People with tints....question for you

nardoM4 · 05-30-2009, 01:43 AM

People with tints...how bad is the light distortion of headlights due to the defroster lines on your rear window. Mine is pretty bad and was wondering if a different type of tint would fix it or am I stuck?

Thx

Z22Z · 05-30-2009, 03:06 AM

headlights behind me are look perfectly fine. what kind of tints do you have?

smith335i · 05-30-2009, 03:10 AM

to be honest at 1st it seemed bad, but after a week i'm totally used to it, and everything looks normal just darker

SES_D · 05-30-2009, 03:11 AM

It's fine, you should get used to it.

Minefield · 05-30-2009, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtmbmw

People with tints...how bad is the light distortion of headlights due to the defroster lines on your rear window. Mine is pretty bad and was wondering if a different type of tint would fix it or am I stuck?

Thx

I have no idea what you're talking about. I guess my tints don't do that...

snipersix · 05-30-2009, 04:41 AM

by defroster lines, are you referring to the orange lines on the rear mirror?

VTECaddict · 05-30-2009, 05:00 AM

cannot be avoided. happens to all cars with tint and rear defroster.

turnism1200 · 05-30-2009, 05:16 AM

I have had all cars I have ever owned tinted and never faced that problem. Once the tint dries the distortion should disappear. I would have them reapply the tint.

bmw-hoya · 05-30-2009, 02:18 PM

Thanks for the pic, VTECaddict.

645Nm · 05-30-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtmbmw

People with tints...how bad is the light distortion of headlights due to the defroster lines on your rear window. Mine is pretty bad and was wondering if a different type of tint would fix it or am I stuck?

Thx

Exactly the same experience as yours. I have 35% tint all round. Had the same issue on my previous car but cleared up after about a month. So hoping the distortions will become less over time.

JayKay335i · 05-30-2009, 04:24 PM

It was bad when wet but now that its dry there is no distortion. Looks fine.

CollinsE90 · 05-30-2009, 10:34 PM

after reading this when i was out tonight i payed attention to my rear window and i have zero distortion i would have the tint guys retint ur back

nardoM4 · 05-30-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CollinsE90

after reading this when i was out tonight i payed attention to my rear window and i have zero distortion i would have the tint guys retint ur back

Hmmm...maybe it only happens to people with e92?...like the dreaded dot matrix issue. Looks like e90s have the better AE, no defroster distotion and no dot matrix issue.....jealous..

CollinsE90 · 05-30-2009, 11:05 PM

that could be the problem

SantaPimp27 · 05-30-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtmbmw

Hmmm...maybe it only happens to people with e92?...like the dreaded dot matrix issue. Looks like e90s have the better AE, no defroster distotion and no dot matrix issue.....jealous..

i have an e90 and i have some dot matrix issues. it looks worse on the side windows than on the back window. and i have the defroster distortion but i stopped noticing it after a week.

VTECaddict · 05-30-2009, 11:44 PM

I find that hard to believe. If the defroster circuit is printed on the inside surface of the glass and tint is applied, you will see something similar to the picture i posted above. That's because the defroster lines are above the surface of the glass and the tint has to bend over over them.

Take a picture from inside of your car at night, looking out the back window, with another car with its headlights on behind it (you need a bright/intense source of light). If you are tinted, you will have those lines no question about it. It's pretty much physically impossible to NOT have those lines with a tinted rear window.

CollinsE90 · 05-31-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

I find that hard to believe. If the defroster circuit is printed on the inside surface of the glass and tint is applied, you will see something similar to the picture i posted above. That's because the defroster lines are above the surface of the glass and the tint has to bend over over them.

Take a picture from inside of your car at night, looking out the back window, with another car with its headlights on behind it (you need a bright/intense source of light). If you are tinted, you will have those lines no question about it. It's pretty much physically impossible to NOT have those lines with a tinted rear window.

lines are there but mine looks like the window came tinted maybe i had a skilled guy tint my car dunno

PNF · 05-31-2009, 12:45 AM

wtf.. people are still paranoid about this shit?

dont tint your car, problem solved.

