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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums General 5-Series Sedan and Wagon (F10 / F11) Forum Window tint 15% or 20%
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      02-29-2012, 02:46 PM   #1
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Window tint 15% or 20%

Hi everyone

I am going to tint my car this weekend. Now I have 35%, but it is too light for me since I have a white interior. I can't decide which one to choose... 15% or 20%. I don't know if the police will pull me over every time with 15%.

What is your opinion? If you can post some pics with your tint, it will be very helpful.
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      02-29-2012, 05:45 PM   #2
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anything darker than 35 starts to seriously affect night visibility. I think anything darker than 20% is illegal in CA. 35 is the right number when you go darker it starts looking to hitman/rapper - ish.
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      02-29-2012, 05:47 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gatoman39 View Post
anything darker than 35 starts to seriously affect night visibility. I think anything darker than 20% is illegal in CA. 35 is the right number when you go darker it starts looking to hitman/rapper - ish.
In LA any tint is not allowed on front windows. I used to drive with 15 percent tint, but not in US, and it was ok
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      02-29-2012, 05:51 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Artur-F10 View Post
In LA any tint is not allowed on front windows. I used to drive with 15 percent tint, but not in US, and it was ok
yes, I live here too.
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      02-29-2012, 10:43 PM   #5
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My interior is Venetian Beige, I have 20% tint all around (except for the Windshield). Our legal limit for the front windows are 35% in MO/KS, so I keep my moon roof open to let more light in while I'm driving (the light interior makes the tint looks like it's 25%+ in the day). So far I have no issues with law. I'm very happy with my tint, but wouldn't go any darker.

Are you putting additional layer of tint on top of your existing? I highly suggest removing your existing tint before moving forward. Use the black trash bag + mist of water on a hot day trick. The sun will heat up the water mist between the black trash bag and your tint's glue, making the tint easy to remove. If you don't know that trick, ask the person who does your tint. He would be happy to show you how to do it, instead of doing it for you since it's time consuming.
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      02-29-2012, 10:50 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JNoSol View Post
My interior is Venetian Beige, I have 20% tint all around (except for the Windshield). Our legal limit for the front windows are 35% in MO/KS, so I keep my moon roof open to let more light in while I'm driving (the light interior makes the tint looks like it's 25%+ in the day). So far I have no issues with law. I'm very happy with my tint, but wouldn't go any darker.

Are you putting additional layer of tint on top of your existing? I highly suggest removing your existing tint before moving forward. Use the black trash bag + mist of water on a hot day trick. The sun will heat up the water mist between the black trash bag and your tint's glue, making the tint easy to remove. If you don't know that trick, ask the person who does your tint. He would be happy to show you how to do it, instead of doing it for you since it's time consuming.
The tint shop will remove the old tint and put a new one. Is 20% too light? can you see the interior clearly? Is 35% very different from 20%?

I want to do the back window 5% and the rest four windows 20%, so it will be a little darker
I thought legal limit is 75 in the front in LA...
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      02-29-2012, 10:59 PM   #7
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Yes thats true anything lower than 35% and you have a higher chance of getting stopped. i did Limo (5%) all around on my car and 20% on windshield. I have black interior. I love it. it so sexy.

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      02-29-2012, 11:06 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Artur-F10 View Post
The tint shop will remove the old tint and put a new one. Is 20% too light? can you see the interior clearly? Is 35% very different from 20%?

I want to do the back window 5% and the rest four windows 20%, so it will be a little darker
I thought legal limit is 75 in the front in LA...
Good. There's a huge difference between 35% and 20%. You can't see the interior clearly, only the spots where the light hits. I do have trouble seeing behind me when I reverse at night. That's why I don't suggest going 15%. I'll try to post some pics!

Wow, 75% limit for the front?
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      02-29-2012, 11:15 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JNoSol View Post
Good. There's a huge difference between 35% and 20%. You can't see the interior clearly, only the spots where the light hits. I do have trouble seeing behind me when I reverse at night. That's why I don't suggest going 15%. I'll try to post some pics!

Wow, 75% limit for the front?
I decided to go with 5% in the back window. I have a rear view camera. So, I should not have any problems.

Yes, as I know, Its 75
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      02-29-2012, 11:18 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EL MEJOR View Post
Yes thats true anything lower than 35% and you have a higher chance of getting stopped. i did Limo (5%) all around on my car and 20% on windshield. I have black interior. I love it. it so sexy.

