Is tinted windshield necessary? General experience with tint?

[Moo 2]

I am glad I read all those comments, I didn't know I had a tinted windshield, outside Thailand I used to love

driving at night but here I have problem seeing the road and the signes. I will do something about it. 

[Greg O]

Yes to all the replies !

[Pilotman]

On 4/26/2020 at 11:47 AM, VocalNeal said:

Back in the day my Cooper S had what was at the time called Ambulance glass. 

 

Very useful if you and the girlfriend wanted a quickie in a rural field gateway without anyone being able to see inside the car. Even with their nose up against the glass.

no good for the dogging enthusiasts among us then, and there will be some? ????

[LukKrueng]

On 4/26/2020 at 11:47 AM, VocalNeal said:

Back in the day my Cooper S had what was at the time called Ambulance glass. 

 

Very useful if you and the girlfriend wanted a quickie in a rural field gateway without anyone being able to see inside the car. Even with their nose up against the glass.

My 80% all around / 60% windshield does the same job, although much more comfortable in my pickup truck. So comfy you can go for slowie rather than quickie.....

[Darkside Gray]

I have tinted windows in the car, the wife installed them told her not to get to dark, during the day great! a

At night cannot see s==t, so much for don't get to dark!

[Moonlover]

2 hours ago, Greg O said:

All cars have a light factory tint that's designed to reduce glare. In my opinion the Thai roads are extremely hazardous and more so at night. Thai drivers simply aren't looking and they can't see out with their typical dark tint. I take it all off of every car I've had here. The shop that applies tint can take it off much easier than you can. It's a very tedious job to do yourself ( I've done it ) ...Always keep in mind as a farang if you get in an accident it will be your fault. Also the front and rear cameras don't see very well through the tint especially at night .

Tinting one of the main reasons why I will not ride my motorcycle at night unless it is absolutely necessary.

[DUNROAMIN]

Get rid of it from the front windscreen and only put a sun strip across the top, about 150-200 mm at 80%. I found travelling at night too dangerous, too much of your distance view is eliminated.

Too many close calls nearly hitting motor bikes with no lights changed my mind to get rid of the tint. 

[Jaxxper]

We had my wife’s car tinted and the tint that was on the screen was way too dark (60%) I think. After 3 months asked them to remove and replace just the screen tint with 40%. Much better now, particularly at night. Charge for that with a quality film was Thb 1,800. (Toyota Vios). Taking it off yourself might be an option but if fitted correctly they remove the side trims and replace them when the job’s done. I think you might also need a solvent based cleaner to get any residue off too.

I’m sure that for a couple of hundred a tint fitter will remove it properly. Like a lot of high tech stuff here it’s the materials that are high priced.

[ChipButty]

On 4/26/2020 at 12:17 PM, transam said:

Reclining passenger seat in a Mini, blimey, you were posh...............????

The first Cooper S I bought was an ex police one no such luxury's but it could shift shame they took the blue light off the roof 

[AndyAndyAndy]

11 minutes ago, Jaxxper said:

We had my wife’s car tinted and the tint that was on the screen was way too dark (60%) I think. After 3 months asked them to remove and replace just the screen tint with 40%. Much better now, particularly at night. Charge for that with a quality film was Thb 1,800. (Toyota Vios). Taking it off yourself might be an option but if fitted correctly they remove the side trims and replace them when the job’s done. I think you might also need a solvent based cleaner to get any residue off too.

I’m sure that for a couple of hundred a tint fitter will remove it properly. Like a lot of high tech stuff here it’s the materials that are high priced.

Yeah, I did removed side panels. And then cleaned glass by acetone. It was easy job. 

[digger70]

Is tinted windshield necessary? General experience with tint?  

I don't know about Thailand But in Australia tinting the Windscreen and Back window and dark tinting  is Illegal. In Thailand I have had some Dark Film taken of my car windows , Way to dark Dangerous at Night.

[Peterphuket]

It happens to me long time ago, I got problems with my GPS, the cardealer give me advice to remove the tinted screen at the windshield.

Sinds then I don't have it in the front and I satisfied about it now for many years.

[4MyEgo]

On 4/26/2020 at 2:12 PM, AndyAndyAndy said:

In case I don't like it, how much would it cost to get the windshield tinted again and what type (percentage etc) of the tint would be ideal?

It all depends on the tint you put on.

 

When I first purchased my new car from the dealership 4.5 years ago, tinting was included, but it was a standard light blue type of tint and the sale manager suggested I put 40% on the front and 60% on the side and rear, he said he had a friend who could install Bosch for 3,000 baht, ok, done, however 6 months later later I found out the tint didn't have any uv protection as my right side of my face would feel as if it was burning when driving, e.g. sun on my right, and my left arm when sitting on the console when not gear changing, felt like the skin was cooking, as it was uncomfortable hot, sun at front of course, went back to see the sales manager, no longer worked there, ok, not much I could do as it was not the dealerships problem.

