When I first bought my BMW E39 520i Touring, it was far from a well-kept wagon, mainly on the outside. It sat bruised, faded and begging for attention. Since that day, I’ve been chipping away at its restoration one step at a time.
This latest chapter took me to my friend Rodrigo’s 3RSil garage, where over a symphony of squeegees, carefully aligned vinyl and the watchful eye of his trusty pug, we gave the Touring its next upgrade: a full set of dark window tints. The result? A subtle transformation that adds style and a hint of road-ready confidence to a car that’s coming back to life.
Rodrigo runs his business out of his own garage, and while the place isn’t a regular 9-to-5 showroom, it has that hands-on, personal touch that only true car guys can offer. You know you’re in the right place when you’re greeted not just by the man himself, but also by his assistant, a laid-back little pug who keeps a close eye on the work (or just naps near the toolboxes).
Before starting, I took a quick shot of the rear side windows in their original state – no tint, just plain factory glass. It’s one of those details you don’t realize makes such a difference until you change it. After a while, I could finally begin to see the differences.
The rear window was next, and it immediately gave the Touring a more solid look. Well, it still needs A LOT to be back to its former glory, but we have to start somewhere. It’s always amazing how such a simple change can add so much presence.
Once the job was done, I drove it home and parked right next to my other E39, a 530d sedan, for a little family reunion. Seeing both cars side by side made me realize just how much more complete the Touring already looks with the darker windows.
It may not have been the much needed new paint and body work or a major mod day, but sometimes it’s these small upgrades that give a car a whole new personality. Shoutout to Rodrigo and 3RSil for the great job and, of course, to his partner for the moral support!
One more step in bringing the Touring back to life. Many more to hopefully come!
