Removing Metallic Tint -->Ceramic?

2421 Views 19 Replies 14 Participants Last post by kirbanana, Oct 26, 2006

Ocean's M5

Discussion Starter · Jun 22, 2005

It appears that the metallic film does diminish FM reception as well as am channels. Also, on familar roads that I know pick up certian channels, it scans right over them.

I do hope that it is in fact the tint and not something else, because I'm removing it tomorrow.

h:

Has anyone removed the tint themselves? or have any tips?

Lastly, anyone have good results with ceramic? Like optical clarity? Uninhibited reception?

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

paul540/m3

· #2 · Jun 22, 2005

Ceramic Tint is by far the best choice for BMW's. It doesn not fade, or hinder the radio reception. I personally have it on all of my cars and have never had any trouble with it. I went with the Formula One Tint by Llumar and it comes with a lifetime waraunty against fading, peeling, and bubbling. I would msot definitely recommend it

Ocean's M5

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 22, 2005

paul540/m3 said:
Ceramic Tint is by far the best choice for BMW's. It doesn not fade, or hinder the radio reception. I personally have it on all of my cars and have never had any trouble with it. I went with the Formula One Tint by Llumar and it comes with a lifetime waraunty against fading, peeling, and bubbling. I would msot definitely recommend it

i went to the LLumar website and couldn't find anything about ceramic tint? It seems all they have is metalized?

Osodog

· #4 · Jun 22, 2005

Got FormulaOne Ceramic on my 01 and love it. No real problems with the radio, NAV or Sirius radio (antenna placed on top of rear deck).

paul540/m3

· #5 · Jun 22, 2005

Ocean's M5 said:
i went to the LLumar website and couldn't find anything about ceramic tint? It seems all they have is metalized?

I beleive it is called "Pinnacle" but I could be wrong.

Osodog

· #6 · Jun 22, 2005

21

http://www.formulaone.com/ , then click on Pinnacle Series.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"><td class="text"> The unique technology utilized to produce the Pinnacle Series of films makes it the most state-of-the-art automotive film today. With the advanced electronic systems in today's vehicles, it is imperative that a window film allow optimum performance at all frequencies. The advanced technology utilized in manufacturing the Pinnacle Series provides a proprietary non-metallized, non-conductive, ceramic technology film with maximum heat reduction, maximum ultraviolet rejection, excellent optical clarity and blockage of infrared rays.

</td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> <td align="right" valign="top">

</td> <td align="right" valign="top"><table class="border" bgcolor="#f1f1f1" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3" width="85"> <tbody><tr align="left" valign="middle"> <td height="5">

</td> <td height="5">Product Series:</td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="middle"> <td height="5">

</td> <td height="5">

</td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="middle"> <td height="5">

</td> <td height="5">

</td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="middle"> <td height="5">

</td> <td height="5">

</td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="middle"> <td height="5">

</td> <td height="5">

</td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="middle"> <td height="5">

</td> <td height="5">

</td> </tr> <tr align="left" valign="middle"> <td height="5">

</td> <td height="5">

</td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="text" align="left" background="images/header-bk.gif" valign="middle">Features </td> <td class="text" align="right" background="images/header-bk.gif" valign="middle">

</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="300"> <tbody><tr valign="middle"> <td class="text" align="left">

</td> <td class="text" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">National manufacturer's lifetime warranty against color change </td> </tr> <tr valign="middle"> <td class="text" align="left">

</td> <td class="text" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Scratch-resistant surface </td> </tr> <tr valign="middle"> <td class="text" align="left">

</td> <td class="text" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Maximum ultraviolet protection </td> </tr> <tr valign="middle"> <td class="text" align="left">

</td> <td class="text" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">No hindrance to vehicle electronic systems</td> </tr> <tr valign="middle"> <td class="text" align="left">

</td> <td class="text" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Will not interfere with radio frequencies </td> </tr> <tr valign="middle"> <td class="text" align="left">

</td> <td class="text" align="left" nowrap="nowrap">Maximum heat rjection in a non-metallized film</td></tr></tbody> </table>

See less See more

mottati

· #7 · Jun 22, 2005

Sam, i worked in a detailing shop in college and have removed window tint. It's generally a pita to remove. You'll need several good sharp razor blades to start peeling the tint off, but a lot of adhesive remains. Then it's down to solvent. Goo off would probably work well, we used something a little more industrial.
Mike

ard

· #8 · Jun 22, 2005

The other ceramic is Huper Optic... FYI www.huperoptikusa.com

A

WannaM5

· #9 · Jun 22, 2005

Another vote for ceramic.

