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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > USA - Hawaii > Tinting windows - safety inspection



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      07-12-2010, 04:25 PM   #1
Paradise bimmer
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Tinting windows - safety inspection

I picked up a 07 335i and want to get the windows tinted. I heard that tinting them to 35% will still fail safety inspection due to the factory tint of the windows. Can anybody confirm or deny this? I don't want to get tint and then have a hassle when it comes time to get the safety check again. Thanks!
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      07-12-2010, 04:29 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paradise bimmer View Post
I picked up a 07 335i and want to get the windows tinted. I heard that tinting them to 35% will still fail safety inspection due to the factory tint of the windows. Can anybody confirm or deny this? I don't want to get tint and then have a hassle when it comes time to get the safety check again. Thanks!
oh wow, I didn't know that the factory windows had tint...

hopefully someone can chime in here!

EDIT: did you pick up kevins 335?
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      07-12-2010, 04:59 PM   #3
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I don't think 335's are factory tinted. My 07 328 did not. I think it's only M3's.
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      07-12-2010, 05:58 PM   #4
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Was that the one with the CF hood/trunk up for sale? No I didn't buy that one. The car doesn't look like it has a factory tint, but I wanted to see if anyone else had any experience.
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      07-12-2010, 09:01 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paradise bimmer View Post
Was that the one with the CF hood/trunk up for sale? No I didn't buy that one. The car doesn't look like it has a factory tint, but I wanted to see if anyone else had any experience.
You can go to any tint shop and have them test your windows before you put tint on it.

Check out Ronald at Midnigfht Tiniting, tell him Ricky sent you or feel free to PM and I'll call him for you.
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      07-12-2010, 11:15 PM   #6
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i would also suggest they test your tint in a garage as opposed to outdoors in direct sunlight. i suspect this is the reason why my tint (35%) was tested at 1% too dark at the recon station under the bridge, which was not in direct sunlight.

but nevertheless, i don't think safety check stations are as strict as the recon station. they would probably pass you if it came out 1-2% too dark.
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      07-13-2010, 08:56 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spyderco10 View Post
i would also suggest they test your tint in a garage as opposed to outdoors in direct sunlight. i suspect this is the reason why my tint (35%) was tested at 1% too dark at the recon station under the bridge, which was not in direct sunlight.

but nevertheless, i don't think safety check stations are as strict as the recon station. they would probably pass you if it came out 1-2% too dark.
The tint law states tint must have 35% light transmission with a margin of error of 6% to compensate for variances in test equipment, meaning the meter can read as low as 29% and you will still pass. All tint testers supply their own light source, so ambient light is typically not an issue, but I have seen tint meters vary readings when the batteries get low. All BMWs have a slight tint on all the windows.
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      07-13-2010, 11:39 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by quickbrick View Post
The tint law states tint must have 35% light transmission with a margin of error of 6% to compensate for variances in test equipment, meaning the meter can read as low as 29% and you will still pass. All tint testers supply their own light source, so ambient light is typically not an issue, but I have seen tint meters vary readings when the batteries get low. All BMWs have a slight tint on all the windows.
Spot on.
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      07-14-2010, 01:30 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by quickbrick View Post
The tint law states tint must have 35% light transmission with a margin of error of 6% to compensate for variances in test equipment, meaning the meter can read as low as 29% and you will still pass. All tint testers supply their own light source, so ambient light is typically not an issue, but I have seen tint meters vary readings when the batteries get low. All BMWs have a slight tint on all the windows.
yes all true. but the tint shop tested it with their meter (29-30%), and the recon station tested it with theirs (27-28%). so either
a) batteries were low
b) meters were calibrated differently
c) ambient light plays a small factor
d) operator error, or some other variable
i don't know, i was just throwing out a theory
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Last edited by spyderco10; 07-14-2010 at 01:39 AM..
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      07-14-2010, 02:33 AM   #10
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i wouldn't worry about the tint too much... if you get the 35% the tint shop give you the paper work that it is legal and everything with warrenty.. If you go to the recon shop and they fail you then just show them the paper work that you have it done there and it all legal...I wouldn't worry to much and have it done..
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