Those got your car tinted...what you do if you were

nvinhtho · 04-13-2009, 03:48 PM

to get your car tint....here are options that the shop provided to me. Need to hear your experience. Please don't tell me to do a search..i didn't find answer on this.

There is dot matrix at the top of your window, there is a few options with that. We normally tint over it, which you will get a slightly muddled look towards the top of the dot matrix. The muddled appearance will lessen once the moisture has evaporated( it will never be perfect like the middle of the glass, but close). Secondly we can apply a vinyl/film hybrid called dotrix to the dot matrix area. This will black-out that area evenly( add $20.00 to cost of tint for the dotrix treatment), then we tint up to the first line of the matrix. The last option is to only tint up to the first line of the matrix( looks ok from the outside, but you can see that it is not tinted from the inside)

kennethpetro · 04-13-2009, 03:52 PM

MY '08 e92 coupe was tinted over the dot matrix. I think it looks fine. It doesn't seal perfectly but ive had 2 other cars that had them and it looks better than they did. I saw a BMW with the tint cut prior to the dot matrix and it looked stupid. I'd recommend getting the matrix tinted but i wouldn't pay extra for it. I've never heard of anything that "solved" the issue of the dot matrix. I guess wait for a few more responses but i'm pretty sure you're gonna hear the same thing. Good luck

flem · 04-13-2009, 03:55 PM

vinyl over the dot matrix... the tint won't lay right and it will look like shit...

kennethpetro · 04-13-2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flem

vinyl over the dot matrix... the tint won't lay right and it will look like shit...

Good call with the vinyl. You put the vinyl on the outside, right?

VTECaddict · 04-13-2009, 04:33 PM

i've seen it on the inside and outside. inside looks better IMO, outside looks cheap.

iAerodynamic · 04-13-2009, 04:41 PM

since i got 3m tint. my shop told me there's this 3m dot matrix thing something about special tint over it.. but i didn't get it i just tint it over with regular tint

nvinhtho · 04-13-2009, 05:15 PM

hmm...many different opinion here. if you just tint over the dot matrix, is it really easy to see from a car park behind or you really have to look up close?

Thanks

ManyMoonsAgo · 04-13-2009, 06:03 PM

For me, I would go vinyl. My tint-job is *almost* perfect, but the dot matrix looks like crap since they tinted over it. I have seen other E92's with tint over the dot matrix that look better and some that look worse.

Personally, I think there is an element of randomness when it comes to tinting the dot matrix.

Mr.335iCoupe · 04-13-2009, 07:28 PM

trust me on this, vinyl black inside. if you tint over it, the bubbles will most likely annoy the shit out of you unless you don't really care. if you don't touch the dot matrix, you may not be able to see it far away, but you'll for sure be able to see it every time you get into the car. vinyl maybe 20 bucks, but it's worth it in the long run.

cotmfk · 04-13-2009, 07:29 PM

I would also go vinyl over the dot matrix. It's too hard to tint that area.

nvinhtho · 04-13-2009, 07:31 PM

cool...i just want to make sure i pick the right choice and looks good. i will prob get this done this week and will post some input here at a later time.

deletedelete · 04-13-2009, 08:21 PM

My tint shop put a black vinyl layer. If your tint shop doesnt know what that is then id go somewhere else. Any reputable shop will know how to do it.

