Tinting windshield (clear) - worth it?

[03GolfTDI]

So found a tint place (Glass Tiger Tinting - Lilburn, GA) that has amazing reviews so decided to get a quote as I want to get my '12 tinted before summer hits again.

Top of the line Llumar CTX film is $300 for all the side windows and hatch - this is OTD price as they roll tax into that price.

For giggles I asked about pricing to "tint" the front windshield and pano roof with Llumar Air80 which is basically a clear tint that offers glare reduction, heat rejection and 99% UV reduction. Comparatively speaking its kinda $$$ at $150 just for the windshield and another $150 for the pano roof which kinda surprised me since it seems they are easier surfaces to tint vs all the various curves and cuts needed for the side windows.

Anyone tint their windshield and/or pano roof and notice any perceivable benefits?

 

[bizzle]

I had Air80 all around my car including front windshield and pano roof.

I did it on my 2015 and the windshield cracked a couple weeks later. It could be a coincidence but the way it cracked and then kept cracking throughout the day (it traveled over a foot an hour to the point I was worried about driving it home and getting it into a shop that day) as the temperature changed (I live in the desert) made it so I didn't redo it on the replacement window. Also, when I replaced the window, the shop asked me if I wanted the same glass with a heat shield, which indicated to me the stock window already has a heat reflective layer inside of the glass.

After I had already done the pano glass, I read that the tint is on the inside and the pano has a tint. So the heat comes through the top, bounces off the tint, and then reflects back up into the pano increasing the chances of it cracking from overheating. After that, I was paranoid about that but left it alone. The car was totaled last month so I never used it a second heat season. It's hard to tell if the temps were drastically improved because I had a black interior.

My advice is to skip the $300 based on the experiences I had not because of price. That was about what I paid. Even if the front windshield doesn't continuously crack like mine did, you'll have to pay it every time you replace the front windshield and we get chips at least once per year so far based on our environment.

 

[durbo]

I always tint the windshield.
I consider it a necessity here in Las Vegas.
Pretty sure it’s 70%, but you’d never be able to tell.
Makes a huge difference for summer travel.

 

[bizzle]

I also did it on my '98 bug. I was never asked that question about the heat layer when replacing that window, so your (and my) early model windows may have different construction than the MK6 and Mk7 windows that seem to have it integrated. It did make a noticeable difference in the bug, but that was a fishbowl.

I speculated that the heat was caught between the tint and the window on the front windshield and that accounted for the way the front cracked the way it did. We probably caught a rock on the way to San Diego for a dental appointment and by the time we came out of the appointment an hour later there was a crack that had developed. Temps were probably around 75. On our way home it had fully cracked from the passenger side all the way across to the driver side and by the time we were back home the temps were 110 and the crack had spread about two feet vertically. So that was a good six feet of cracking in less than 3 hours. On the flip side, the tint was probably the only reason the window kept intact on the drive home. Looked like it could have been knocked out by hand when we dropped it off at the window shop.

 

[JSWTDI09]

I always put Air80 on my windshield. I live in the desert and heat rejection is very important. As for the pano roof, I ended up getting a 5% metallic tint because (again) I live in a desert. Desert and pano roof together equals oven.


BTW: If you have never had Air80 before, it can sometimes do strange things to color, especially if you are wearing cheap sunglasses.


Have Fun!


Don

 

[JELLOWSUBMARINE]

After I had already done the pano glass, I read that the tint is on the inside and the pano has a tint. So the heat comes through the top, bounces off the tint, and then reflects back up into the pano increasing the chances of it cracking from overheating. After that, I was paranoid about that but left it alone. The car was totaled last month so I never used it a second heat season. It's hard to tell if the temps were drastically improved because I had a black interior.
.

I live in the HOT central valley and had 3m ceramic all around @ 35% front sides & 20% rear AND pano. HUGE heat reduction and the pano is quite enjoyable in summer. IMO the few "tinted pano" explosions seem to be body flex type stress caused from the threads Ive seen. If it was due to heat retention, maybe the ceramic reflects heat vrs tinted retaining it? So far no issue for me.

