[SpaceSilver.X1]

what brand/model of 35% tint will look nice with Sapphire Black?

thanks!

[deutsch100]

We always do 3M high performance ceramic. For years we have done 35% on all our cars, but on my Black Sapphire i5, I did 20% all around and LOVE it!

We liked the 20% 3M ceramic so much, we changed our XM from 35% to 20% and then did 20% on our son's M3 and our 911.

We were worried the 20% would be too dark, but it's not all all.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

We always do 3M high performance ceramic. For years we have done 35% on all our cars, but on my Black Sapphire i5, I did 20% all around and LOVE it!

We liked the 20% 3M ceramic so much, we changed our XM from 35% to 20% and then did 20% on our son's M3 and our 911.

We were worried the 20% would be too dark, but it's not all all.

Do you never get stopped by the cops for having the window tint too dark? I'm in SoCal too and was wondering about which tint to use.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

Do you never get stopped by the cops for having the window tint too dark? I'm in SoCal too and was wondering about which tint to use.

my friends in California who are law-abiding, Volvo-driving, cat-rescuing, non-swinger, solid citizens all seem to have really, really dark 20% or limo tint on their door windows and rear window. Yet they never seem to get pulled over. It always amazed me.

in sharp contrast, cops in quite a few states pull people over by using "your tint is too dark!" as reasonable cause. (even when the tint is within the tint VLT limit of that state)

[Scrapula]

I have XPel XR Plus film at 20% which is not legal in Washington State. I just looks so good with the black trim. I don’t think the police bother you about the tint unless something comes up when they enter you plate number.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

unless something comes up when they enter you plate number.

that reminds me.....

a few months ago, I got pulled over. I was absolutely not speeding or doing anything else, so I was confused. I pulled into the Safeway parking lot and waited. The officer came up and said his license plate reader showed a mismatch. The license plate belonged to a Chevy something with an address in another part of the state. That confused me even more because my registration card had my address and my car on it.

Turned out that the DMV sent me the wrong license plate.

My license plate(as shown on the registration) should have been ASW-1225.

But the actual license plate that was hanging on the back of my car was ASW-1265. The DMV sent me the correct registration card with the wrong license plate, off by just 1 digit.

Hey, at least I didn't get shot or anything, right? The officer was actually extremely courteous and we laughed about the mistake.

I drove to the DMV and explained it. They sounded sympathetic but would not waive the charge to replace the license plate. I didn't feel like spending 2 hours and arguing over $15, so I just paid and got a new license plate and a new registration card(with a new number).

I've often wondered if the guy who received my license plate ever figure it out... or did he/she also get pulled over at some point?

Also... I had no idea that cops would drive around scanning license plates of random cars to see if the number matches the car make/model.

[desalvorw]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilver.X1

my friends in California who are law-abiding, Volvo-driving, cat-rescuing, non-swinger, solid citizens all seem to have really, really dark 20% or limo tint on their door windows and rear window. Yet they never seem to get pulled over. It always amazed me.

in sharp contrast, cops in quite a few states pull people over by using "your tint is too dark!" as reasonable cause. (even when the tint is within the tint VLT limit of that state)

“Non-swinger” Are you sure they’re Californian? 😂😂

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by desalvorw

“Non-swinger” Are you sure they’re Californian? ����

I don't think I want to know, so I never asked them. But they do drive a Volvo XC90 and a Land Rover Discovery, so I just assumed... but if they are, that's cool... most of my friends are way too square and I don't mind having a few wild ones. (had more than a few when I was young, but lost touch with them over the years)


but I'm going to stick to the rule that I always follow, which is this:

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

Do you never get stopped by the cops for having the window tint too dark? I'm in SoCal too and was wondering about which tint to use.

We have been in So. Cal for 30+ years and it has happened ONE time and it was in a gated community, LOL.

CA is such a mess and police are so understaffed and overworked...they do not care at all about tinting and front license plates.

My brother, dad, step dad and both uncles are Police Officers and they said they have never once pulled someone over for tinting or front license plates.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

We have been in So. Cal for 30+ years and it has happened ONE time and it was in a gated community, LOL.

CA is such a mess and police are so understaffed and overworked...they do not care at all about tinting and front license plates.

My brother, dad, step dad and both uncles are Police Officers and they said they have never once pulled someone over for tinting or front license plates.

I live in a no-front-license-plate state... but I got stopped by a New York State Police trooper in Upstate 2 years ago, near Lake Champlain. I was on my way to Montreal at the time.

He demanded to know why my front bumper had no license plate. When I pointed out that my car was NOT registered in New York, he literally told me that it didn't matter.. .something like "if you want to drive to New York, you need to put on a front license plate!" Showing him my driver's license and registration card didn't seem to matter to him.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh or scream. I politely told him to call his supervisor. Pretty sure the supervisor yelled at him for being stupid? But when he came up to my window again, he still would not admit to his stupid mistake and just said "I'll just let you off this time with a warning"

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

We have been in So. Cal for 30+ years and it has happened ONE time and it was in a gated community, LOL.

CA is such a mess and police are so understaffed and overworked...they do not care at all about tinting and front license plates.

My brother, dad, step dad and both uncles are Police Officers and they said they have never once pulled someone over for tinting or front license plates.

Thanks for the info, it makes me feel much better about going a little darker than I might otherwise do with the tinting. That is really great real-life info to have for SoCal.

[DNYC1919]

I like 30%. Dark enough at night /day and cops won’t mess with you.

35 is too light and 20 is too dark.

[Scrapula]

Here in the Seattle area, the cops don’t pull you over when it is raining, so that’s almost never. They definitely wouldn’t worry about tint. Not worth getting wet. In summer, the cops are mainly on motorcycles enjoying the weather. They probably can’t tell what tint you have through their helmet visors. I love 20% with dark colors. With lighter cars there would be too much contrast, except I do love it with white.

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

Here in the Seattle area, the cops don’t pull you over when it is raining, so that’s almost never. They definitely wouldn’t worry about tint. Not worth getting wet. In summer, the cops are mainly on motorcycles enjoying the weather. They probably can’t tell what tint you have through their helmet visors. I love 20% with dark colors. With lighter cars there would be too much contrast, except I do love it with white.

sounds perfect! I love to drive in moderate rain... my favourtie thing in the world.

although.... I'm trying to figure out if you are real estate agent trying to get people to move to Seattle.... or a police academy recruiter trying to attract new recruits?

[seanj288]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

We always do 3M high performance ceramic. For years we have done 35% on all our cars, but on my Black Sapphire i5, I did 20% all around and LOVE it!

We liked the 20% 3M ceramic so much, we changed our XM from 35% to 20% and then did 20% on our son's M3 and our 911.

We were worried the 20% would be too dark, but it's not all all.

May I ask if one can do factory tinting when you custom order (in the process of an X7), or do you just go to any third-party tinting shops (which is a bit scary in case they mess up the new car)?

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by seanj288

May I ask if one can do factory tinting when you custom order (in the process of an X7), or do you just go to any third-party tinting shops (which is a bit scary in case they mess up the new car)?

I believe US models have "privacy glass" standard for rear windows, but you must tint anything else on your own after delivery.

[Roki]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

I have XPel XR Plus film at 20% which is not legal in Washington State. I just looks so good with the black trim. I don’t think the police bother you about the tint unless something comes up when they enter you plate number.

Same. I also tint the windshield at 60% with Xpel XR Ceramic. The product clarity feels like it’s much lighter from the inside and the film rejects heat so the car cools faster.