Metallic Window Tint Issues?

[postalav8]

Did a search and read through the tint threads. I understand that ceramic tint is recommened. Problem is that no one in Yuma, AZ has ceramic tint. I would have to drive to Phoenix or San Diego.

Has anyone had issues with metallic tint on a 4.6 Tech? If so what are they? AM reception only? I would like to stay local and not make a day trip just to get tint. If I need to I will. Any good shop suggestions for Phoenix or San Diego?

Thanks...Postal

 

[Disaster]

The metal acts as a big shield/reflector. It can mess with radio reception. It can also hurt any type of reception inside the vehicle, cell phone, cell internet, radar detector. It may or may not be bad enough for you to notice but reception is always degraded.

 

[ctrcbob]

I have the llumar brand metalic film on the side windows and the non metalic on the rear window. I don't see any visual difference between the two. In addition, when parked in the sun, the interior still gets HOT. It does save the rear window ledge and seats from cracking, plus I have a "DashMat" on the dash to keep that from cracking.

 

[Disaster]

I have the llumar brand metalic film on the side windows and the non metalic on the rear window. I don't see any visual difference between the two. In addition, when parked in the sun, the interior still gets HOT. It does save the rear window ledge and seats from cracking, plus I have a "DashMat" on the dash to keep that from cracking.

Visually, there shouldn't be a difference when new, but some tinted films can fade and change color. Metals and ceramics won't do that.

 

[michaeldallen]

I asked GOOGLE SEARCH that same question and the majority of the comments were a firm YES that window tint will reduce radio reception. Ceramic claims it won't. Every car including the Genesis I've tinted had some reception reduction. When I tinted the Genny, I also noticed my garage door opener didn't work as well either. Thanks to help from this forum, I now use the rear view mirror buttons which I find to be quite powerful. My cell phone seems unaffected. I was under the impression that the Blue Tooth ran off of the overhead antenna and not the radio antenna. Anybody have info on that???

 

[Mark_888]

I asked GOOGLE SEARCH that same question and the majority of the comments were a firm YES that window tint will reduce radio reception. Ceramic claims it won't. Every car including the Genesis I've tinted had some reception reduction. When I tinted the Genny, I also noticed my garage door opener didn't work as well either. Thanks to help from this forum, I now use the rear view mirror buttons which I find to be quite powerful. My cell phone seems unaffected. I was under the impression that the Blue Tooth ran off of the overhead antenna and not the radio antenna. Anybody have info on that???

I think you mean that metallic film will reduce reception. The cheaper films that are dyed or with charcoal only (and no metal), as well as high-end ceramics do not have metal, and will not reduce reception.

Metallic and ceramic films do the best job of reflecting heat compared to dyed or charcoal (for a given VLT%). There are some hybrid films that contain some metal in addition to dyes.

 

[postalav8]

I asked GOOGLE SEARCH that same question and the majority of the comments were a firm YES that window tint will reduce radio reception. Ceramic claims it won't. Every car including the Genesis I've tinted had some reception reduction. When I tinted the Genny, I also noticed my garage door opener didn't work as well either. Thanks to help from this forum, I now use the rear view mirror buttons which I find to be quite powerful. My cell phone seems unaffected. I was under the impression that the Blue Tooth ran off of the overhead antenna and not the radio antenna. Anybody have info on that???

Did you tint the Genny with metallic or ceramic?

 

[michaeldallen]

They used 'LLUMAR' Premium Metal combination. I couldn't find anyone who would use ceramic in my area. Those that did are on the other side of the county and they flat out say they hate installing it, and will only schedual 2 cars per day to use it. So I went with the local guy that I've used on 4 cars before the Genesis. I'm trying to read his scribbling on my receipt to get the pecentages of protection, but I can't read it..... but on the back window there was only one shade darker available, for the rear seats I went even one shade lighter, front seats one more shade lighter. He calls it the "Executive Combination".... the most common mix his customers choose.

