Gomez

Okay, summer in nearly on us and I have to get the car tinted soon. I have noticed guys in the States posting about having the rear window done in one piece, seems like a good idea to me. A better look, and a lesser likelihood of damage to the radio antenna during the install.

All the cars I've owned in the past have had the rear window done in multiple pieces, even the dead flat ones. I have found a guy locally who has a large franchise, has been tinting for seventeen years, and says he can do it no problem. They have templates for each car, so he can just cut the film on the bench and apply in one go. They use a different (non-metallised) film on the rear glass, so as not to interfere with the radio reception. I've been assured the colour match will be fine.

I plan on booking the car in for next week, he says they'll need about four hours.
I'll keep you posted on how it goes...just one question, how dark a tint have you guys got?

Gomez.

takahashi

? I thought they are all in one piece???

I have a normal tint ?10% ?15% ... never like it dark. I am more into heat prevention (65%) and UV protection (99%). I am with the good Old Tint a car 's top of the range. They have a lighter tint.... than other will like :D

Gomez

Tint-a-Car is the mob I'm looking at, the newest F1 incarnation tint is the stuff I'm interested in. It's a 35% film and they've quoted me $250 to get it done. 35% is max legal, I believe. Haven't booked in yet.

Gomez.

takahashi

the newest F1 incarnation tint ... hehe

Yeah go for it... where are you going to get it done? Box Hill?

Gomez

No, Camberwell....

RXE16T

35% is the darkest legal tint.... not very dark, but enough to hide your mug!

labrat

Hmmm... is tinting a good idea anyhow? I worry about driving at night, also at twilight which is a pretty dangerous time. At these times, I want as much light and contrast as possible. I note that the stock tint on the back and sides is already quite noticeable. Cutting down the UV with stick-on tinting is a bit of a furphy, since the polymer layer in the winscreen will already absorb most of the UV.

My recommendation is to purchase a good pair of polarising sunglasses, then you have the benefits of tinting when you get out of the car. My eye specialist suggests that everyone should wear polarising sunglasses out of doors all the time whenever it's sunny - insurance against cataracts and cancers of the eye later in life. I have finally persuaded my wife to buy polarising sunnies for driving (although the fashion sunnies come out when socialising). She is amazed at the reduction in glare and the improvement in contrast.

timisw

Tinting is never a bad thing! The reduction in temperature during the summer time almost justifies it in itself. I have always driven in vehicles that are tinted around 20% in the back and 35% in the front. The laws are dependent on your location. Some dont allow tint at all... others do. Florida is one of the more liberal locations and that is why my car plates still reside from their. PA is also very good because their law states that you just have to be able to see inside the vehicle. A good site for a complete listing is http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html. As far as what Labrat is saying, I have my 8 with 20% on all windows. I only have problems backing up at night in dark places. I just open my door and roll down my window and since I dont usually drive backing up, the problem is solved. I have never had a situation where I couldnt see something because of the tinting.

takahashi

Polarising sunnies is a must when outdoor... I don't know about eye cancer (since it is really rare anyway) but it certainly reduce chance of cataract!

Tinting is more your UV and heat protection though. Never found it is reducing light at night - this is just old school thinking. Especially if you are getting glare (early sign of cataract ), you should have tint to get least get about 10% off the intensity of the light and hence reduce glare.

Having said that I never like tint over legal limit (35% plus) - then it is just too much.

Gomez

Yeah, I had found that site yesterday....I was amazed that window tinters have their own forum . Under makes and models, they report that the RX-8 is really easy to tint, including the rear window.

Labrat, reduction in transferred heat is the main reason I'm getting the windows done....I'll live with the reduced visibility to the rear.

Gomez.

timisw

I would definitely believe it! One guy showed up and had the eight done in about 35 minutes. The entire time I watched him I kept thinking that that was an easy way to make $75. Cant imagine the tint being that expensive when you buy it by the roll!

And again... I have the car at 20% (which is a bit dark looking but since my state allowed it I went for it)... and I have never once had visibility problems. If I was to have my way in state law... I would allow 20% on all windows except front seat and then those would have to be around 30%.

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving! I am stuffed!

Wildcard

I got the darkest tint the shop had (don't know the percentage). Car looks great. Never had a problem with night time visibility and from all accounts it makes a big difference in summer.

timbo

Oh dear, what do we give thanks for in Australia again? Is it because soon we will all become just seven more states in the good ol' US of A, home of the internet and all its users

Anyway, before I get accused of totally hijacking the thread, I am not that convinced about the heat reduction effects; Gomez, perhaps you could try a "before and after" test. Also, have seen some tints done by so-called masters in the trade -- still scratched or peeling after not too many years, and, IMHO, nothing looks worse on a car

Gomez

I have done before and after tests with the tint on my Falcon....wound down the drivers window with the sun streaming in in the late afternoon, then wound it up again. The difference is quite noticeable.

