[Sherhart]

Not the greatest before pic, but so much better looking after. How do you non-tint guys do it? Driving for a few weeks without was like having a bad rash.

First pic is before. Second pic after. 22% all around.

Jimbo

[joz]

Looks good! Definitely looks more sleek.

Although tint does add to the look I would say the painted reflector + black kidney grill + de-badge are a tie for the best bang for buck. All 3 of those "mods" should be around $300

[bucawke]

The tint looks good! I will say that I noticed the two guys on the van in the background first though

[carzaddict]

painted reflector + used BMS is the best $300 you can spend on the car

[thephantastic]

Originally Posted by Sherhart

Not the greatest before pic, but so much better looking after. How do you non-tint guys do it? Driving for a few weeks without was like having a bad rash.

First pic is before. Second pic after. 22% all around.

Jimbo

What brand tint did you go with?

[focal]

Tint is mandatory for me also. Delivered with it. Save me hours in my day waiting for it to get done outside. The orange reflectors add no functionality and doesn't bother me. It is actually illegal. Insurance frowns on engine tunes too.

[Sherhart]

Originally Posted by madskillzphan

What brand tint did you go with?

I just went with their "house" brand which is Solar Gard Quantum. I'm not a fan of ceramic's metallic look and the house stuff comes with a lifetime warranty.

Jimbo

[Sherhart]

Originally Posted by buco702

The tint looks good! I will say that I noticed the two guys on the van in the background first though

Too funny. I never even noticed those dudes. There is a wireless startup in our building and they are always doing wacky tests in the parking lot with their van. Probably injecting me with a daily dose of lethal radiation....

[Sherhart]

Originally Posted by carzaddict

painted reflector + used BMS is the best $300 you can spend on the car

Agreed on BMS (will be next mod), but I'm not into painted reflectors, debadging, or loud exhaust. I'm not saying it's wrong or I don't like it, just that I'm a fan of the sleeper look.

My WRX was clean on the outside with a stock sounding and looking exhaust, but on the race gas map it was close to 400HP and could easily keep up with stock C6 vettes. The fun was always in the surprise element.

I plan to do the same with the 328i. Tint will be my only exterior mod. Everything else will be performance-related starting with engine management and catless down pipe. I have a feeling that a nice, safe 350+ will be possible soon on F30s with some race gas and proper dyno tune.

Jimbo

[focal]

Originally Posted by Sherhart

I plan to do the same with the 328i. Tint will be my only exterior mod. Everything else will be performance-related starting with engine management and catless down pipe. I have a feeling that a nice, safe 350+ will be possible soon on F30s with some race gas and proper dyno tune.

Jimbo

power is useless without control. Better Tires and if you can a suspension upgrade (MPS/coils) would go a long way to improving the car's performance.

[AgentCircus]

Please post some close up pics of your rear window so we can see how they did on the dot matrix! You can put a quarter on the glass to aid w/ the focus.

[kapkanimd]

holy crap, standard tint here is around $100 and high end no more than $200

[Sherhart]

Originally Posted by focal

power is useless without control. Better Tires and if you can a suspension upgrade (MPS/coils) would go a long way to improving the car's performance.

Agree 100% on tires, but I don't consider those a "visual" mod. I can't wait for the run flats to wear out so I can get a set of Pilot Super Sport.

If I did not have the sport suspension, I would also agree with that, but I'm pretty happy with the stock setup for a daily driver. I have a modified S2000 for the track, so the 328 will only see occasional spirited driving.

Jimbo

[Sherhart]

Originally Posted by AgentCircus

Please post some close up pics of your rear window so we can see how they did on the dot matrix! You can put a quarter on the glass to aid w/ the focus.

Dark now, but I'll snap a few tomorrow. From what I can tell, they did a pretty solid job dealing with the matrix. The place that did it (Mr. Tint in San Jose) machine cuts the tint using custom templates.

Jimbo

[SamS]

Personally I don't like tint. But I do like my side and rear shades, and keep them up most of the time. They don't impair my night visibility like tint can.

[focal]

Originally Posted by Sherhart

Agree 100% on tires, but I don't consider those a "visual" mod. I can't wait for the run flats to wear out so I can get a set of Pilot Super Sport.

If I did not have the sport suspension, I would also agree with that, but I'm pretty happy with the stock setup for a daily driver. I have a modified S2000 for the track, so the 328 will only see occasional spirited driving.

Jimbo

My tire guy lets me trade in new car tires, especially run flats. Takes $25 off his costs which is fair. I get non run flats from day one. I got the pilot a/s 3.

If you leased, some guys here just get the tires they want and store the run flats for lease return

[thephantastic]

Originally Posted by kapkanimd

holy crap, standard tint here is around $100 and high end no more than $200

Tint price seems to be area specific. I live in stockton,ca and got prices on my F30. Ranging from 250-400 out the door. Depending what brand you go with.

[ItsGottaBe]

Jimbo-

Thanks for posting the pictures of the window tint. It looks great and I'm planning on doing the same on my 328d.

Can you tell me how long did it take for the tint shop to complete the work?

Mike

[Sherhart]

Mike - Totally missed your post. I'm guessing you had it done by now, but in case it helps they estimated 4 hours but had it done in 2.5.

Jimbo

[XenaBimmer]

Couldn't agree more with the OP! I had my windows tinted 17% all around the day after I picked up my 328.

[Jdem2]

Originally Posted by Sherhart

Not the greatest before pic, but so much better looking after. How do you non-tint guys do it? Driving for a few weeks without was like having a bad rash.

First pic is before. Second pic after. 22% all around.

Jimbo

Totally off topic, but is the after pic taken at an office park in Fremont by any chance? Damn if that doesn't look like my company's CA office.

Tint looks awesome by the way!!

[Sherhart]

Originally Posted by Jdem2

Totally off topic, but is the after pic taken at an office park in Fremont by any chance? Damn if that doesn't look like my company's CA office.

Tint looks awesome by the way!!

Nope. Off North First Street in San Jose. The whole damn commercial part of the valley looks the same after you drive around enough.

Thanks for the comments. I still believe this is the best dollar-for-dollar mod you can do. My wife and kids don't complain about the sun anymore.

For those that asked for a close up of the rear and how they did with the dot matrix, it looks great. The place (Mr. Tint) buys the templates and has them machine cut, so they are perfect.

Jimbo