PS. I never knew there was any "distortion" issues. I have had/driven/owned 4 or 5 cars now, and all with tints of 20%, 30%, 50%, etc.. zero distortion.

Just dont tint your car if that is such a big deal for you.

GreenThree · 05-31-2009, 09:22 AM

I had my tint done last week. There is definately defroster line distortion. Hopefully it will get better. But if not, thats certainly one of the cons of tinting IMO. But I guess not a deal breaker.

awei130 · 05-31-2009, 09:30 AM

i haven't noticed a problem with my tints....

PTinVT · 05-31-2009, 10:32 AM

My car (used) came with tint - not very dark (no idea what %), in fact I didn't know I had it until I failed state inspection because of it. So I had to have it removed from the front side windows. Then I had it removed from the rear side windows since I didn't like the 50/50 look. Then after driving with tint only on the back window, the nightime headlight/defroster line distortion (almost exactly as pictured above) was so distracting I had that removed as well.

I was going to suggest the angle of the rear window might have something to do with it but the E90's looks close to that of the E92.

JayKay335i · 05-31-2009, 12:35 PM

HO tint is super thick, so its not ding much bending or distorting. Its barely noticeable now that its dry. I can read license plates and see if theres a light bar on top of a car behind me.

05-30-2009, 01:43 AM	#1
nardoM4 Lieutenant 69 Rep 493 Posts Drives: 2018 Nardo M4 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Irvine iTrader: (6) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [0.00] 2018 BMW M4 [0.00]	People with tints....question for you People with tints...how bad is the light distortion of headlights due to the defroster lines on your rear window. Mine is pretty bad and was wondering if a different type of tint would fix it or am I stuck? Thx __________________ 2018 M4 Individual Nardo Grey ZCP 6MT IG: nardo.f82
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05-30-2009, 03:06 AM	#2
Z22Z Lieutenant 33 Rep 536 Posts Drives: WRX Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Glendale, CA iTrader: (0)	headlights behind me are look perfectly fine. what kind of tints do you have?
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05-30-2009, 03:10 AM	#3
smith335i New Member 4 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Belmont iTrader: (0)	to be honest at 1st it seemed bad, but after a week i'm totally used to it, and everything looks normal just darker
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05-30-2009, 03:11 AM	#4
SES_D pewpew 479 Rep 21,165 Posts Drives: F10 535i Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (26)	It's fine, you should get used to it.
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05-30-2009, 04:41 AM	#6
snipersix Brigadier General 228 Rep 3,807 Posts Drives: Retired 2017 F87 M2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Burnaby iTrader: (3) Garage List 2017 BMW M2 [0.00]	by defroster lines, are you referring to the orange lines on the rear mirror? __________________ 2017 M2 Coupe:\|Black Sapphire Metallic\|DCT\|Nav/Idrive\|M Performance CF Spoiler\|M Performance CF DCT Interior\| M Performance Gloss Black Kidney Grills\| M Performance Steel Pedals \| Eventuri CF CAI \| 19" Brixton Rims \| KW V3 Clubsport \| Retired: \|2008 328i Sedan\|Montego Blue\|
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05-30-2009, 05:00 AM	#7
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	cannot be avoided. happens to all cars with tint and rear defroster. __________________ 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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05-30-2009, 05:16 AM	#8
turnism1200 Private 4 Rep 71 Posts Drives: E92 335XI Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Westchester NY iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 335XI [0.00]	I have had all cars I have ever owned tinted and never faced that problem. Once the tint dries the distortion should disappear. I would have them reapply the tint.
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05-30-2009, 02:18 PM	#9
bmw-hoya Captain 25 Rep 634 Posts Drives: Montego Blue 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the pic, VTECaddict. __________________ "Of course I do. I'm Leonard Shelby. I'm from San Francisco." (Memento) "Look, we are all reasonable men here. We don't have to give assurances as if we were lawyers." (Godfather: Part II)
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05-30-2009, 04:24 PM	#11
JayKay335i Banned 189 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	It was bad when wet but now that its dry there is no distortion. Looks fine.