The warranty is for 300,000km's.....but you're right, you have to take care not to scratch it.

Gomez.

timbo

Well, I have followed suit -- having mine done on Wednesday at a place called "Any Window" here in Canberra. Same price, same type of film (35%) with non-metallic one piece on the rear. . And yes, they want it for 4 hours, too

EZZY

the tint film on rear windscreen is one piece. i have slightly darker than 35% all round with lifetime warranty.... and they did it in just under 20mins....... dont ask me how :o

tpryor

If you don't mind an American's opinion, I had this very concern when I had mine tinted (14 months ago now), but the installer (who has done every one of my cars for the last 20 years) pointed out that the tint is on the inside and the antenna is in the window (outside the tint) and it should not interfere with the radio.

He was absolutely right! The ONLY time I get radio interference is one set of (very) high electrical transmission lines in one part of town - he attributes it to the "bounce" off the film. Even then, it's only momentary.

I have been very happy with the metallic film all the way around. Just my opinion.

Tim

Gomez

Thanks for your input Tim.

So, even in outer metro areas , your signal strength on the AM band is fine ? Did you have the chance to compare AM reception before and after tinting? FM should cope better with metallised tint due to the method of transmission, that's why I ask about the AM reception.....

Gomez.

tpryor

I live in the 4th largest city in the USA (Houston), and I listen almost exclusively to AM as that's where all of the talk radio is located. I have noticed NO change in reception from "before" to "after" the tinting - even though it was only untinted for about two weeks.

Coming back from Austin a couple of months ago, I was able to listen to the same AM station almost 3/4 of the way home, and the last 1/4 was picking up the Houston station clearly. This is a one way trip of approx 300km (180 miles). See chart below.

No complaints, and I have noticed NO effect on the FM band at all.

I hope this is helpful.

Gomez

Thanks mate.....I'm convinced. I'm gonna go the full metallised jacket! I hope to have it done on Monday.

Gomez.

takahashi

I love ABC radio to listen to cricket and Drive ... and I found the tinted window is fine for AM radios

Go for it --- have you had it done yet?

Gomez

No Taka, getting it done tomorrow. Did you get metallic on the rear screen? I believe most tinters refrain from fitting metallic to the rear screen if it has the radio antenna on it. The alternative is a dyed film tint, not a metallic. They just pick a dyed tint that's approximately the same colour.

I have had a PM exchange with tpryor, and he assures me that full metal tint is okay on his car. The only variable in the mix is the power output of the AM transmitters in the States. I'm not all that concerned about AM transmitter power output here and whether it's somewhat lower.....I'm 95% of the time in the city, the reception should be fine.

Gomez.

Gomez

timbo (in Canberra, not Houston!), how did your tinting go?

timbo

Pretty well -- the quality is ok, but the service was, er, lousy.

I discussed the metallic/non-metallic rear with the owner, who basically persuaded me to go non-metallic, on the basis he's had bad experiences with other cars (although not the 8), and it's a real hassle to remove and replace. So that's what I did, and my AM radio reception is fine.

However, I went to this place because they had done 8's before, according to my dealer. I arranged to leave the car at 8am -- when I arrived, the place is locked down, and then finally a couple of guys who, not to put too fine a point on it, looked like they had done apprenticeships at one of HM's institutions Anyway, despite the fact the owner of the business did not trust them with keys, they suggested I could leave my car in their capable hands until the boss arrived -- 'she'll be right, no worries'. I politely declined -- must have been lingering thoughts of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

Anyway the boss finally arrived at 8:30 and was in a **** of a mood -- can only surmise the dog kicked him as he was leaving home :p -- didn't apologise to me (I'm only a fncking customer, apparently ) and then argued with me about having the car ready when I had arranged, ie, 12:30pm. At this stage I had one of those "cut and run" thoughts -- leave the guy to his bad day and not let it become mine -- but that was quickly replaced about the thoughts of rearranging everything... so I left it.

Came back at 12:30 to pick it up, checked out the tints, all looked good, the boss was in a slightly better mood as he explained the do's and don't's, paid and drove off -- to an increasingly annoying rattle from the passenger's side. Stopped, checked it out, half the pax door trim is still loose! Turn around, back to the fitter, point out the problem. He says "leave it with me" I say "No, fix it now" ending whatever paltry improvement he was having in his mood...

Anyway, after 20 mins, it' s fixed. I drive off ... and promise never to darken his doorstep again!

Am happy with the effect. Don't find it a problem at night -- the only time it's a hassle is when I drive into an underground carpark with my sunglasses on :o

Gomez

Ohh, hopefully I can avoid all that. Glad it worked out okay, though.

Gomez.