[MarkCav]

In late January, I am scheduled to have my front drivers' side and front passenger's side windows tinted. The two options at this particular shop is either Suntek or Rayno. Based on my research- I believe I'm going to choose the Suntek brand and ceramic over carbon. The price quoted for the Suntek ceramic is $150.00.

I would welcome any suggestions. Additionally- does anyone know what % tint BMW factory installed on the rear windows? Thanks all.

[AndroidRobot]

Suntek or Llumar are my go to tint brands with our course their ceramic for better heat rejection. I believe the back windows are 50% from the factory but ceramic tint is a little different.

[Xeno]

My tint was done at an independent shop that does all the dealer's BMW's. I have also seen Maserati's and perhaps one Lamborghini at this shop.

I was charged $355: fronts 20%, windshield 80%, limo sunroof. The fronts and windshield were Johnsons. I do not remember about the sunroof. This price is lower than the one charger by the dealer's company that specializes in tint and various electronics like doing a radar detector install.

This company firmly believes that rears on X5 from the factory are 20%. It certainly looks like my windows match as seen below:

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Xeno

My tint was done at an independent shop that does all the dealer's BMW's. I have also seen Maserati's and perhaps one Lamborghini at this shop.

I was charged $355: fronts 20%, windshield 80%, limo sunroof. The fronts and windshield were Johnsons. I do not remember about the sunroof. This price is lower than the one charger by the dealer's company that specializes in tint and various electronics like doing a radar detector install.

This company firmly believes that rears on X5 from the factory are 20%. It certainly looks like my windows match as seen below:

Was your tint regular or ceramic

[MarkCav]

Originally Posted by Xeno

My tint was done at an independent shop that does all the dealer's BMW's. I have also seen Maserati's and perhaps one Lamborghini at this shop.

I was charged $355: fronts 20%, windshield 80%, limo sunroof. The fronts and windshield were Johnsons. I do not remember about the sunroof. This price is lower than the one charger by the dealer's company that specializes in tint and various electronics like doing a radar detector install.

This company firmly believes that rears on X5 from the factory are 20%. It certainly looks like my windows match as seen below:

Looks fantastic Xeno- thank you!

[Xeno]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

Was your tint regular or ceramic

Ceramic. I equally like Johnsons and Llumar.

I had the same tint on my F15 which worked out well. I originally went through typical questions like halos due to glare on the windshield, issues with my radar detectors, questions about HUD and seeing at night, air bubbles with the dot matrix, reduce heat, UV rejection, etc.

[TucErDoc]

I put 3M crystalline on my M2 and X5. It's supposed to have awesome heat rejection (which we need in Tucson)
It cost me an arm and Leg. Did the entire car, including windshield

[tonybeam]

Just had Suntek Ceramic at 20% done on the driver/pass for $150 at my regular local shop. Matches the rears perfectly. (I've had the same tint on my past 10 cars)

[MarkCav]

Originally Posted by tonybeam

Just had Suntek Ceramic at 20% done on the driver/pass for $150 at my regular local shop. Matches the rears perfectly. (I've had the same tint on my past 10 cars)

Thanks everyone. Does anyone have any experience with Rayno tint?

[3to5toX5toX7]

I've used Rayno S9 in my last two BMW's and my wife's Audi. Works perfectly. I just had it installed in my X5, and I used the Rayno clear tint for the windshield and over all the rear windows to knock down heat. So far, it makes a big difference with heat when driving into the sun.

[3to5toX5toX7]

As a side note, the shop I used switched mostly installed Suntek in the past but now only features Rayno, he will install Suntek but just steers people away from it.

[MarkCav]

Originally Posted by baca8302

As a side note, the shop I used switched mostly installed Suntek in the past but now only features Rayno, he will install Suntek but just steers people away from it.

Thanks Baca8302. I am going with the S9 as well. I spoke with the guy at the shop again yesterday and he told me the exact same thing. I appreciate your input. Happy New Year!

[Nick M.]

Originally Posted by MarkCav

Thanks Baca8302. I am going with the S9 as well. I spoke with the guy at the shop again yesterday and he told me the exact same thing. I appreciate your input. Happy New Year!

My shop measured the factory tint at around 8%!

I went with ceramic 18%. At first I was worried it wasn't dark enough but it grew on me, the match looks really good.

