Tint INSTALL question

[JmanND]

This ISN'T a thread about which % tint I should go, but a question on the install process for our 3 series (maybe others too?)

The dealership gave me a quote without explaining any of the process but thenI called the only shop around that sells Formulaone pinnacle (claimed to have done the tint for the dealership for 18 years before the dealer decided to do it in house).

Anyways, the tint shop claimed they had to do some modification on the window grommet (or seal, or something, can't remember what he called it). He said if they don't do it, it'll end up scratching the tint. I have had tint installed on a bunch of cars but never heard of this.

Have you guys had this done? Is it normal? Will the dealership probably do this as well? I don't like the idea of somebody having to mess with the stuff under the suede on the door.

Thanks in advance,
Jason

[cabin]

This is just from my experiences, but unless you have a ton of patience, it is a major PITA.

I always DIY, especially when it comes to my cars, but tinting is something I'd gladly pay a pro to do.

And the scratching you're talking about is probably the piece in the door that I have heard about, which will rub the glass when it is rolled down. I have heard that it doesn't happen with all E9x's though. In order to prevent it, it does requires some modification, which requires removing the door panel.

[JmanND]

This is just from my experiences, but unless you have a ton of patience, it is a major PITA.

I always DIY, especially when it comes to my cars, but tinting is something I'd gladly pay a pro to do.

And the scratching you're talking about is probably the piece in the door that I have heard about, which will rub the glass when it is rolled down. I have heard that it doesn't happen with all E9x's though. In order to prevent it, it does requires some modification, which requires removing the door panel.

I definitely wasn't even considering a DIY install.

So the guy does know what he's talking about then, without some modification there is a chance it will scratch the tint? He claimed he didn't have to take the door panel off but I don't like the words modification associated with a simple tint job. The fact that he was only going to charge me $40 total for the modification portion of the tint leads me to believe it must be simple.

Anybody out there know exactly what's involved?

[obeythelaw]

yes. unfortunately, my tint scratched and it the guy never told me (he said he never heard about it.). I bought it to another place and he told me about but said that with the 3m tint he uses it shouldn't scratch. we'll see. i get it done next saturday. i don't know what modification would have to be done. I have an 09 328i.

[JmanND]

yes. unfortunately, my tint scratched and it the guy never told me (he said he never heard about it.). I bought it to another place and he told me about but said that with the 3m tint he uses it shouldn't scratch. we'll see. i get it done next saturday. i don't know what modification would have to be done. I have an 09 328i.

If it does in fact scratch, then that makes me feel better (he wasn't just trying to charge me for nothing). From what my research has turned up, the workaround is that they (the tint shop) installs a felt strip inside the panel (but can do this without taking the door off somehow)

[obeythelaw]

my concern is that the new guy isn't going to add any felt strip. he claims that the better tint still won't scratch. so we'll see. he's charging me $100 to remove all the old tint and a bit more to put the new tint. i'm going to be pissed after this if it scratches again. I've been reading more about this and it appears that no matter what tint you use, it will scratch without installing that felt strip. what i'm wondering is, what purpose does bmw have for doing this? why not have the felt strip already in place. do they not want people to have tinted windows???

[JmanND]

my concern is that the new guy isn't going to add any felt strip. he claims that the better tint still won't scratch. so we'll see. he's charging me $100 to remove all the old tint and a bit more to put the new tint. i'm going to be pissed after this if it scratches again. I've been reading more about this and it appears that no matter what tint you use, it will scratch without installing that felt strip. what i'm wondering is, what purpose does bmw have for doing this? why not have the felt strip already in place. do they not want people to have tinted windows???

My educated guess is this: They never thought about people tinting windows (not as big in europe as it is here). Because of this, they wanted the seal on the inside to be as tight as possible to keep dirt, water, noise etc out. However, they made it out of a hard rubber (per my tint guy) instead of making it tight, but out of something softer. Therefore it scratches.

[frost318]

I read a thread yesterday saying how there front window kept marking there front windows. But i would let a pro do it. Less problems.

[Beer Goggles]

My educated guess is this: They never thought about people tinting windows (not as big in europe as it is here). Because of this, they wanted the seal on the inside to be as tight as possible to keep dirt, water, noise etc out. However, they made it out of a hard rubber (per my tint guy) instead of making it tight, but out of something softer. Therefore it scratches.

Mercedes is worse, they use an abrasive seal. My boss's E55 had to have new felt seals ordered to put on or they just took them off.

[JmanND]

I read a thread yesterday saying how there front window kept marking there front windows. But i would let a pro do it. Less problems.

So then my question is this pay 369 to have an independent tint shop do it (claim 18 years of experience tinting bmw's) or have the dealer do it for $399 (in house, but the tint shop claimed the dealership just hired "some kid" to come in and do it)?

What would you guys do?

[Moondog25]

Who has the beter warranty on their work?

[CQ7String]

I had to bring my car back 4 times for the back window, and in the end the shop couldn't get the dot matrix tint to work. I'd go to the dealer if I had the option to do it over again.

.2c

[Critter7r]

If it does in fact scratch, then that makes me feel better (he wasn't just trying to charge me for nothing). From what my research has turned up, the workaround is that they (the tint shop) installs a felt strip inside the panel (but can do this without taking the door off somehow)


By rolling down the window and removing the OUTER chrome strip, that would give enough room to work and add a felt strip to the inner piece.

I don't know if that's how he does it, but it seems that would be about the only way to get at that inner strip without removing the door panel.

[jayhudson]

I just got back from having mine tinted. I've had this guy do previous cars and he's been doing tint for 23 yrs. He said there are 2 sweeps. The upper is felt and the lower can be hard rubber. If it is he replaces it with felt. Not always necessary. In my case it was. He charges an extra $10 per door to redo the sweeps. My total was $260. That's for lifetime warranty 3M CS film.

I had him do legal tint (CS-50). I'd like it a little darker but don't want any problems with the cops.

Jay