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05-30-2009, 10:34 PM	#12
CollinsE90 Where my bitches 743 Rep 1,924 Posts Drives: Cadillac coupe deville Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: street corner checking profits iTrader: (0)	after reading this when i was out tonight i payed attention to my rear window and i have zero distortion i would have the tint guys retint ur back
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05-30-2009, 11:05 PM	#14
CollinsE90 Where my bitches 743 Rep 1,924 Posts Drives: Cadillac coupe deville Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: street corner checking profits iTrader: (0)	that could be the problem
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05-30-2009, 11:44 PM	#16
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 find that hard to believe. If the defroster circuit is printed on the inside surface of the glass and tint is applied, you will see something similar to the picture i posted above. That's because the defroster lines are above the surface of the glass and the tint has to bend over over them. Take a picture from inside of your car at night, looking out the back window, with another car with its headlights on behind it (you need a bright/intense source of light). If you are tinted, you will have those lines no question about it. It's pretty much physically impossible to NOT have those lines with a tinted rear window. __________________ 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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05-31-2009, 12:45 AM	#18
PNF Colonel 167 Rep 2,355 Posts Drives: 15' YMB F80 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wayne, PA / Taipei iTrader: (4)	wtf.. people are still paranoid about this shit? dont tint your car, problem solved. PS. I never knew there was any "distortion" issues. I have had/driven/owned 4 or 5 cars now, and all with tints of 20%, 30%, 50%, etc.. zero distortion. Just dont tint your car if that is such a big deal for you. __________________ 2015 F80 Fully loaded (minus the CCB) YMB M3 / Individual Amaro Brown BBS \| KW \| Vorsteiner \| IND \| Akrapovic \| BMW CF Performance Interior \| Brembo \| Eibach 2008 E92 335i (sold)
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05-31-2009, 09:22 AM	#19
GreenThree Colonel 210 Rep 2,110 Posts Drives: 2011 e90 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	I had my tint done last week. There is definately defroster line distortion. Hopefully it will get better. But if not, thats certainly one of the cons of tinting IMO. But I guess not a deal breaker. __________________ 2015 335xi \| Mineral Grey Metallic \| Black Dakota Leather \| NAV \| SportLine \| ZPP \| ZDA \| ZCW \| Munich Build Retired: 2008, 2011, 2013 328xi
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05-31-2009, 09:30 AM	#20
awei130 Banned 209 Rep 2,492 Posts Drives: E46, E92, 987 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: SOCAL iTrader: (19)	i haven't noticed a problem with my tints....
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05-31-2009, 10:32 AM	#21
PTinVT armchair enthusiast 221 Rep 1,019 Posts Drives: 18 340xi, 02 325Cic, 93 850Ci Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Burlington, VT iTrader: (3)	My car (used) came with tint - not very dark (no idea what %), in fact I didn't know I had it until I failed state inspection because of it. So I had to have it removed from the front side windows. Then I had it removed from the rear side windows since I didn't like the 50/50 look. Then after driving with tint only on the back window, the nightime headlight/defroster line distortion (almost exactly as pictured above) was so distracting I had that removed as well. I was going to suggest the angle of the rear window might have something to do with it but the E90's looks close to that of the E92. __________________ '18 340i xDrive EB/Dakota, 6-speed manual, M-sport '02 325Cic vert AW/Montana leather, 5-speed manual, premium/removable hardtop '93 850Ci Oxford Green/Parchment, auto '71 Buick Riviera, 455 V8 land yacht
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05-31-2009, 12:35 PM	#22
JayKay335i Banned 189 Rep 5,046 Posts Drives: ///M323 DCT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Dakota; its best DUHHHHHH iTrader: (1)	HO tint is super thick, so its not ding much bending or distorting. Its barely noticeable now that its dry. I can read license plates and see if theres a light bar on top of a car behind me.
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