[pcmike]

Just went back and got tint measurements. 3M color stable 20% on the front results in 14% and 50% on the back results in 12%.

[dereksM3]

So if I understand this correctly the factory X3 windows in the back are roughly 20% in light transmission (equivalent to 20% tint) however they don't off the UV/Heat block capabilities of say an equivalent tint percentage?

I plan to carry a little one in the back seat so having those properties is important. Based on the above post I would suspect maybe a 20% front and 70% rear window would be perfect but not too dark.

For reference I have 20% all around on my 340i and it's perfect - I recently had a 2019 3-series loaner with factory windows (no tint) and I couldn't believe the difference in heat rejection. On an 85 degree day here in the PNW I can have my AC set to 70 on the lowest fan setting and be fine, it took almost Max AC to cool the cabin down for nearly 15min to make it comfortable on the loaner BMW.

[pcmike]

New pictures... one from a few feet back and the other closer up. If you're close you may see the 2% difference, but a few feet back I don't think it's noticeable at all.

[pcmike]

Originally Posted by dereksM3

So if I understand this correctly the factory X3 windows in the back are roughly 20% in light transmission (equivalent to 20% tint) however they don't off the UV/Heat block capabilities of say an equivalent tint percentage?

I plan to carry a little one in the back seat so having those properties is important. Based on the above post I would suspect maybe a 20% front and 70% rear window would be perfect but not too dark.

For reference I have 20% all around on my 340i and it's perfect - I recently had a 2019 3-series loaner with factory windows (no tint) and I couldn't believe the difference in heat rejection. On an 85 degree day here in the PNW I can have my AC set to 70 on the lowest fan setting and be fine, it took almost Max AC to cool the cabin down for nearly 15min to make it comfortable on the loaner BMW.

I suspect 70% crystalline on the back would be more your speed. Like I mentioned a few posts back, problem with crystalline is each value is a different shade. 70% is blueish and the ones below that are either charcoal color or almost brown. It's very hard to get consistency around the whole vehicle. Almost have to pick one and do the whole car in that value and live with the front being lighter but the whole car having superior heat rejection.

[dereksM3]

Originally Posted by pcmike

I suspect 70% crystalline on the back would be more your speed. Like I mentioned a few posts back, problem with crystalline is each value is a different shade. 70% is blueish and the ones below that are either charcoal color or almost brown. It's very hard to get consistency around the whole vehicle. Almost have to pick one and do the whole car in that value and live with the front being lighter but the whole car having superior heat rejection.

Is this why you went with 3M Color Stable? I was looking at 20% and 70% in Suntek CIR or 3M Crystalline. I will do some research on the shade differences for 3M.

[pcmike]

Originally Posted by dereksM3

Is this why you went with 3M Color Stable? I was looking at 20% and 70% in Suntek CIR or 3M Crystalline. I will do some research on the shade differences for 3M.

I went with color stable because I wanted the windows darker and to all match as close as possible. The local place only uses 3M so that was my only choice as far as brand.

[MrPorter]

Originally Posted by pcmike

Just went back and got tint measurements. 3M color stable 20% on the front results in 14% and 50% on the back results in 12%.

Hmm. Makes me wonder if 35 on the front and 70 on the back would end up matching roughly.

[darrylo]

Just be aware that, for a few unlucky souls, dark front tint appears to confuse their cars into thinking that daytime is nighttime, and the car sometimes dims the instrument displays. This doesn't seem to have hit many people, though, as there haven't been many complaints. Just be aware of it: https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1473182 (see post #33).

[pcmike]

Originally Posted by darrylo

Just be aware that, for a few unlucky souls, dark front tint appears to confuse their cars into thinking that daytime is nighttime, and the car sometimes dims the instrument displays. This doesn't seem to have hit many people, though, as there haven't been many complaints. Just be aware of it: https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1473182 (see post #33).

