Car Window Film

[ricklev]

I know this topic has come up before, but perhaps someone has experience with 3M film.

I'm buying a car and the dealer is including 3M film. I have pretty bad night vision since having LASIK a few years ago. They suggested 60 in the front and 40 on the windshield is normal and no problem. I'm concerned about any limitation on seeing at night at all. However, I'm thinking about buying a black car and sure would like some sunscreen. Maybe black is a bad idea.

I also like the privacy of dark windows.

Thoughts and suggestions? Thanks!

[steveromagnino]

some of the films shield more UV and have a slight mirror finish to them without being excessively dark.

I am running I think 65 on the sides and 25 or 30 on the windscreen, and it's a little dark at night when parking but fine when driving in all directions. I also have had eye surgery so it depends what the issue of lasik is (do you get rings and odd reflections of light?) If you do then making the windscreen darker won't help you much. I still get rings before and after the film.

Get a decent grade of film (top of the line) and ask to look at other cars they are doing film on. All of the films are fine during the day. All are fine looking at headlights. The darker films are problematic in situations without lights eg parking or seeing pedestrians.

[Jitar]

I have have 40% all round on one car and 40% front 60% side on another. I reckon 60% on the side windows is a bit too dark. As Steve said the challenge is low light conditions like parking and also on poorly lit intersections.

Some other threads have comments about 80% being OK but at night pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles with out lights are a challenge to see whatever the tint. If you drive at night and your eyes are not perfect, maybe the mirror style film would be better for privacy than the dark tint.

[aussiebebe]

The 40% refers to how much visible light can pass through the film; it doesn't indicate how much energy if rejected. For example, even a cheap no-name brand of film will block 99% UV, (as will cheap sunglasses), but cheap film will just absorb heat like a sponge. Conversely, the top brands of film like V-Kool can reject far more heat while allowing more light through - that's what you pay for and over the life-span of a car it's a worthwhile investment.

[Jitar]

That is a good point, the film manufacturers use visible light transmission but the car sales staff tend to the opposite (100% - VLT).

Since a percentage can be interpreted differently and does not tell the whole story anyway it is probably better to choose and specify a brand and model of film

[richard_smith237]

I have always aired on the lighter side... clear night visibility is too important.

I think the only decent option is to go into the showroom and choose what you are happy with.

3M - Lamina - V-Cool all have a range of products which vary in the tone and reflectiveness....

Don't pay too much attention to the sales person as Thai's seem to choose a darker colour (we were recommended 95% on the sides *the point at which I completely ignored anything the sales girl had to say !).

3M's website is very helpful and you can see what the film looks like on your model (or similar) of car...

I also believe there is a law in Thailand which permits no more than 30% (light filtering). i.e. the film must transmit 70% of visible light. Although this is rarely if ever enforced, it could be the next 'crack down' !

[Ace of Pop]

Ban the stupid stuff. Sunglasses n Aircons all you need How many have died because of a Fashion Statement.

[richard_smith237]

Ban the stupid stuff. Sunglasses n Aircons all you need How many have died because of a Fashion Statement.

Quite the sweeping statement.... Sunglasses and Aircon is not all you need. The film protects the car from excessive heat.

There is a law in place which should protect road users from others who uses silly levels of film.

If the law was enforced the darker film would not be available for vehicles.

The issue again as you see it is not with the film itself, but with the legal application and its enforcement.

[Ace of Pop]

Does it really protect the Car. ?. or is it sales talk. Ive put a Thermo in so called top Quality, and a Non Coated Truck. Result, both thermoes exploded. That was years ago when i split hairs admittedly. Easier to chuck a cover over and save big bucks imo. Seems to me the Roof causes most heat gain. You dont need Laws, just half a Brain to know clear is safer. I get pissed off dropping the front widows every time i use the Kids Cars.Up to You though.