I'll try to get some better shots when the weather clears up.

[Mark609]

Have just done a deal on a new X5 and my trade bought in 2012 has ceramic Formula One Pinnacle Pi35 F2. Let me say this stuff is amazing and still in perfect condition - no bubbles, no scratches and negates a hot west Texas sun like no carbon can. Cost me $139 on all windows but the windshield.

Will tint the X5. So the consensus is Rayno is the way to go? Hard to let go of success.

[MarkCav]

Originally Posted by Mark609

Have just done a deal on a new X5 and my trade bought in 2012 has ceramic Formula One Pinnacle Pi35 F2. Let me say this stuff is amazing and still in perfect condition - no bubbles, no scratches and negates a hot west Texas sun like no carbon can. Cost me $139 on all windows but the windshield.

Will tint the X5. So the consensus is Rayno is the way to go? Hard to let go of success.

On 1/12, I had the Llumar Formula One Pinnacle Tint installed on my front drivers' side and passenger's side windows. I believe it was at their 15% which matched the factory tint installed by BMW on the rear windows. The cost was $170.00 for the two windows. Looks awesome. Will post photos later this week.

None of Llumar's nano-ceramic tints matches BMW's factory tint.

[beermato]

FYI - the side and rear windows are "privacy" glass, not the same as you are getting with your ceramic tint. It may not matter to most, but what this means is there's no UV protection and much less heat reduction. In Texas, it does make a difference. Therefore, some get clear UV on the "pre-tinted" side/rears (or darker tint).

[MarkCav]

Originally Posted by beermato

FYI - the side and rear windows are "privacy" glass, not the same as you are getting with your ceramic tint. It may not matter to most, but what this means is there's no UV protection and much less heat reduction. In Texas, it does make a difference. Therefore, some get clear UV on the "pre-tinted" side/rears (or darker tint).

Yep- I'm aware of that- thank you.

[Mark609]

Originally Posted by beermato

FYI - the side and rear windows are "privacy" glass, not the same as you are getting with your ceramic tint. It may not matter to most, but what this means is there's no UV protection and much less heat reduction. In Texas, it does make a difference. Therefore, some get clear UV on the "pre-tinted" side/rears (or darker tint).

Thanks for the info. What about the rear?

[beermato]

Sorry, that's for all rear glass. So, I'm getting ceramic on all glass - clear on windshield, sunroof, rear sides, cargo sides, and cargo rear; tinted on front driver and passenger.

[Xeno]

Originally Posted by beermato

FYI - the side and rear windows are "privacy" glass, not the same as you are getting with your ceramic tint. It may not matter to most, but what this means is there's no UV protection and much less heat reduction. In Texas, it does make a difference. Therefore, some get clear UV on the "pre-tinted" side/rears (or darker tint).

It should be noted that privacy glass comes with a screen that can be used as needed. When the screens are in place, this helps with privacy and heat resistance.

[avengerboater]

Just a heads up, and I know some members have mentioned this before, but having your front windows tinted will affect the brightness of your digital screens (both of them). That's because it lessens the amount of light entering the cockpit, but more specifically the instrument cluster.

The digital instrument cluster works kind of like your cell phone (if you have automatic brightness on) and it adjusts its brightness based on the amount of light it receives. Which then brightens or darkens both the gauges and the iDrive screens simultaneously.

I witnessed this many times today when it was overcast then sunny then cloudy again. There were times when the both screens were a bit too dimmed for me to see, but as soon as I lowered my driver side window to let in more light, the screens immediately brightened up. And when I rolled up my window, the screens would dim out again.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by avengerboater

Just a heads up, and I know some members have mentioned this before, but having your front windows tinted will affect the brightness of your digital screens (both of them). That's because it lessens the amount of light entering the cockpit, but more specifically the instrument cluster.

The digital instrument cluster works kind of like your cell phone (if you have automatic brightness on) and it adjusts its brightness based on the amount of light it receives. Which then brightens or darkens both the gauges and the iDrive screens simultaneously.

I witnessed this many times today when it was overcast then sunny then cloudy again. There were times when the both screens were a bit too dimmed for me to see, but as soon as I lowered my driver side window to let in more light, the screens immediately brightened up. And when I rolled up my window, the screens would dim out again.

I usually on the sunroof shade and viola