I will be getting my 3rd Mini and my first Roadster here in a few days (delivery nitemares). Oh well the meantime thinking of the things I will be doing to the car. One of the many things I will be doing is tinting the Windows.

Questions.
1. How much did you pay to tint your R59? I am getting quotes from $150 to $350.... crazy spread.
2. Did you need to keep your top up or down after the installation?
3. If you needed to do what I asked in number 2.... for how long? Some are telling me 3 weeks.... WTF?
4. Overall are you happy with the tint?
5. If you know of the tint you used... could you recommend it? ...and of course what manufacturer.

Here is what I am doing:
1. Eclipse Gray JCW Roadster with silver stripe. With Champion Black Leather/Carbon Color Line. (this is the JCW roadster that has been sitting in Boston for months).
2. Hankook V12 Ventus Non-Runflats
3. Remove styrofoam chunks from the trunk and increase storage. Replace this with slimekit, toolkit, jumper cables and blanket.
4. Install my custom built Proclip based iphone 5 mount.
5. Install Red Pinstripe on color lines parts to compliement the champion seats.
6. Blackjack scuttles, interior sticker, go badge, license frame
7. JCW chubby steering wheel
8. JCW GP shifter (red top)
9. Hard mount my Escort Radar
10. Add rubbish bag
11. Install dummy rear foglight switch (as it was not part of the build).

 

Congrats on the new Roadster! I used 3m's FX tint, had it professionally installed. Mine cost $120 for three windows. I have 35% on the sides and 50% on the rear. My installer taped the switches, asking me not to open the windows for 1 hour, I keep the top up.


-Steven

 

Can you give more info on the proclip design you came up with?

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Congrats on your new MINI. It's a well known fact that the roadster has limited visibility. I'd like to ask those of you who do have tint on their vehicles, does the tint effect visibility at night?

 

I don't have a roadster. I have a Countryman, and this is my 3rd MINI. All have been tinted. The Countryman was tinted with the highest level 3M film available at the shop and cost me $250, so a quote of $350 is nuts. Each time I had a car tinted (not just MINIs), I was told not to use the windows for 3 days. I'd assume the same would apply with your top.

 

My Answers:
1) I haven't had anyone quote me over $200... $275 was the highest and that was them offering to also do a 75% on my front windshield... not sure I'd want that.
2/3) You cannot roll your windows down for several days. The hotter/dryer it is the less time you have to wait. If it's humid and rainy you have to wait longer. The trouble with Minis is the windows roll down and up a touch every time you open and close the doors to seal properly. That can roll the edges of the tint. Ideally you would leave the top down for several days to minimize any chance of issue. 3 weeks is a bit absurd unless you live in 100% humidity. I've heard running your AC can help dry it out, too.
5) I'm going to answer 5 first, then 4. I've had 3M and Suntek. I was a lot happier with Suntek (18% on my car, 25% on wife's) than the 3M. I felt like suntek was more gray where 3M had a touch of brown in the tinting - not a lot, but just enough to make me not like it. I would highly suggest that you ensure you get the Carbon/premium Suntek, as it blocks out more heat and has no metallics in it which can interfere with Cell/radio/etc.
4) VERY happy with Suntek, and I've got friends and family that I've referred to the same guy for Suntek and they've been very happy with it too.

 

@Mr. T: The visibility doesn't really get any worse per se when you tint the Roadster. The important part is not going too dark for YOUR eyes. I'm fairly light sensitive and have fairly good, maybe even great, night/low-light vision. I can see out of 18% just fine where my wife went with 25% on her car because she couldn't see very well (too dark at night).

 

I have 2013 Eclipse Gray as well and had tinting installed as soon as I could arrange it!

1. $225 from a very reputable installer. There were less expensive quotes, but getting someone that is GOOD at what they do can make all the difference in the world.
2. Top up, windows rolled up for 3 days. Installer was very aware of the "BMW Window Dip" and told me to minimize opening/closing doors as much as possible. He cuts the "tail" of the tint extra long so the "dip" can't cause as much of an issue.
3. Top up, windows up for 3 days (was in late summer) and temperature/humidity is important. The water between the film/window must evaporate for the seal to be permanent.
4. Love it, functionally and visually.
5. 3M (they bought out the biggest competitor that had the same film but a lifetime guarantee) I used the darkest allowed in VA for the sides and darker for the rear.

One major point to consider AFTER you get the tint. Be careful what window cleaner you use - not all are tint friendly.

 

Tint shouldn't be more than 200, max. My clubby cost me $140, 3m 20%. I had a sky, which is closer to the r59 in terms of size, and it cost me $80 for tint. I've been going to the same guy for years, he's the best around. I probably could have gotten that car done for like $30 in the Bronx lol. You get what you pay for! Typically you can't open the Windows for two or three days, not a big deal.

 

Thanks for the input, TheZlog.

 

man tiniting is way cheaper where all you cats live..... in minneapolis the decent shops are all $250 plus....... makes me mad that you guys all get it for $100 less.

grrr....

 

My Crossfire has about the same window area as an R59 and I paid 145 for 20% 3M. I asked the tinter dude about my wife's Countryman and he quoted 190 which also include 5% on the sunroof. That was about the going rate here in Cincinnati.