I noticed this issue even before I applied the tint. Backing into my garage is annoying at best as the iDrive display gets so low lit the moment I cross the threshold that you can barely make out anything in the display. Wish there was a way to force the display to stay a constant brightness.

[kcleuk]

Thinking between 3M color stable vs crystalline.
Crystalline has better heat reaction since it's ceramic it seems. And it only has lighter shades.

Color stable has darker shades but less heat reduction.

A shop quoted me Rayno S9 which I believe is comparable to 3M crystalline. But just 1/2 the price of 3M.

Any thoughts?

[sinbad4]

I did front to match @ 20% tint.. had them apply to tailgate window as well. I am please with results. Here is post I did w/ info and pics:

Note: pics do not show from direct rear, but it is quite dark.. not totally black, but hard to see through to passengers even in broad daylight.

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1511701

[kcleuk]

Originally Posted by MrPorter

Hmm. Makes me wonder if 35 on the front and 70 on the back would end up matching roughly.

Chicago law seems to say if you have factory tint at the back that is less than 30%, then you need > 50% on the front...

[pcmike]

Originally Posted by kcleuk

Thinking between 3M color stable vs crystalline.
Crystalline has better heat reaction since it's ceramic it seems. And it only has lighter shades.

Color stable has darker shades but less heat reduction.

A shop quoted me Rayno S9 which I believe is comparable to 3M crystalline. But just 1/2 the price of 3M.

Any thoughts?

They now make crystalline in 20%. Problem is to get front and back to match you need to use two different values of crystalline and each value is a different shade (70-blueish, 50-brownish, not sure what 20 is). For this reason I went with color stable.

[kcleuk]

Originally Posted by pcmike

They now make crystalline in 20%. Problem is to get front and back to match you need to use two different values of crystalline and each value is a different shade (70-blueish, 50-brownish, not sure what 20 is). For this reason I went with color stable.

Yea. I'm in chicsgo and I have a parking garage. So I probably don't need crystalline. So leaning towards Color Stable.

But Chicago law also requires > 50% on the front, which won't get me the look I like. So might not even bother tinting.

[MrPorter]

Originally Posted by kcleuk

Chicago law seems to say if you have factory tint at the back that is less than 30%, then you need > 50% on the front...

Yeah I know the laws I'm just not really sure I'm trying to follow them at the moment.

[kcleuk]

Anyone know much about Rayno? Seems like mostly discussed are Llumar and 3M.

[MrPorter]

Does anyone who got their sunroof tinted regret it?

With 50% color stable, can you still look up and see out ok?

Getting my tints done on Friday and I THINK I want the sunroof...just want to make sure I'm thinking it through.

[darrylo]

Originally Posted by MrPorter

Does anyone who got their sunroof tinted regret it?

I don't, but I got crystalline tint for the heat reduction. I put 15% on mine, and have heard of some people putting 5% on theirs. I originally wanted 20%, but the shop I used only had 15%. It's fine in the daytime.

[MrPorter]

Originally Posted by darrylo

I don't, but I got crystalline tint for the heat reduction. I put 15% on mine, and have heard of some people putting 5% on theirs. I originally wanted 20%, but the shop I used only had 15%. It's fine in the daytime.

I was debating just doing 70% crystalline just on the sunroof with the color stable on the other windows, but it's more expensive (this is a lease) and I'm not sure there's going to be a wild difference in heat reduction vs. the 50% CS.

[pvansh]

I ended up going with Xpel Prime XR all around.

15% in the front, 55% on the rear on top of the factory tint. Looks perfect IMO!

[kcleuk]

[IMG][/IMG] just tinted with 3M crystalline. 40% front 70% back

[RevNev]

I found 12% on the front windows matches the rear tinted glass. Anything less with the light though the windscreen, the front windows don't look dark enough from a side on view. That's of course with type or brand of film our tinter uses.

Since the amount of particularly SUV's with privacy glass have increased, the cops have relaxed a lot here on late model cars with dark tint.