To tint or not to tint ... advice welcomed

Originally Posted by ganeshkrishna

Hey guys, I'm getting some work done at the shop on my 06' white M3 vert (pic below). I am considering tinting the windows.

Two questions for you:
1. Do you recommend I do it and
2. If yes, what % (I'm in NYC where cops have bigger fish to fry).

I have always loved white cars with dark tints. That said, I have always been slightly adverse to doing mine because the black tint won't match the black vert top and I hate that it wont be a clean look. And when the top is down the windows are usually down so its an issue only with the top up.

What do you guys think?

I disagree with #2. You would think that they have bigger fish to fry, but somehow they always find the time to harass you.

I have 20% all around on mine. Like you, I love the way that it looks on White. I finally started getting pulled in my 5th year of ownership. I just keep my windows down while they are in the vicinty now.

They seem to be okay as long as they can see inside the vehicle. It's definitely one of the "pay to play" mods.

Good luck with your decision.

35% all around most cops will not notice it.

I think the P.O. Of mine (black w/ black top) went a bit too aggressive with carrying it to the edges- subsequently it's peeling in an area the size of a quarter from the top rear corners of the windows on both sides. I think it's 35ish percent, and it's really tough to see through at night. Contemplating removing it. Looks great from outside though.

Im doing mine 35% in spring.

Here is mine but mine isnt a vert but you might get the idea... I have 35%

I got mine done including the windshield. If you dont use a cheap brand tint and you go to a reputable tinter you'll get a clean job!

I need to redo my tint. It's cheap and crappy. I want to go with 20% all the way around.

I went with a 35% tint all around. Best thing I have ever done for the Vert! Really cuts down bright light inside during the day and keeps the Vert cool. Also the tint is light enough that it does not make night driving difficult!

Attached are my before & after! Gorgeous M3 Vert OP... I'm very jelly!!!

Looks great. Thinking of doing the same thing -35%.

Did anyone do the rear window as well? Just worried about pressing the film on against the delicate rubber seal.

I did 35% on the rear window as well. Looks good and my seal is in good condition so I haven't noticed any problems since the tint was installed. Here is a pic of what it looks like.

Yup, I did 35% all the way around including rear, no issues.

I would not tint a vert. They should be driven with the top down. Top up only during inclement weather, then you you need to see as well as possible. ymmv

Yup, MMDV (my mileage does vary). I'm in SoCal, so it's good to have different perspectives based on parts of the country. Given the mild weather, 35% tint when it does rain here is no issue. I could see where snow or thunderstorms could change your view (literally and figuratively).

Like I said before, I wondered if tinting a vert didn't make sense, and I was leaning toward not, but I'm really glad I did it, even though my top is down as much as possible.

Thanks everyone for the great information and discussion. Love this forum -- can always rely on a post to help make an informed decision! After reading all your posts and seeing all your photos I have decided not to tint. My M3 is really mostly a summer car for me and I prefer to use it only when the top is down. On the occasion when I do need to drive it in the winter it is usually at night and on occasion in bad weather. I don't think the tints are a great idea for visibility.

Above all, I don't like the tints on a white car with the black vert top. To me the car looks very clean as is and there is something beautiful about the stock M3. The tints scream that the car has mods (whether true or not), which I appreciate on others cars, but I think I like the look of mine as is.

SO I'll be dropping the car off to MNC Auto this week for BSW Stage 1 and pass through sub upgrades and some other tune-ups but I won't be tinting, for now at least. Thanks again, all!

Cool. Looking forward to review on your Stage 1.

PO of my white vert had the side windows done at 35%. Someone backed into my car a few months ago and shattered a door window, so when the body shop replaced it, I also asked them to do the back glass too. The back window is at 20%.

I've been happy with both. The sides look a little grey, but no one would notice. It makes a nice clean look: White on bottom, black on top. I saw your decision, and think you did the best thing: you did what you wanted!

Only weird thing is the little dots around the back window glass. Some places the tint covers them, some it doesn't. Again, the only person that would ever notice is me.

Also need to remember that with tint, you get the weird rainbows when you wear polarized sunglasses. Doesn't bother me, but I know that some people complain.

Since this pic, I've installed black grills which really makes it look sportier. If you'd like more pics, I can take some later. However, my car got backed into AGAIN this weekend...twice in less than six months! I'm beginning to think I have an invisibility mod.

@glamdring71 Thanks for the reply. I would def appreciate more pics. I can also def appreciate the look of your car, but for me I think the photo confirms that I don't like the all black up top. Totally not a diss at you, just a personal opinion. If I ever find a white hardtop

Really sucks to hear about your luck getting backed into. LOL Re invisibility mod!

@droptopking -- what % is that? It also seems to have some mirror affect to it -- or is that just the light/angle?

I wouldn't tint it unless you had black rims on.

If you decide to tint them, I would use a light tint