[VirtualGuitars]

So what brand window tint and percentage have you guys been going with on your iX’s? Unfortunately, I have diagnosed myself with OCD which is going to make selecting the right brand film and percentage an absolute nightmare matching the front two windows with the privacy glass on the rest of the vehicle.

This was not a problem for me on my G30 because there was no privacy glass and I went with 3M Crystaline (18% sides/back, 70% windshield, and 40% sunroof) which made everything match. It blocks virtually all of the Texas heat even with the sunroof exposed in the middle of summer. The legal limit in 25% for the front two windows in Texas, but I don’t care if I have to go below that. Just curious what everyone else has been going with…

Any photos and details is greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[deutsch100]

EVERY car we do 35% high performance 3M ceramic tint. For easily 10 years, we have used this. It has awesome UV and heat prevention!

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

EVERY car we do 35% high performance 3M ceramic tint. For easily 10 years, we have used this. It has awesome UV and heat prevention!

Thanks for the response. How well does it match the rest of the car?

[photometer]

Initially I had XPEL Prime XR Plus (their best film) at 45% transmission and 99% heat rejection. The film has a slight blue cast. This is further accentuated as the front windshield has warm tint (brown). So, I replaced it with the slightly inferior XPEL Prime Black that has more neutral color cast.

My advice (especially if you have OCD)
- Look at the color cast - warm or cool - (it is a personal choice)
- Check if you see any funny rainbow colors when wearing a polarized sunglass.
- Determine the VLT value - 30% to 70%

[bqvalen]

The rear is dark - measured at 16%

I originally had a 20% put on the front 2 but it was only a 90% match.

I had it removed and a 15% put on, it's a 95% match.

Not perfect, but allows my OCD to rest easy :-)

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by bqvalen

The rear is dark - measured at 16%

I originally had a 20% put on the front 2 but it was only a 90% match.

I had it removed and a 15% put on, it's a 95% match.

Not perfect, but allows my OCD to rest easy :-)

When you went with 15%, do you have dimming issues during the day? I had this problem in my M550 where if I wasn’t under direct sunlight, the interior dash will dim all lighting like I was driving at night. This is because of where the light sensor was located;

[Paladin1]

XPEL Prime XR, 35% front side windows (limit in my state) and rear hatch, 50% sunroof. BMW has previously stated that their rear passenger windows are 20% integral tint, and the 35% front sides look a lot closer than factory, but slightly less dark than the rear. No problems at all in bright sunlight or visibility after dark, and none of the dimming issues experienced with the X5 (I suspect the photosensors in the iX are positioned differently, and there are more of them). Windshield is already IR tinted very effectively.

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by Paladin1

XPEL Prime XR, 35% front side windows (limit in my state) and rear hatch, 50% sunroof. BMW has previously stated that their rear passenger windows are 20% integral tint, and the 35% front sides look a lot closer than factory, but slightly less dark than the rear. No problems at all in bright sunlight or visibility after dark, and none of the dimming issues experienced with the X5 (I suspect the photosensors in the iX are positioned differently, and there are more of them). Windshield is already IR tinted very effectively.

Good to know about the windshield. Because that’s one expensive add-on - especially with 3M Crystaline.

[Call Me Bronco]

I was quoted $450 for dealer installed 3m crystalline (done on site; not outsourced) for front driver and passenger windows. Price seemed to be inline with other crystalline installs based on a quick search of the interwebs.

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by Call Me Bronco

I was quoted $450 for dealer installed 3m crystalline (done on site; not outsourced) for front driver and passenger windows. Price seemed to be inline with other crystalline installs based on a quick search of the interwebs.

My 3M Crystaline cost me either $1000 or $1100 to do all four windows, rear, windshield, and sunroof on my M550. But that was four years ago.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by VirtualGuitars

Thanks for the response. How well does it match the rest of the car?

I think it matches very well. The front might look a wee lighter, since the glass is clear to begin with, but dark enough to blend perfectly, but not black enough for a cop to hassle you. The 35% 3M ceramic tint makes almost all of the heat from the sun from hitting you. I have been battling skin cancer for 5+ years, and cannot and will not have a car without this film. Love it!