 

[Cuzoe]

We have Air80 on the windshields all 4 of our cars here in Los Angeles and would do it again without question. Even added it to the expanse of tinted roof glass on the wife's Tesla and it made a difference there too. The "road trip" car has 50% on the windshield, it's nice [emoji16]

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[JELLOWSUBMARINE]

We have Air80 on the windshields all 4 of our cars here in Los Angeles and would do it again without question. Even added it to the expanse of tinted roof glass on the wife's Tesla and it made a difference there too. The "road trip" car has 50% on the windshield, it's nice [emoji16]

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

After DIY tinting with crap material and poor visibility, then pro tinting with quality tints I no longer am scared about very dark tint visibility So 50% windshield doesn't sound bad. What does "worry me is fogging/scratching". Are these a concern

 

[bizzle]

I live in the HOT central valley

your heat records are our summer averages

I think Air80 has more rejection than 50% ceramic. I didn't notice any issues with fogging and we only got one scratch on a side window while putting one of the kid's seats in. Didn't notice it on the front windshield, just a slight orange peel type of shimmer on the bug's window that I figured was due to how curved the window was and difficult to install. I wouldn't risk a ceramic tint on the windshield due to it not being as invisible as Air80 and the legality of full tints, though. Air80 looked just a hint of blue on our black wagon and not much darker on the white bug. I might have pictures lying around.

Even added it to the expanse of tinted roof glass on the wife's Tesla and it made a difference there too.

I'm surprised it made a difference on the Tesla because I thought they were already heat rejecting, too. I might have to reconsider on the Touareg from what you guys are saying.

I believe my installer told me we could have ordered in Air90 so might want to look into that if you want even greater heat rejection and are willing to risk it (referring to the ticket, not shattering glass).

 

[03GolfTDI]

Thank you all for input so far - this is great input. While we don't see desert like heat in Atlanta it can get pretty scorching (high 90's are more common than not from Jun-Aug).

Might spring for the windshield Air80 but skip the roof as I have a functional shade.

 

[garreth5]

My windshield has a clear tint also. For me. the biggest difference is the glare reduction.

 

[MP517PRCT]

PA has windshield stickers for inspection. Is clear windshield tinting out of the question for me?

Also, in PA any % of tint on the windshield is illegal (including a strip at the top). So I was considering clear, but figured it peal/scratch everytime a mechanic removes the old inspection sticker (they typically scrape the old stickers off with a razor blade).

 

[JSWTDI09]

PA has windshield stickers for inspection. Is clear windshield tinting out of the question for me?

Also, in PA any % of tint on the windshield is illegal (including a strip at the top). So I was considering clear, but figured it peal/scratch everytime a mechanic removes the old inspection sticker (they typically scrape the old stickers off with a razor blade).

PA has some of the strictest tint laws in the country. https://instamotor.com/blog/window-tinting-laws-50-states
Any tint on the windshield is technically illegal and that razor blade thing also sounds like a problem. I would ask a good tint specialist in our area how (and if) they deal with this issue.


Have Fun!


Don

 

[Fogcat]

NY is in that category as well...I bought a car from Arizona and quickly got a ticket. I used a steamer, razor blade to clean up any residue and Windex. It took about 2 hours to make like new (all 4 passanger windows and windshield). 2 hours or $200 fine....cost me $25 to do it.

 

[ToBiN]

Someone at my work with a Black/Black SQ5 puts the 80% or maybe its 70% (almost clear) on their windshield. Says it reduces the interior temps by a noticeable difference while we are at work. Looking at it, I can't really even see it and would be fairly impressed if and inspection place noticed until they use the razor blade to remove the last inspection sticker.

 

[VWDAVID]

CTX film in the south last 3-5 years if you are lucky I had it on my last car. llumar has some major glue failure issues. I would not recommend that brand at all. Global or xpel has higher heat rejection and last far longer. I put 50% on all my windshields but even a 70% makes a big difference. Ace window tinting in Bremen ga has some great products