The M5 Touring I am due to collect this Wednesday http://www.straighteight.com/bmw.html
has privacy glass fitted. It was a burning hot day when I sat in it for a test drive, however with that glass fitted it was like the difference between night & day, when getting in & out of the car. Fantastic. Very effective at keeping the interior of the car cooler. However, vision for driving perfect as the windscreen has usual low tint. Don't know how affected the vision through the sidewindows will be at night though?
Only problem I can foresee is that in the UK, the police may pull me for having dark glass between the A & B pillar. Someone has told me this has more to do with the inability of big brother/CCTV to identify the driver, than with road safety.
Any thoughts on this subject? Should I remove the privacy glass between the A & B pillar?
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BMW M5 e39 2000 Le Mans Blue
Previously owned:
BMW M5 e34 1995 Sterling Silver Touring "Elekta"
BMW M5 e34 1992 Diamond Black Touring
BMW M5 e34 1995 Avus Blue
Kawasaki ZX12R
Audi S2 quattro
BMW 320d
Golf GTi
Mazda MX5
Kawasaki GPZ900R
1) You are not allowed ANY tint on the windscreen (although most cars come with a 5-10% green/blue/brown/grey tint from the factory) - except for the first 5-6" of the dark sunshade.
2) The front side windows have to let in AT LEAST 70% of the available light (so make sure any tint fitted PLUS the factory tint is less than 30%)
3) The rear windows (side and back screen) seem to be able to have as much as you want - although you may still be 'cautioned' if you can't see out of them, as they would be classed as an obstruction.
__________________ "If you're not producing skidmarks you're not trying hard enough"
Thanks Mmm-Five. I have a friend who has a professional car window tinting business. He has a special device that can measure the amount of light coming through. If it is too dark he can remove the film for GBP30+VAT.
Chris
IIRC Geach has some gangsta style window tints..Perhaps he can shed some light ( at least 70%) on this issue?
I have never had mine officially tested,but used to get pulled over every now and again for suspicion of selling drugs or sex! I have heard of a lot of the local ricers being forced to remove theirs on the side of the road (not a chance!). But myself personally,have never had a problem. I do think if the car looks tidy and the tint is done right you generally get left alone as the cops (that I have encountered)do not seem to sure on the law anyway. I have owned many cars with tints,one being my previous e34,which was darker than my current car.I did once have a copper being a bit funny over it,so I told him that I had been out to the ministry testing station and they checked it and said it ok! Kept him happy and he left me to go on my way. I also pass MOT tests every year without problems,but one year the tester did markit down as an advisory point. I think its a personal preference thing and if you like it stay with it!
Since I did some research recently as I wanted to get my Touring interior a little more protected.
The windscreen can retain the standard window tints but that is all that is allowed.
The side windows between the A and B pillar can be tinted but not more than 70% tint
The rest of the glass can have a greater tint applied to the glass.
My preference was to have a very light tint all over the car such as 70% - 80% ( which I think in Pentagon speak is smoke to light smoke shade) as I was not happy to have the "van" effect on the car i.e. did not want a light tint on the front windows and a dark tint on the rear windows, which although legal I think looks wrong.
This information was gained from Pentagon who are the premier window tinters certainly in the UK although I know they claim the world.
BTW Chris having seen the car I would not say that it falls into the illegal catogory I would say that it is very good and also does not have the "van" effect!.
Simon
Last edited by Simonal; 14th August 2006 at 21:09.
old member Wane Ramsey had tints done on his just before he threw a con-rod thru the block, and he said he used to drive with front windows down at night to avoid getting pulled, as he has been pulled by the police previously in london.
Doubt you see many police cars in Cornwall Dan compared to east london!!!
His tints were quite dark, but prob not more than Geach has on his car judging by photos.
@ Simonal - i too hate that two-tone tint look, it looks ridiculous, i don't know who would do that, i'd at least make the rears a VERY similar shade if not the same shade as whatever is legal on the front sidewindows.
old member Wane Ramsey had tints done on his just before he threw a con-rod thru the block, and he said he used to drive with front windows down at night to avoid getting pulled, as he has been pulled by the police previously in london.
Doubt you see many police cars in Cornwall Dan compared to east london!!!
His tints were quite dark, but prob not more than Geach has on his car judging by photos.
@ Simonal - i too hate that two-tone tint look, it looks ridiculous, i don't know who would do that, i'd at least make the rears a VERY similar shade if not the same shade as whatever is legal on the front sidewindows.
But then I don't want gangsta tint on my car!!!
The best chance you have of finding a police car down here is by looking in the local Mc Donalds! Mine are not that dark,in decent daylight you can still see right through the car albeit not that well!
I have never had mine officially tested,but used to get pulled over every now and again for suspicion of selling drugs or sex! I have heard of a lot of the local ricers being forced to remove theirs on the side of the road (not a chance!). But myself personally,have never had a problem. I do think if the car looks tidy and the tint is done right you generally get left alone as the cops (that I have encountered)do not seem to sure on the law anyway. I have owned many cars with tints,one being my previous e34,which was darker than my current car.I did once have a copper being a bit funny over it,so I told him that I had been out to the ministry testing station and they checked it and said it ok! Kept him happy and he left me to go on my way. I also pass MOT tests every year without problems,but one year the tester did markit down as an advisory point. I think its a personal preference thing and if you like it stay with it!
Geach, I've found out that that tinted the windows are not part of the MOT. Apparently it would cost too much money to issue all MOT testing centres with the necessary equipment to test how heavy the tint is. For similar reasons, none of the Sussex police have been issued with such equipment to test whether the glass lets through the requisite 70%.
Chris
Geach, I've found out that that tinted the windows are not part of the MOT. Apparently it would cost too much money to issue all MOT testing centres with the necessary equipment to test how heavy the tint is. For similar reasons, none of the Sussex police have been issued with such equipment to test whether the glass lets through the requisite 70%.
Chris
I see,so where does that leave us? If it cannot be proved to be too dark,nothing can be done? Mine will stay!
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