Osodog

· #10 · Jun 22, 2005

When I shopped around, I found that the Huber Optic was about $575 for 5 windows compared to $315 for the Pinnacle for 5 windows. Evidently the Huber Optic is harder to work with and there are less installers. The only installer I know about is in Fremont.

M5 Fever

· #11 · Jun 22, 2005

mottati said:
Sam, i worked in a detailing shop in college and have removed window tint. It's generally a pita to remove. You'll need several good sharp razor blades to start peeling the tint off, but a lot of adhesive remains. Then it's down to solvent. Goo off would probably work well, we used something a little more industrial.
Mike

I believe another method used for removal is to soak a towel in water, park the beast in direct sunshine and place towel over tinted window.

Be careful when scraping rear window as to not destroy the defroster wiring.

good luck

al

Ocean's M5

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 22, 2005

Well, all the tint is off! It was really easy with the right method.

1st I layed down towels on the rear deck. Then applied 409 liberally to the interior rear window. then cut open a plastic garbage bag, placed it inside on the tint and let it sit for about an hour. The plastic allows the car to be placed in the sun without the 409 drying.

While rear window was brewing in it's acidy bath, i removed the tint from the side windows by applying 409 simultaneously pulling the tint.

This method made the glue stick to the tint.
There was just a few spots where i used NEW razor blades with 409 to remove remaining glue.

I did notice that the M5, without the dark tint, appeared to be longer and somewhat sleeker.

I'll try to get up some pics for the comparo...

bmwusa

· #13 · Jun 22, 2005

ard said:
The other ceramic is Huper Optic... FYI www.huperoptikusa.com

A

Thats what I went with and it works well for me, no complaints

Stickman

· #14 · Jun 22, 2005

Ocean's M5 said:
I did notice that the M5, without the dark tint, appeared to be longer and somewhat sleeker.

I'll try to get up some pics for the comparo...

Please do post the pictures - this is an interesting observation!
Regards,
Alfred

Kevin993

· #15 · Oct 16, 2006

Bumping this old thread. Just hoping to get some feedback from folks who have removed tint from their cars...whether it was a DIY-type job (instructions abound on the net for giving the rear window an ammonia bath) or whether it is worth paying someone to do given the defroster/radio strips.

My AM radio stinks and I find I actually prefer a non-tinted car (this car is the first tinted car I've ever had - excluding our SUVs)...so removing the tint seems to be a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Thanks.

TiSiBeast

· #16 · Oct 16, 2006 (Edited)

I have the Huper Optik Drei and it doesnt affect the radio at all.

Laidback

· #17 · Oct 16, 2006

Kevin993 said:
Bumping this old thread. Just hoping to get some feedback from folks who have removed tint from their cars...whether it was a DIY-type job (instructions abound on the net for giving the rear window an ammonia bath) or whether it is worth paying someone to do given the defroster/radio strips.

My AM radio stinks and I find I actually prefer a non-tinted car (this car is the first tinted car I've ever had - excluding our SUVs)...so removing the tint seems to be a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Thanks.

I would recommend paying to get it removed as the rear tint is a PITA to remove...Just make sure the shop has done this before(enough experience)....should cost @ $100 to remove...

FAST 5

· #18 · Oct 16, 2006 (Edited)

Your ONLY option for true ceramic tint is...............

Ocean's M5 said:
i went to the LLumar website and couldn't find anything about ceramic tint? It seems all they have is metalized?

Get this brand name, and you may wish to look it up on the net.

HUPEROPTIK. The poster known as "Ard" is correct with his web site link. Plus this tint is made in Germany, being a German corporation.
NY dealer Tel. # 917-685-4792.
Ask him if her can direct you to a place in your location, if NY is not practical for you. His name is Tom Kovach. Good luck! kinggf

Kevin993

· #19 · Oct 26, 2006

Update -- I had my tint removed by the detail shop in the garage of my office building (very convenient) and the AM radio problems I had previously are completely gone. Recommended for anyone who listens to AM radio and had poor reception due to metallic tint.

kirbanana

· #20 · Oct 26, 2006 (Edited)

i have removed an old tint on my 89 E30 M3 once before. Since its so old, it was caked and virtually anything that i tried peeling off ripped off into smaller pieces. once i got the tint off, 80-90% of the adhesive was left behind :grrrrr:. i ended up using a solvent called Oil Eater. its a heavy duty degreaser that wiped off the adhesive with minimal scrubbing. i used a small bath towel to do the job and it came right off like a champ. i purchased mine from Costco and i tell ya, this solvent cleans any stain on any surface including clothing. just make sure you wear a mask coz the smell of this thing makes you gag and cough up....

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.