Hey guys, I'd like to say thanks for your input, and all of the experiences related in this thread with PhotoSync (and for the pics!). I went ahead and got it on my F30 BMW and it turned out great! In the end I went with 75 on windshield, 65 on front doors, and the rest 35. If anybody wants to see I can post pics. Impressions:
- big diff, I can now drive in South FL in what everybody else calls summer (for us, it will get hotter still, but it's already hot hot hot)
- don't really see any distortion on windshield. saw a bit when I drove it "wet" from the installer but it has since cured more and you have to look hard. it's not at all distracting, I'm not aware of it unless I think about it and start search for distortion, and then I try to decide if there's really something there or I'm imagining it. bottom line, if you get it installed by pros (and Premiere only works with high-end shops, at least for now) you won't have an issue. NOTE: a 3-Series' windshield is a at a very different angle than your MS, and could expose stuff that is simply not visible at the angle in my car.
- I wear polarized permanent Rx sunglasses and I don't see anything in the windshield except for a slight rainbow effect (people with polarized sunglasses will know what I'm talking about) in the very upper left corner. it's not always there and it varies by the intensity/position/angle of the sun. Thankfully, it's not a place I ever look thru unless I'm trying to spot a plane. But again, because of the different angle (and length) of the windshield in your MS, it may be larger and/or in a different position (or not there at all).
- I do not notice any tint on windshield when driving during the day/at night (from a darkness perspective)
- at first I didn't think I felt any difference w/ the windshield (my first at that too), but then when I start thinking about how cool my hands stay on the steering wheel I realize that it works
- don't have to crank AC to the ridiculous levels I had to before, which would result in me simultaneously freezing and feeling hot, which sucked. Yesterday was partly cloudy and had it at 71 in both front zones (rear is not digitally controlled so just set on coldest). Today full South Florida sun, 68F both front zones kept me comfortable. Don't sweat like I did before.
- it's very tricky to take good pics of the tint, especially with a crappy camera like an iPhone 6 Plus (if y'all want pics I can show you what I mean). From different angles, when in the sun, it can look very different.
- 35 is not as dark as I expected, which is a good thing since I didn't want to go very dark. That said, if I wasn't moving from Florida -> Cali, I'd get at least 35 on the front doors too (I would never go darker than 75 on windshield)
- ...but I'm totally enjoying almost-no-tint-65 at night. I think 55 would be just about perfect but could attract attention in Cali.
- anywhere else other than the south 65 is more than fine. the heat rejection is still there just wish it would cut out more sun (and my sunglasses are supposedly Coppertone 90% tint). It's fine though, just nitpicking, and nothing I can do since the main intent is to be as close to CA-legal as possible.
- can def see line between darker rears and light fronts, but not from all angles, and because 35 is not that dark it's not too bad. also, in kinda makes one think there's nothing on the fronts which is a plus.
- PS35 on rear window is no problem at night. I do come from driving a 30-tinted car and I felt that was no problem either, but with the self-dimming mirror 35 is still fine for when you've got high beams hitting you from the back. No tint was not fine, it was somewhat distracting/disorienting because of light scatter inside the car other than from mirror.
- asked the tint shop about suction cups, they told me used them to your heart's content after 48 hours, just don't rip them off but use the release tab on the cups when taking them off (which is what I did anyway). actually put my SunPass on immediately after getting tinted before I left the shop (2 smaller suction cups) and then took it off when I got home and no issues!
Ask me anything.