04-13-2009, 03:48 PM	#1
nvinhtho Enlisted Member 4 Rep 39 Posts Drives: AW E90 330i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dallas,tx iTrader: (0)	Those got your car tinted...what you do if you were to get your car tint....here are options that the shop provided to me. Need to hear your experience. Please don't tell me to do a search..i didn't find answer on this. There is dot matrix at the top of your window, there is a few options with that. We normally tint over it, which you will get a slightly muddled look towards the top of the dot matrix. The muddled appearance will lessen once the moisture has evaporated( it will never be perfect like the middle of the glass, but close). Secondly we can apply a vinyl/film hybrid called dotrix to the dot matrix area. This will black-out that area evenly( add $20.00 to cost of tint for the dotrix treatment), then we tint up to the first line of the matrix. The last option is to only tint up to the first line of the matrix( looks ok from the outside, but you can see that it is not tinted from the inside)
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04-13-2009, 03:52 PM	#2
kennethpetro Lieutenant 8 Rep 421 Posts Drives: 2011 328i JB/Black Dakota Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (2)	MY '08 e92 coupe was tinted over the dot matrix. I think it looks fine. It doesn't seal perfectly but ive had 2 other cars that had them and it looks better than they did. I saw a BMW with the tint cut prior to the dot matrix and it looked stupid. I'd recommend getting the matrix tinted but i wouldn't pay extra for it. I've never heard of anything that "solved" the issue of the dot matrix. I guess wait for a few more responses but i'm pretty sure you're gonna hear the same thing. Good luck __________________ 2011 Jet Black 328i, 6-Speed Manual, Black Dakota Leather, Brushed Aluminum, Harmon Kardon w/ Surround Sound, Navi, BMW Apps, iPod & USB Adapter, BMW Assist w/ Bluetooth, Full LED Interior, 6000k HID Fogs, Matte Black Kidney Grills, M3 Lip Spoiler, ACS Roof Spoiler, 19" Beyern Black Mesh 19x8.5 front(ET40) 19x9.5 rear(ET30)
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04-13-2009, 03:55 PM	#3
flem ..... 8 Rep 318 Posts Drives: 08 E92 335xi Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Morgantown, WV iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 335xi [0.00]	vinyl over the dot matrix... the tint won't lay right and it will look like shit... __________________
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04-13-2009, 04:33 PM	#5
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	i've seen it on the inside and outside. inside looks better IMO, outside looks cheap. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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04-13-2009, 04:41 PM	#6
iAerodynamic Colonel 116 Rep 2,178 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Marino, CA iTrader: (31) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	since i got 3m tint. my shop told me there's this 3m dot matrix thing something about special tint over it.. but i didn't get it i just tint it over with regular tint
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04-13-2009, 05:15 PM	#7
nvinhtho Enlisted Member 4 Rep 39 Posts Drives: AW E90 330i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dallas,tx iTrader: (0)	hmm...many different opinion here. if you just tint over the dot matrix, is it really easy to see from a car park behind or you really have to look up close? Thanks
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04-13-2009, 06:03 PM	#8
ManyMoonsAgo Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 241 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pinellas County, Florida, USA iTrader: (0)	For me, I would go vinyl. My tint-job is almost perfect, but the dot matrix looks like crap since they tinted over it. I have seen other E92's with tint over the dot matrix that look better and some that look worse. Personally, I think there is an element of randomness when it comes to tinting the dot matrix. __________________ Montego Blue / Saddle Brown / Gray Poplar 6-speed Manual (CDV-free) / BMW Performance Exhaust / Dinan Intercooler / Dinan Stage 2 / Dinan Cold Air Intake BMW Performance Suspension / Dinan LSD / 19" Forgestar F14s / Front and Rear M3 Bushings & Arms / Rear Sway / Dinan Monoballs Last edited by ManyMoonsAgo; 04-13-2009 at 06:26 PM..
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04-13-2009, 07:28 PM	#9
Mr.335iCoupe Q(0_0Q) 65 Rep 581 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (5)	trust me on this, vinyl black inside. if you tint over it, the bubbles will most likely annoy the shit out of you unless you don't really care. if you don't touch the dot matrix, you may not be able to see it far away, but you'll for sure be able to see it every time you get into the car. vinyl maybe 20 bucks, but it's worth it in the long run.
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04-13-2009, 07:29 PM	#10
cotmfk Major General 2050 Rep 6,110 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Somewhere between DC and FL iTrader: (12)	I would also go vinyl over the dot matrix. It's too hard to tint that area. __________________ When you say impact instead of affect/effect, you are communicating that you don't understand the difference between the two words, and are too lazy to learn.
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04-13-2009, 07:31 PM	#11
nvinhtho Enlisted Member 4 Rep 39 Posts Drives: AW E90 330i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dallas,tx iTrader: (0)	cool...i just want to make sure i pick the right choice and looks good. i will prob get this done this week and will post some input here at a later time.
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04-13-2009, 08:21 PM	#12
deletedelete Major General 361 Rep 5,873 Posts Drives: m Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: usa iTrader: (14) Garage List 2013 e92 M3 [0.00] 2011 e93 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2009 335xi (sold) [0.00]	My tint shop put a black vinyl layer. If your tint shop doesnt know what that is then id go somewhere else. Any reputable shop will know how to do it. __________________ ---> Click For xi/xDrive Suspension Compatibility List <---
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