Front window and windshield tint job

jsjwc said:
Anyone do the front windows themselves. I'm having a hell of a time.
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There are only a handful of people here that I think have tinted themselves. I assume it's one of those 'practice makes perfect' type of projects. If this is your first attempt, it may take a few tries to get it right.

I myself haven't tried... But would love to learn how.

Tapatalk4
 
If I could just learn how to take the top of the door panel off. The installation is a piece of cake once you can get below the rubber seal. Anyone reading this and you have a way to do it let us know.
 
Wouldn't it be easier to open the window a little, trace the top edge, put top part on and then roll window up...?



TapaTalkin'
 
Tint should go below the rubber seal, so the door panel should come off.

---------- Post added at 12:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:56 PM ----------

What problem are you having with the panel? Are you having issues with the interior door panel itself? Isn't the rubber seal attached to the top of it? That panel comes out pretty easily, the top does not separate. Pretty much just pull the aluminum trim off, unscrew there, unscrew the handle attachment and pop the clips out from the bottom. You don't need to unhook the wiring or mechanisms if you're just tinting. You can just prop them on something.

jsjwc said:
If I could just learn how to take the top of the door panel off. The installation is a piece of cake once you can get below the rubber seal. Anyone reading this and you have a way to do it let us know.
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Thanks Shadow 191. My problem is pulling the pieces off. First I couldn't find a place to remove the silver trim piece than I tried to pull the panel off it never released from the clip and I was being a wuss about pulling to hard. Any more insight would be great. Thanks again, Joe
 
You guys are telling him how to remove the door panel off a 1st gen FX. Removing the door panel off the 2nd gen is different. Do not remove that silver trim piece. Its a part of the door and its screwed on from behind.

What you are suppose to do is remove the leather stitches door handle by pulling it towards you. This exposes two bolts. Remove them with a 10mm socket. Next pop that cap off behind the door open handle. This will also expose another 10 mm bolt. Remove that. Next remove the bottom door light and disconnect it. After that grab the bottom edge of thewhole door panel pulling it towards you and work your way around popping the clips out. Finished!
 
Aaaahhh, the difference.... 1st Gen the door handle is aluminum and the 2nd Gen is "leather stitches" door handle. BTW, don't you need to remove the black plastic cover for the outside side mirror in order for the door panel to come off?
 
the leather stitched door pull it two pieces. look for the seam from the top to the arm rest. Just pull the two pieces apart.
 
av8shunmeckanec said:
I tinted the front windshield, driver and passanger windows with a basically clear uv blocking 3m tint. You cant tell that the tint is there except for a slight blue reflection. You have to use the good stuff if you are going to tint the windshield. You wont get the distortion with the good stuff. Beware though that tinting the windshield screws up the sunlight sensor which brings up another rant. The instrument lighting adjustment is crap on my 10 FX. One click below max dims it wayyyy to far. I had it adjusted one click below max for better night vision but now with the screwed up sun sensor the headlights stay on even in direct morning sunlight. So with the headlights on the dash is dimmed too far. I have to keep the dash lighting on max now cause the headlights keep coming on.
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Thanks for sharing this info. I just had my fronts tinted and was debating on getting the windshield done. I think I'll leave the windshield as it is and just deal with the sun.
 
I see you're in GA, from my understanding, it's still illegal to run windshield tint in GA. I just had my 335i tinted by a buddy of mine who's been doing it forever. He does a lot of dealerships and I asked him about the windshield since I was considering it. He told me it was still illegal although the chances of getting caught are slim (fine is pretty big though). And windshield tint doesn't last as long since it's typically a lighter tint that fades quicker (even high end tint does fade) and it sees the most sun. He has done a few in the 3M clear tint that blocks UV rays, but doesn't have any idea how long it will last.
 
shadow191 said:
I see you're in GA, from my understanding, it's still illegal to run windshield tint in GA. I just had my 335i tinted by a buddy of mine who's been doing it forever. He does a lot of dealerships and I asked him about the windshield since I was considering it. He told me it was still illegal although the chances of getting caught are slim (fine is pretty big though). And windshield tint doesn't last as long since it's typically a lighter tint that fades quicker (even high end tint does fade) and it sees the most sun. He has done a few in the 3M clear tint that blocks UV rays, but doesn't have any idea how long it will last.
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You are correct it is illegal. I had my front windows tinted with 20% on a previous car and received two tickets for tint so I opted to go with legal tint this time. The guy that tinted my windows told me that most people come back and get the windshield done but I am still not sure. The tint that he used for my driver and passenger window was 3M ceramic and so far I am happy with it.
 
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