Veery sexy look, but also very illegal. I will be pulled over every day in LA.
Do you get tickets? Also, can you smth at night? lol
The windshield tint is the point, right? not just fixing ticket.
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      02-29-2012, 11:39 PM   #11
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My wife has 5% all around on her truck except for windshield and she hasn't gotten pulled over once for it. I think it all depends on where you live and how the cops are out there. I went with 30% on mine as to not attract to much attention.
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      03-01-2012, 05:24 AM   #12
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I can see clear as day with windshield at 20%. At night. I have xenon headlights. The only "problem" is when backing up at night I can't see that well through side mirrors so I just put the windows down when I'm parking at night. Well I've been stopped 2x in 8 months. Also i never look through rearview mirror at night since i have camera. I'll let you guys in on a little secret. If you know an eye doctor, have him sign off on DMV application MR-15 that you have sensitive skin to sun or photophobia and you can dismiss any prior tickets with that and when you get stopped u won't get tickets. If you don't "know one" like that, then remember, $$$ talks.
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      03-01-2012, 07:38 AM   #13
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I have an AW F10 with oyster interior and went 15% all around and it is perfect!
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      03-01-2012, 08:47 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JNoSol View Post
Good. There's a huge difference between 35% and 20%. You can't see the interior clearly, only the spots where the light hits. I do have trouble seeing behind me when I reverse at night. That's why I don't suggest going 15%. I'll try to post some pics!

Wow, 75% limit for the front?
Pictures below. 20% all around. Yes, I need to lower my car soon.
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      03-01-2012, 10:37 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EL MEJOR
Yes thats true anything lower than 35% and you have a higher chance of getting stopped. i did Limo (5%) all around on my car and 20% on windshield. I have black interior. I love it. it so sexy.

Crazy, I used to have same set up as yours, 35% front windshield 5% on side and back. I will never do that again. When it rains you can't see shyt while driving, and especially at night you can't see shit at all.. But it's fun while drivin around in daytime, and usually BMW front windshield comes tint, 50% I believe. Anyway OP 15% and 20% is really not much of a difference.
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      03-01-2012, 11:31 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EL MEJOR View Post
I can see clear as day with windshield at 20%. At night. I have xenon headlights. The only "problem" is when backing up at night I can't see that well through side mirrors so I just put the windows down when I'm parking at night. Well I've been stopped 2x in 8 months. Also i never look through rearview mirror at night since i have camera. I'll let you guys in on a little secret. If you know an eye doctor, have him sign off on DMV application MR-15 that you have sensitive skin to sun or photophobia and you can dismiss any prior tickets with that and when you get stopped u won't get tickets. If you don't "know one" like that, then remember, $$$ talks.
Yeah, you are right. But sometimes this paper does not work if you are armenian because police do not trust us and ask to check it again, but with another doctor
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      03-01-2012, 11:32 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JNoSol View Post
Pictures below. 20% all around. Yes, I need to lower my car soon.

Oh, are your front windows tinted? It seems too light lol
my 35% seems darker

Last edited by Artur-F10; 03-01-2012 at 11:49 AM..
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      03-01-2012, 11:44 AM   #18
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The problem is that my tint shop doesnt have anything between 5 % and 20%...
only metallic tint( llumar),but they told me that llumar is not good for cars with GPS

Last edited by Artur-F10; 03-01-2012 at 11:57 AM..
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      03-01-2012, 01:42 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Artur-F10 View Post
Oh, are your front windows tinted? It seems too light lol
my 35% seems darker
It is 20% all around (except for the windshield). It's the morning sun hitting the beige leather seats, making it appear lighter than usual. It looks very dark standing 10+ft way or at an a certain angle, as your see the rear are the same tint and seems darker.
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      03-01-2012, 07:18 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JNoSol View Post
It is 20% all around (except for the windshield). It's the morning sun hitting the beige leather seats, making it appear lighter than usual. It looks very dark standing 10+ft way or at an a certain angle, as your see the rear are the same tint and seems darker.
Can you post more pics?
thanks
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      03-01-2012, 08:41 PM   #21
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i got 20% all around and got pulled over the same day for it
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      03-01-2012, 10:35 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Artur-F10 View Post
Can you post more pics?
thanks
Here's what it looks like inside.
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