Window tint

Manhattan · 06-03-2026, 02:03 PM

My G16 is going in for tint next week. The shop recommended FormulaOne nano-ceramic tint. I'll admit, that brand is new to me, but Claude says it's great and he's never (sometimes) wrong. Would you recommend FormulaOne?

Next is the back window. I'm thinking of not tinting that just for visibility and the car has the built-in sunshade. But will it look odd if I don't tint it?

Thanks!

DocL · 06-03-2026, 02:16 PM

I don't know much about that brand. Sorry. But I have tinted around 40 cars and it will look stupid if you don't do the back window. If visibility is your concern, especially at night, you can go with a slightly lighter tint. HTH.

Burrcold · 06-03-2026, 02:42 PM

I had FormulaOne nano ceramic on my old G20 M340i. It was a great film, albeit a bit pricey from the shop I went to. I liked that it was a true charcoal/black color and didn't have any green or blue hues.

John in VA · 06-03-2026, 04:37 PM

FormulaOne is a Llumar product - very good quality. I've had the Pinnacle & Stratos series on my cars for years. Do the back window. I went with the Virginia legal %s - wish I would have done the front sides the same as the rear sides (a bit darker) but didn't want to risk a ticket or having to remove it.

https://latint.com/automotive-tint

AlterZgo · 06-04-2026, 05:36 AM

If you keep the back window somewhat close to the side windows it will be fine as the back window is perpendicular to the side windows and the different % won’t be very noticeable. However if I had a G16 I’d just go with 35% on back and sides. I find 35% tint to look good while not destroying side and rear visibility at night. If you’re that concerned about back window visibility you can go 35% sides and 50% back window.

DocL · 06-04-2026, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlterZgo

... I find 35% tint to look good while not destroying side and rear visibility at night. If you’re that concerned about back window visibility you can go 35% sides and 50% back window.

Or 20% on sides and 35% on back. I've done that before and it's worked out well. 50% is too light.

JamesBMer · 06-04-2026, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manhattan

My G16 is going in for tint next week. The shop recommended FormulaOne nano-ceramic tint. I'll admit, that brand is new to me, but Claude says it's great and he's never (sometimes) wrong. Would you recommend FormulaOne?

Next is the back window. I'm thinking of not tinting that just for visibility and the car has the built-in sunshade. But will it look odd if I don't tint it?

Thanks!

Yes, FormulaOne Pinnacle is solid. And skip the back window if you want visibility - it won’t look weird.

N1rve · 06-04-2026, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manhattan

My G16 is going in for tint next week. The shop recommended FormulaOne nano-ceramic tint. I'll admit, that brand is new to me, but Claude says it's great and he's never (sometimes) wrong. Would you recommend FormulaOne?

Next is the back window. I'm thinking of not tinting that just for visibility and the car has the built-in sunshade. But will it look odd if I don't tint it?

Thanks!

FormulaOne is a brand under Llumar but there is a licensing thing where if you sell FormulaOne tint, you cannot sell other brands which is why you will rarely see it because it locks you in. It's not a new brand and I have it on my current F82. They have different lines like cheaper dye film, dye hybrid, all the way up to ceramic but their dye film has a fade resistance warranty. Stratos is their top of the line film.

https://llumar.com/content/dam/eastm...pec_screen.pdf

I would recommend it as it's similar to Llumar offerings.

It will look odd if you don't tint the rear.

ppointer · 06-04-2026, 06:23 PM

I always do the rear window at 20% or 25%. Side windows I have done 50% down to 35%. I had one SUV I did 20% on the side windows, and it was not ideal at all for slow corners in the neighborhood.

The better products last longer and look better. I don't cut corners on this stuff because I usually keep my cars quite a long time.

Manhattan · 06-05-2026, 07:26 AM

I opened the garage door this morning, the sun was low... and this angle made it clear. You guys are right - gotta tint the back window!

Thanks!

XMetal · Yesterday, 11:10 AM

You don't have to go for dark tint for heat rejection with ceramic tint. The lighter ceramic tint do just as well with heat/UV rejection. If all you want is heat rejection and don't like dark tint, then just go with 50% all around or even 70% if you like the OE fishbowl look. With that said, I usually go with 20% for the back window and 40% on the side windows. For a low sitting sedan, glares from all these high sitting SUVs and lifted truck headlights are horrible at night.

Cartpathonly · Yesterday, 08:54 PM

To clarify: this discussion about tinting rear doors/rear hatch is for appearance or heat rejection?

I had 35% ceramic installed on front door glass. Now for enhanced heat rejection, I want to do the rears. Can’t go too dark as my old eyes couldn’t deal with that. If I use 50% or 70%, does it make a big difference in the cabin?

I use a windshield screen when it’s parked outside in the sun because even at 80% I’m afraid it would impair my night vision.

chowser51 · Yesterday, 09:15 PM

even with ceramic, I like the darker look.
I did 20% sides and rear and 70% windshield and it was too dark.
next car I did 35% sides and rear and 70% windshield. much better.

current car is 35% sides and rear and 50% front windshield. This is how I will do all my cars going forward.

