Heat rejecting window films - anyone have any experience?

[jawn101]

I think I might have asked this before, but I can't find where. It was either on .com, or buried in an A/C thread, or who knows. I still don't have a good answer so now that it's hot out, I figured I'd try again.

So here in the good ol' Golden State, we basically aren't allowed to tint the front windows of a car. Fine, whatever. I'd love to have really dark tint on the doors but what can you do. To that end, I have read a bit about 3M heat/UV/IR rejecting films that are clear and thus won't get me stopped for hooliganism. Does anyone have any experience with these? Do they work? Are they hard to apply? My A/C is putting out 36 degree air at the center vents right now, but I still feel overheated in my car because it's just fighting to the bitter end with the blazing sun.

[dmc6960]

That was probably me who was talking about that. The best stuff around is 3M Crystalline window film. The lightest shade is a 90% (meaning 90% of visible light passes though). It is very unlikely you'll be bothered by law enforcement with this tint. The catch? 3M only allows certified (3M certified) shops to install it. That makes it very pricey, on top of the fact that it's already a pricey tint. I have no idea what the legalities/tint shop availability is in Cali. You may need to take a road trip to a neighboring state if you cannot find any place to install it.

But it will be sooooo worth it.

[jawn101]

Oh, thanks Jim. So it isn't just snake oil then, there really is a benefit to the film? It can be hard to distinguish fact from marketing on things like this without firsthand experience.

My big problem is I don't trust shops to work on this car, especially the kind of places that do tint work. The difficulty of having to work overhead instead of on a door that opens outward also worries me that many places would just turn it away to begin with.

I'll do some more checking around....

[Rich]

To that end, I have read a bit about 3M heat/UV/IR rejecting films that are clear and thus won't get me stopped for hooliganism. Does anyone have any experience with these? Do they work?

A few notes to start. None of the window films reflect UV, but you don't care since UV is only 2% of the sun's energy. They all will absorb UV and block it, same as all windshields do since their PVB internal layer has UV block in it.

Now on to reflecting the IR, which is what you'd like to do. Some films do it and some don't. You'll need to shop around. Along with the 3M Crystalline there is V-Kool 70, which is also a relatively clear film that reflects IR. The nearest dealer to you is apparently in the Bay Area, in Fremont. Call them if you want to try to find somebody closer to you.

As for installing film in the door glass a good shop should have no problem. They might do it with the doors closed in which case it will be no more difficult than a rear window - setting aside the drop glass.

You are right to stay away from darker tints on two scores. First, it is illegal here and also easy-for-police-to-see-it on the door glass, as you noted. Second, the dark tints absorb the IR and then the IR-heated film/glass re-radiates that to you, just like tinted glass in SUVs. Looks nice, but not much real comfort benefit.

Finally, no matter how good a job the film does on the door glass you'll still get the heat load through the windshield. At least you will have done all you can do aside from buying one of DMCH's optional IR reflecting replacement windshields.

Side note on the Crystalline - check this video pertaining to its durability. In this case they tested darker-tint versions, not the versions you might choose for the doors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNJs_VmoQGE

The world of window tinting is full of all sorts of claims and misinformation, so have fun shopping.

[Grover]

I have the 3M Ceramic Tint on every piece of glass on the car (even the windshield). You can't tell it is installed and the amount of heat it blocks out is amazing. So much so that 2 summers ago, in 110 degree weather, I only needed the AC on fan speed 1. It really does work.

One of these days I am going to find another black interior car and put them both outside with a thermometer.

[jawn101]

A few notes to start. None of the window films reflect UV, but you don't care since UV is only 2% of the sun's energy. They all will absorb UV and block it, same as all windshields do since their PVB internal layer has UV block in it.

Now on to reflecting the IR, which is what you'd like to do. Some films do it and some don't. You'll need to shop around. Along with the 3M Crystalline there is V-Kool 70, which is also a relatively clear film that reflects IR. The nearest dealer to you is apparently in the Bay Area, in Fremont. Call them if you want to try to find somebody closer to you.

As for installing film in the door glass a good shop should have no problem. They might do it with the doors closed in which case it will be no more difficult than a rear window - setting aside the drop glass.

You are right to stay away from darker tints on two scores. First, it is illegal here and also easy-for-police-to-see-it on the door glass, as you noted. Second, the dark tints absorb the IR and then the IR-heated film/glass re-radiates that to you, just like tinted glass in SUVs. Looks nice, but not much real comfort benefit.

Finally, no matter how good a job the film does on the door glass you'll still get the heat load through the windshield. At least you will have done all you can do aside from buying one of DMCH's optional IR reflecting replacement windshields.

Side note on the Crystalline - check this video pertaining to its durability. In this case they tested darker-tint versions, not the versions you might choose for the doors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNJs_VmoQGE

The world of window tinting is full of all sorts of claims and misinformation, so have fun shopping.

Thanks for all the info, Rich. I think you and I might have traded emails about this at some point actually.

Can the windshield be done too?

[jawn101]

I have the 3M Ceramic Tint on every piece of glass on the car (even the windshield). You can't tell it is installed and the amount of heat it blocks out is amazing. So much so that 2 summers ago, in 110 degree weather, I only needed the AC on fan speed 1. It really does work.

One of these days I am going to find another black interior car and put them both outside with a thermometer.

Awesome. Same product as Rich mentioned above? That's what I need. :)

[Grover]

Awesome. Same product as Rich mentioned above? That's what I need. :)

No, it seems the one he mentioned is a step above what I have.

I have the Ceramic Series
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Window_Film/Solutions/Markets-Products/Automotive/Ceramic_Series/


As for the windshield, it is illegal (at least from what I understand in NJ), but the shop had no problem installing it, and you can't even tell.

[jawn101]

Hmm. I found a 3M dealer/installer right in Davis, which is just a few miles from home. I'm gonna have to give them a call and see what the deal is.