to whether you get your right arm and right side of your head roasted by the sun! I can't live without tinting and I reckon it's mandatory in WA.

[BMWDave]

Hi Simon
I also have the Street Legal tint on my 135i. They did a fantastic job on it and as others have said, have some recourse through AC if it goes wrong.

[SimonB]

Originally Posted by WAY

Anyone who bought their car from BMW Melbourne will tell you what is the most expensive tint offered by BMW is...$865! It's the only tint ever approved by BMW Australia apparently...and the only tint approved by the cancer council.

There's one listed in the brochure as "Security Tint", which is $895 RRP. Maybe that's it? Who knows...

[SimonB]

Thanks amk2912 and BMWDave, will check it out. Happy to pay more if it's worth it (within reason).

[Dazza]

I was quoted $895 from Trivett Parramatta via their six-start-solutions add-ons pack. Sydneysiders, thoughts?

[WAY]

I haven't actually tinted my last 5 or 6 cars because I just don't like my interior trim being removed...

[xa-coupe]

Originally Posted by SimonB

There's one listed in the brochure as "Security Tint", which is $895 RRP. Maybe that's it? Who knows...

Unless it is bulletproof I can't see it being 'security'. Both our cars have been broken into through tinted windows. They just chuck bigger objects through.. the bastards.

[EspressoBoy]

I am from Canada so things here might be a little different but I feel like sharing...

1. Tint during night driving makes it much harder to view out the rear mirrors, and looking behind. Worth noting, and for those who have not had tint before should consider how dark it gets for visibility. If you drive a lot at night that can become an issue. Especially if you have other newer drivers driving the car.

2. The dealership I used does this... the tint and stoneguard plastic clear bra is NOT serviced by the service people, it's done by through the finance manager who hires a 3rd party to come in. So any issues you not only have to wait for them to come in, you do not get to talk to them 1on1 (people doing the work), and if you have any issues, it goes through a lot of people. That being said, my tint was perfect. ClearBra on the other hand, I don't even want to go there. So the extra you are paying, may not be for something so good. I did not get much in writing as far as warranty either. I have tried to some degree to sort it out, but in the end, I am very unhappy, and cringe at having to face them. This is not a good thing and mainly why I pass this on to others.

3. Nothing beats dealing direct with the people who actually work on the car. Shop around, don't rush something that is so important. If you do decide on the dealership, get everything in writing. Price, warranty, and find out who you deal with if you have a problem. If it's not "service" dept, I personally think it's a mistake. They focus on their job, not the side stuff if there is a problem. Maybe get a garantee along with all the contact info of the 3rd party that comes in. Then if you have any initial issues, you can call them direct. My 2 cents

EspressoBoy

[wmj73]

Brisbane BMW is charging $690 for my tinting, dont know whether I should take the plunge. Any one from brisbane know of a good alternative company?

[AussieRacer]

Originally Posted by xa-coupe

Unless it is bulletproof I can't see it being 'security'. Both our cars have been broken into through tinted windows. They just chuck bigger objects through.. the bastards.

You can apply a film to glass that makes it super strong. A lot of high risk bank branches will have the film applied. Meant to take min. of 8 sledge hammer blows to break through. Doesn't mean the glass won't break or is bulletproof, just makes it a lot harder to make a big hole quickly. But if the glass isn't held well in the frame it would do nothing.

[DTNJNQ]

I got mine tinted at tint-a-car in North Melbourne yesterday for $295. They used a product called midnight express, which is the darkest legal tint. I'm happy with the result and it has a lifetime guarantee.