Is it worth it to get ceramic tint? I read that it has better cooling qualities and does not interfere with any electronics such as radar detectors, am/fm radio, sat radio. Those with metallic tint film, do you notice any degradation in the performance of your electronics.

Also does anyone know what tint companies that offer a nation wide warranty? I know Llumar does.

The bottom line what tint film would you recommend? It seems like Huper Optik, Llumar, and Madico are the popular choices here.

 

I'd recommend Huper Optik. The quality is top notch and absolutely no drop outs on my SAT radio (antenna is on the rear shelf), excellent AM/FM reception, as well as no degradation with the rear detection of my Passport 8500.

A bit on the pricey side, but well worth the money IMO.

 

Huper is top notch, but a pita to install. Make sure you find a shop that will baby the install - it takes about 2-3 times as long to put in. It's thicker than standard films which takes longer to remove the soap/water mix and dry the adhesive.

So far every installer I talked with poo poo's it because of how much of a pain it is to work with - and it's about 3x the cost at raw material stage. If you want RF transparancy (that's what I'm shopping now) find the highest quality, non fading dye-based film and a dealer willing to back it up. That's about the best you can do in most cases.

Good luck - post back on what you do.
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Totally recommend Huper. Others have ceramic?

 

What is a reasonable price to have a quality tint job on a coupe?

 

I thought about ceramic, but i asked around and the general consensus was that the metallic films don't interfere with our radio or navigation.

I got solargard high performance, which is partly metallic, and I have zero problems with my navigation or radio.

 

Actually, it's the other way around...

 

I'm still unaware of what company besides Huper offers ceramic based tint. In any case, it's only worth it if you really need teh heat protection. I imagine if you're up in Minnesota, it might not be worth it. If you're down in Texas, it will be. It'll cost about $400 for Huper for 5 windows.

 

Whats this cerramic bull$hit. Once the heat is in your car its in your car. There might be some absorption but inturn its just radiated back into your car.

The only way that would work is if it was outside your car!

 

Ummm, actually that's incorrect. It's like saying if you had a mirror glued to the window from the inside, facing outside, you wouldn't be able to see your reflection (while staring at the window from the outside) BECAUSE the mirror is inside... Ceramic tint rejects heat better - it's simple science.

 

Reflection is a different principle! Reflection reflects heat & light back through the glass. Ceramic tint doesn't reflect heat better, it absorbs it better (holds higher loads). Making surfaces seem cooler (on the other side), but they are still heating the air inside, which heats the surfaces anyway.

Mirrors can be on the inside or glass, ceramics can't. Look it up sometime! Fritted glass.

If its "simple science" why are you wrong?

 

No. I've heard people say metallic films interfere with radio and navigation. I then asked around the boards and got a few responses from people who have both metallic tint and navigation. None of these people said their navigation was affected in any way. Therefore, those people who choose to do ceramic over metallic due solely to their concerns of navigation and radio interference are just wasting money.

edit: I also recently just purchased Solar Guard HP film, which is partially metallic, and have had no problems with my radio or navigation.

 

My understanding of ceramics is that they do not transmit heat well (that's a good thing when used as an insulator). My guess is that the ceramics in the tint are not being used to reflect it like the metalics do, but to block it like insulation.

 

Yeah that's right, but they hold heat, and give it back off. They are good at keeping heat inside your car.(winter) But ceramics were designed to stay on the outside of glass because once inside they act like radators.

 

Why don't you ask Huper cuz their tint works a hell of a lot better at keeping the interior cooler than regular tint. However they do it, it works. I have a black interior and as long as I put the windshield sunshade up, after a whole day in 90+ degree heat, I can jump in in shorts and it'll just be mildly warm to the touch. My old Civic had regular limo tint, and the cloth seats would be hotter than my car now.