06-03-2026, 02:03 PM	#1
Manhattan Private 80 Rep 64 Posts Drives: 840i, X3 Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Window tint - need some insight My G16 is going in for tint next week. The shop recommended FormulaOne nano-ceramic tint. I'll admit, that brand is new to me, but Claude says it's great and he's never (sometimes) wrong. Would you recommend FormulaOne? Next is the back window. I'm thinking of not tinting that just for visibility and the car has the built-in sunshade. But will it look odd if I don't tint it? Thanks!
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06-03-2026, 02:16 PM	#2
DocL Major 2352 Rep 1,041 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Comp 6spd Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Delray Beach iTrader: (2)	I don't know much about that brand. Sorry. But I have tinted around 40 cars and it will look stupid if you don't do the back window. If visibility is your concern, especially at night, you can go with a slightly lighter tint. HTH. __________________ 2018 F80 M3. YMB/BLK. ZCP. Three Pedals. "Education will never be as expensive as ignorance."
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06-03-2026, 02:42 PM	#3
Burrcold Major General 7422 Rep 5,437 Posts Drives: 2024 M3 Comp xDrive Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	I had FormulaOne nano ceramic on my old G20 M340i. It was a great film, albeit a bit pricey from the shop I went to. I liked that it was a true charcoal/black color and didn't have any green or blue hues. __________________ Current: 2024 BMW M3 Competition xDrive \| 2022 Audi Q7 Gone: 2022 Audi RS5 \| 2020 BMW M340i \| 2019 Audi RS5
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06-03-2026, 04:37 PM	#4
John in VA Colonel 2242 Rep 2,801 Posts Drives: 2015 228i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Leesburg, VA iTrader: (6)	FormulaOne is a Llumar product - very good quality. I've had the Pinnacle & Stratos series on my cars for years. Do the back window. I went with the Virginia legal %s - wish I would have done the front sides the same as the rear sides (a bit darker) but didn't want to risk a ticket or having to remove it. https://latint.com/automotive-tint __________________ ____________________________________________ 2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
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06-04-2026, 05:36 AM	#5
AlterZgo Lieutenant Colonel 1808 Rep 1,841 Posts Drives: 26 G80 CX, 21 911S, 23 X3 M40i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (0)	If you keep the back window somewhat close to the side windows it will be fine as the back window is perpendicular to the side windows and the different % won’t be very noticeable. However if I had a G16 I’d just go with 35% on back and sides. I find 35% tint to look good while not destroying side and rear visibility at night. If you’re that concerned about back window visibility you can go 35% sides and 50% back window.
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06-04-2026, 06:23 PM	#9
ppointer Major 1322 Rep 1,403 Posts Drives: '01 Z3M, '12 335is, '22 540i Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: FLL iTrader: (4) Garage List 2022 BMW 540i [3.83] 2001 M Roadster [7.50] 2025 Lexus IS350 F ... [0.00] 1967 Chevrolet Corv ... [7.14] 2012 BMW 335is [7.17] 2026 GMC Yukon [0.00] 2013 BMW M3 Vert [8.17] 2012 BMW 335i [8.29]	I always do the rear window at 20% or 25%. Side windows I have done 50% down to 35%. I had one SUV I did 20% on the side windows, and it was not ideal at all for slow corners in the neighborhood. The better products last longer and look better. I don't cut corners on this stuff because I usually keep my cars quite a long time.
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06-05-2026, 07:26 AM	#10
Manhattan Private 80 Rep 64 Posts Drives: 840i, X3 Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	I opened the garage door this morning, the sun was low... and this angle made it clear. You guys are right - gotta tint the back window! Thanks! Attached Images
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Yesterday, 11:10 AM	#11
XMetal Brigadier General 1386 Rep 3,026 Posts Drives: Anything Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	You don't have to go for dark tint for heat rejection with ceramic tint. The lighter ceramic tint do just as well with heat/UV rejection. If all you want is heat rejection and don't like dark tint, then just go with 50% all around or even 70% if you like the OE fishbowl look. With that said, I usually go with 20% for the back window and 40% on the side windows. For a low sitting sedan, glares from all these high sitting SUVs and lifted truck headlights are horrible at night.
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Yesterday, 08:54 PM	#12
Cartpathonly Registered 0 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2026 40i xDrive Msport Join Date: Jun 2026 Location: Southeast USA iTrader: (0)	To clarify: this discussion about tinting rear doors/rear hatch is for appearance or heat rejection? I had 35% ceramic installed on front door glass. Now for enhanced heat rejection, I want to do the rears. Can’t go too dark as my old eyes couldn’t deal with that. If I use 50% or 70%, does it make a big difference in the cabin? I use a windshield screen when it’s parked outside in the sun because even at 80% I’m afraid it would impair my night vision. Last edited by Cartpathonly; Yesterday at 10:47 PM..
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Yesterday, 09:15 PM	#13
chowser51 Colonel 2273 Rep 2,971 Posts Drives: F33 430 and F39 M35i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (3) Garage List 2018 BMW 430i xDrive [10.00]	even with ceramic, I like the darker look. I did 20% sides and rear and 70% windshield and it was too dark. next car I did 35% sides and rear and 70% windshield. much better. current car is 35% sides and rear and 50% front windshield. This is how I will do all my cars going forward.
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