[Nicname]

I was all set to get my car tinted but decided to search the forums first and stumbled upon wet amp issue. The shop I plan to use is a highly regarded one but I'm not sure how many M2's they have done and if the amp issue is specific to the M2 or if the M3/4 suffer the same issue.

Is there anything I should specifically warn or ask them to do prior to tinting?
And just to confirm, factory coupes do not come with any sort of default tint right?

[nearwater4me]

No colors on the M2 windows from the factory.
I told the installer about the amp, and I believe he covered it up with a towel prior to tinting.

[Nicname]

Originally Posted by nearwater4me

No colors on the M2 windows from the factory.
I told the installer about the amp, and I believe he covered it up with a towel prior to tinting.

Thanks for this. I told them the same but they mentioned that they normally cover the inside interior but that they will pay attention to it.

[StarMan]

Originally Posted by Nicname

And just to confirm, factory coupes do not come with any sort of default tint right?

Technically there is "some" factory VLT% (I think between 85%-95%). I put a 30%VLT film on all the side and rear windows and once installed on the BMW it metered to 22% combined.

Check the stamp on the bottom righht of the windshield too, my Windshield actually has a stamp from the factory that says "70% VLT" stamp on it which is quite a bit from factory.

[Nicname]

Originally Posted by starvmarv

Technically there is "some" factory VLT% (I think between 85%-95%). I put a 30%VLT film on all the side and rear windows and once installed on the BMW it metered to 22% combined.

Check the stamp on the bottom righht of the windshield too, my Windshield actually has a stamp from the factory that says "70% VLT" stamp on it which is quite a bit from factory.

Really? 70%.
Hmm I decided to go with 35% but that's the level I want in the end, not with any additional tint.

[StarMan]

Ah, it says 70% min transparency. Either way i believe my windshield (prior to tinting) metered out at 85%-90% so a tiny bit of sun blocking there.

[detroitm2]

I'd just pull the Amp out before you take it in. It's not difficult to remove and you save yourself a headache later on.

[Nicname]

Originally Posted by detroitm2

I'd just pull the Amp out before you take it in. It's not difficult to remove and you save yourself a headache later on.

So there's the 2 amps by the side windows. I remember reading something about the trunk also

[Nicname]

Originally Posted by starvmarv

Ah, it says 70% min transparency. Either way i believe my windshield (prior to tinting) metered out at 85%-90% so a tiny bit of sun blocking there.

So if there is a low level of "tint" from factory, going with 35% will actually be darker than 35%

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by Nicname

I was all set to get my car tinted but decided to search the forums first and stumbled upon wet amp issue. The shop I plan to use is a highly regarded one but I'm not sure how many M2's they have done and if the amp issue is specific to the M2 or if the M3/4 suffer the same issue.

Is there anything I should specifically warn or ask them to do prior to tinting?

It's a legitimate issue, but I'm not sure how prevalent it is. Some issues appear more common on the forums than real life in my opinion.

I knew about it, but didn't feel like bothering to remove the trunk liner and placing towels. So I mentioned it to the shop (was also doing PPF) and they said they had done a number of M2s and never had any issues. No problem with mine. Perhaps different shops use varying amounts of fluid. My detail shop catered to the high end (many 6 figure cars), M2 was one of the cheapest there that day, so I trusted them more than a regular tint shop.

[Nicname]

Originally Posted by jkoral

It's a legitimate issue, but I'm not sure how prevalent it is. Some issues appear more common on the forums than real life in my opinion.

I knew about it, but didn't feel like bothering to remove the trunk liner and placing towels. So I mentioned it to the shop (was also doing PPF) and they said they had done a number of M2s and never had any issues. No problem with mine. Perhaps different shops use varying amounts of fluid. My detail shop catered to the high end (many 6 figure cars), M2 was one of the cheapest there that day, so I trusted them more than a regular tint shop.

Originally Posted by jkoral

It's a legitimate issue, but I'm not sure how prevalent it is. Some issues appear more common on the forums than real life in my opinion.

I knew about it, but didn't feel like bothering to remove the trunk liner and placing towels. So I mentioned it to the shop (was also doing PPF) and they said they had done a number of M2s and never had any issues. No problem with mine. Perhaps different shops use varying amounts of fluid. My detail shop catered to the high end (many 6 figure cars), M2 was one of the cheapest there that day, so I trusted them more than a regular tint shop.

That's how I feel. My car will be on the cheap side compared to what they normally work with. I'll mention it to them, ask them to protect what they can and see what happens.

[StarMan]

Originally Posted by Nicname

So if there is a low level of "tint" from factory, going with 35% will actually be darker than 35%

That is correct. For our cars, at least for the side windows, i'd subtract 8% from the VLT% shown in the tint spec sheet (Spec sheet can be found online or call the tint installer and ask for the VLT% -- Example 3M Ceramic 25 is actually 30% VLT film, despite it saying 25 after the model number). So a 35% VLT tint film will meter to around 27%. Even at 27% it's still not blacked out dark and will look good.

Tint shops also have meters. You can ask them to meter your stock window as well.