 

[Mark_888]

They used 'LLUMAR' Premium Metal combination. I couldn't find anyone who would use ceramic in my area. Those that did are on the other side of the county and they flat out say they hate installing it, and will only schedual 2 cars per day to use it. So I went with the local guy that I've used on 4 cars before the Genesis. I'm trying to read his scribbling on my receipt to get the pecentages of protection, but I can't read it..... but on the back window there was only one shade darker available, for the rear seats I went even one shade lighter, front seats one more shade lighter. He calls it the "Executive Combination".... the most common mix his customers choose.

California has some rather extreme limits on VLT for front side windows (70%) so the "Executive Combination" look is more popular in CA than in most other states were 35% is usually allowed on all windows (some states have 50% VLT limits, but only a few besides CA have a 70% VLT limit).

The reason for the extreme VLT limits in CA (NY and a few others) is that the police want to be able to clearly see the driver when they approach a vehicle, coupled with the fact that most of the population lives in areas where temps are not that extremely hot (even though some parts of CA can get very hot).

 

[carl66]

Hi postal, I believe any type of window tints won't affect RF, GPS, detectors or any other signals. I always consult the expert at www.TintBuyer.com for my window tinting needs. Since they provide informations such as quotations and suggest the best professional window tint installer near my area, I get to compare and select all in one process, without the hassle of going too far. I hope this helps

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[Mark_888]

Hi postal, I believe any type of window tints won't affect RF, GPS, detectors or any other signals.

Primarily because these operate out of the front windshield, which does not typically have a tint film applied (illegal in most states). Devices that may need to operate out of side or rear windows could be affected by metallic tint films.

I always consult the expert at www.TintBuyer.com for my window tinting needs. Since they provide informations such as quotations and suggest the best professional window tint installer near my area, I get to compare and select all in one process, without the hassle of going too far. I hope this helps.

How do you know they suggest the best ones? TintBuyer.com gets a referral fee from the tint shops for steering customers to a particular tinting shop. So not all tint shops (and therefore not all tint film products) are going to be included in the price quotes. Sounds like you are affiliate with TintBuyer.com.

One thing I always emphasize is that it is best to determine which kind of tint film (dyed, charcoal, metallic, ceramic, etc) is desired before choosing a tint shop. In some cases, you may also want to decide on certain tint film manufacturers also. Then find the tint shops that will install that particular type or brand of film (information which is sometimes available on the tint film manufacturer web site).

 

[Disaster]

Hi postal, I believe any type of window tints won't affect RF, GPS, detectors or any other signals. I always consult the expert at www.TintBuyer.com for my window tinting needs. Since they provide informations such as quotations and suggest the best professional window tint installer near my area, I get to compare and select all in one process, without the hassle of going too far. I hope this helps

That would be true if all reception came through the front window, but it doesn't. For example, radar detectors have to detect the police from behind and while some rely on reflected signal from cars in front of you, that isn't a reliable source so the better detectors have an internal reflector or a secondary rear facing receiver to pick up signals from behind.

Radio signals come in from all windows and the metallic shields can block or cause reflections that mess with the receivers processing. The only signal that isn't really effected is the satellite because it is on the roof of the car.

 

[postalav8]

Thanks for the replies. Still on the fence on which way to go. Metallic-local. Ceramic 2-3 hour drive each way.

I have johnson metallic on my other car and the radio and cell phone works fine. I just need to figure out where the antennas are in the other car.

Help sway my decision. Cancelled XM. Rarely listen to AM. FM and CD's about 50/50. Use the bluetooth. NAV my wife uses. Me oldschool map and compass.

 

[BocaDave]

I've had metalic on my Geneis's windows for several months, and have not noticed any effect on FM reception.

Strong signals are still strong.

re: Weak signals.. I had a few "weak" stations before the tinting, and they're still weak, but not any worse than they were before.

Now, I live in south florida where it is HOT, window tinting is DARK, and the terrain is FLAT as a pancake, so I can't speak about other, more mountainous enviroments.

I can't imagine going two hours of the way to get Ceramic tinting... but that's your call.

Good luck!