 

So I pulled into a place locally and told the guy my issue, he sat in the car and said, look, it is more than likely that the tint had no UV protection and was a cheap tint, as a good tint with UV protection wouldn't give me that issue, so he recommended a bronze mirror tint, 40% for the front and 60% for the sides and rear with the tint having UV protection, said people wouldn't be able to see you clearly from the sides and rear, but from the front would be able to if close enough and would be ok for night driving, but would take time to get used to. 

 

He quoted me 8,000 baht, I said too expensive, he said it is was the only tint he used and was from the USA, and suggested I sit in his car in the sun which had the tint on to see what I would be paying for, his car had the same as he recommended % wise and brand, so I sat in his car, it was hot outside and when I got in his car, it was cool, even though it wasn't covered, the sun was on my right and I couldn't feel the sun burning me and it was a really cool bronze look from the inside, that's the only way I can describe it, I was sold, best investment I have made on my car since I purchased it 4.5 years ago, that said, because we live in the bush, driving at night with street lights around your fine, but can make it a little challenging, when there are no street lights around, however when you have the high beams on, it's ok, you get used to it easily.

 

The above said, about a month after installing the tint, I went to a dermatologist to check out a small mole on my right cheek (face), just to clarify, he said he would cut it out and send it in to the lab to see if all was good, ended up being a basil casinova, and had to go under the knife here with a plastic surgeon, dermatologist said, it would have happened from years of driving my car for work as I was on the road all the time during my shift. 

 

Recommend the above tint and % unless you want to slip, slap, slop 50 plus on every day when your in the car.

 

 

[gamesgplayemail]

They also put it on right and left mirror it seems ? is it really useful there ?

 

[Greg O]

Shagging , get a room ! 

[sead]

Usually its ok on the rear and backseats windows. You can use light tinted on front seats and front window its enough to use same. I have been in tinted cars in Thailand as have many here and for me it was the most scary thing to drive at night with. So now i understand that when i drive my bike and need to make a turn it isnt enough to blink and change lanes. You simply have to understand that the driver cant see you.

[brianthainess]

It's about 2,000 baht for new tint on the windscreen. I believe it is necessary to have a tint but obviously not too dark the heat through the windscreen even with A/C can make it hot on your face and having your A/C directed in your face is not my idea of comfort.  darker on the sides is ok for me with electric windows, if my view at junctions is to dark at night then i just lower the windows

Edited May 4, 2020 by brianthainess

[Jaggg88]

The laminated glass used in car windshields blocks 98% of UV (abc) light. However the toughened glass in the side windows only block 60% of UVB  and none of UVA (cancer causing) so extra tint is advisable in Thailand for health reasons. 

[Kinnock]

I originally had 40% on the windscreen. 60% on the sidrs and rear - at night I didn't feel completely confident about spotting unlit bikes and mobile som-tam kitchens with DIY lights.  After a stone cracked the windscreen, I switched to 20%.  Better at night now - I don't think it's any worse than zero tint.

 

But in the day the heat through the screen is very noticeable now, and sunglasses are a must.

 

A variable tint screen would be ideal!  ????

[Lancashirelad]

Quote

A variable tint screen would be ideal!

Now that would be a good idea. Like reactions spectacles. It is out there I believe.

 

 

[DavisH]

11 hours ago, Lancashirelad said:

Now that would be a good idea. Like reactions spectacles. It is out there I believe.

 

 

Photochromic tint is available in Thailand. I've seen it advertised in Facebook, but don't recall the site. 

edit: the company is Midas And Corona Window Film Thailand

Edited May 5, 2020 by DavisH

[pineapple01]

Triplex made such Windscreens many years ago called Sundym. Worked just the same as Reactalite Rapide Sunglasses. Most Jaguars had it fitted back in the day..

[Lancashirelad]

4 hours ago, pineapple01 said:

Triplex made such Windscreens many years ago called Sundym. Worked just the same as Reactalite Rapide Sunglasses. Most Jaguars had it fitted back in the day..

 

Today's Sundym Select yes, but I was not aware that technology was around in the 70's and I've owned cars fitted with Sundym glass, a Dolomite Sprint for one.

https://www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk/automotive/original-equipment/pilkington-sundym-select

[pineapple01]

37 minutes ago, Lancashirelad said:

 

Today's Sundym Select yes, but I was not aware that technology was around in the 70's and I've owned cars fitted with Sundym glass, a Dolomite Sprint for one.

https://www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk/automotive/original-equipment/pilkington-sundym-select

The U.S. Sundym patents can be Googled, the original goes back to late fifties im sure.Royal Dolton. Pilkingtons. and Triplex were involved.