[stormace]

I went to 15% fronts. Matched the rear nicely. No windshield tint.

[CaboM4]

Posted this to another thread a few months back

As another member mentioned, see the windshield and blue hue of the Xpel Prime XR on the iX with infrared windshield compared to my x5

Also note the iX is facing direct sunlight where the x5 isn’t. Both vehicle tint is identical

Originally Posted by CaboM4

My X5 and iX getting Xpel Window Tint (20% sides, 55% windshield).
Both vehicles have clear Xpel PPF on entire nose, rear bumper & rocker panels.

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by CaboM4

Posted this to another thread a few months back

As another member mentioned, see the windshield and blue hue of the Xpel Prime XR on the iX with infrared windshield compared to my x5

Also note the iX is facing direct sunlight where the x5 isn’t. Both vehicle tint is identical

I had 3M Crystaline 20% on the sides and back of my M550 and my instrument cluster and infotainment screen would dim without direct sunlight coming into the vehicle. For example, if I was driving through downtown during broad daylight, the instrument cluster and infotainment would dim like I was at night when passing through buildings. Is this an issue in the iX with darker tint?

[Pictor]

It's probably late for the M550i or X5 owners on here but those cars can be coded to compensate for the front tinting. I did it on my former M550i and current M850i and have had no issues with dimming of instruments.

[CaboM4]

Originally Posted by VirtualGuitars

Is this an issue in the iX with darker tint?

I am not experiencing this issue in the iX with the level of tint I have.

55% windshield
25% front sides

[VirtualGuitars]

My iX M60 is at XPEL Houston right now! I was initially just going to do the front windows, but unfortunately I have an all-or-nothing personality and decided to do the entire vehicle. This is repeated behavior from my ‘19 M550 that I did in 3M Crystalline which never got hot - even in pure Texas summer heat. Here’s what’s being installed by XPEL themselves and their pricing. They were nice enough to give me a 10% discount for the entire thing since they have a feeling I’ll be coming back for more services later. Smart move and true!

XR Plus 15 - front windows
XR Plus 70 - rear windows & tailgate
XR Plus 70 - windshield & sunroof

XR Plus $695 sides and back
XR Plus $495 windshield
XR Plus $495 sunroof

The iX privacy glass measured in at 14% and the 70% film should make it all balance to about 11% to 12% across the entire vehicle. The VLT rating for XR Plus 15 is 11%, so the front windows should really match nicely! Photos coming soon!

[VirtualGuitars]

The good news (post 1 of 2): a near perfect match! With the XPEL 15% added to the factory front windows, it’s now measuring at 9% on the meter. The film is 11% by itself. With the XPEL 70% added to the rest of the vehicle, the rear windows are now measuring 10%. A little darker that I thought it was going to look, but it ooks great!

[VirtualGuitars]

The bad news (post 2 of 2). When I got home from XPEL Houston, I was taking a closer look at the tint work they did that included the sunroof and a wash. Upon further inspection, I noticed what I thought was bird ****, but it turned out to be a rock chip that turned into a large “L” crack. While I initially thought it was their fault, I looked at some photos from just the other day and that was definitely there

After thinking it over, something did hit the vehicle within a mile of me leaving the dealership when I bought her on January 7th. You can’t see it from the inside because of the headliner. I don’t even want to know how much a new roof costs!

[Paladin1]

Don't quote me, but I think I've seen elsewhere on the forum something in the range of $12k-$15k. Ouch! Insurance should cover though, but I expect you're in for a wait - it is sandwiched glass, so Safelite should hold it until. Surprised the tint guys didn't catch it and say "Looky here!"

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by Paladin1

Don't quote me, but I think I've seen elsewhere on the forum something in the range of $12k-$15k. Ouch! Insurance should cover though, but I expect you're in for a wait - it is sandwiched glass, so Safelite should hold it until.

As I stated on the other thread, it’s barely noticeable from a distance. Just looks like dirt or bird poop.

[VirtualGuitars]

Update: thank goodness my Progressive Insurance $0 glass-break deductible covers all glass, including sunroofs. So fun with less than 500 miles.