[eaustev]

I have the 3M film on both cars, 40 all round on a smaller car and 40/60 on a larger car (SUV). Initially we had 40/60 on both cars but on the smaller car with a dark interior it just seemed too dark, and as that is the car the wife drives we erred on the side of caution. She also felt that the 40/60 was a bit too dark when manouvering in car parks so we had it replaced with the 40 all round which she feels is fine.

Personally I don't find the 40/60 too dark for night driving, but if you have any issues with night visibility then probably best to go for 40 all round. I don't find that the temperature regulation is very different between the two, the 60% though does give noticably more privacy if that is a concern.

[transam]

Only the top of the front screen, finish just above line of site. There are those here who say no problem on screen, but they are think about their vision capabilities. Trust me.

[IMHO]

I've always had 40% on the front windscreen since I was in my early 20's, but in the past 3-4 years my eyes are now starting to age (will be hitting 40yo next year) and I do notice myself struggling to see clearly sometimes, so won't be doing anything that heavy on the front screen again....

[Ace of Pop]

I've always had 40% on the front windscreen since I was in my early 20's, but in the past 3-4 years my eyes are now starting to age (will be hitting 40yo next year) and I do notice myself struggling to see clearly sometimes, so won't be doing anything that heavy on the front screen again....

But along with the Ageing IMHO. surely you must have noticed the darker the tint, the bigger the wheels, the higher the suspension, the bigger the bean can exhaust , the bigger the Yob Behind the Wheel.

[kkerry]

Maybe for the front windscreen a strip of film across the top leaving the rest clear. My night vision is not great so I find the level of tint most Thais like to use too dark for driving at night safely. When you next go to the dealer see if you can sit in some other cars to compare what it is like. The level of tint in some cars here I think is insane, totally isolates the driver from what is going on around them. You even see some drivers who need to lower their side windows to turn on a rainy night,

[Ace of Pop]

I have the 3M film on both cars, 40 all round on a smaller car and 40/60 on a larger car (SUV). Initially we had 40/60 on both cars but on the smaller car with a dark interior it just seemed too dark, and as that is the car the wife drives we erred on the side of caution. She also felt that the 40/60 was a bit too dark when manouvering in car parks so we had it replaced with the 40 all round which she feels is fine.

Personally I don't find the 40/60 too dark for night driving, but if you have any issues with night visibility then probably best to go for 40 all round. I don't find that the temperature regulation is very different between the two, the 60% though does give noticably more privacy if that is a concern.

Privacy. Dirty Boy,for what.?.

[Spoonman]

Ive 20 on the sides/back and 40 on the screen. vision is not an issue.

[HarryMilton]

Ban the stupid stuff. Sunglasses n Aircons all you need How many have died because of a Fashion Statement.

Why don't you tell us how many?

[ricklev]

Thanks for the information and suggestions!

[Lancashirelad]

Its no wonder there's so many road accidents in Thailand is it? An important part of safe driving (or riding) is eye contact with other drivers. i.e. being able to see if they are looking in your direction. How can you do this with deep tints?

I once drove a rented pickup to Khorat. It had a dark tint on the screen. The thing was positively bloody dangerous at night and I don't have any problems with night vision.

Amazes me the number of people who buy dark coloured cars in Thailand especially black. No wonder they get hot inside, its just a heat sponge.

[kkerry]

For many people it's once you pass forty that this can really become an issue as then your eyesight can go downhill in only a couple of years, happened to me. I have a friend who had better eyesight than anyone I've ever known, caught up with him recently and same for him. I'm okay driving during the day but at night I'm a lot more careful and I think we have only 25 on the front windscreen. A lot of people with dark cars and presidential limo grade dark tint seem more concerned with image than safety.

Agree about eye contact with other drivers, easier to ignore other users and carry on like they don't exist when they can't see you behind all the tint.

[hansje1980]

I have 3M film

40% sides

60% front

Can see everything at night without streetlights. Yes I sometimes hit a couple of sleeping dogs, that's it.

Good night :-)

[Ace of Pop]

Age does degrade your Vision. 18 Months ago i had Phacoemulsification at Brumingrad Hospital. Basically 2 New Lenses drilled in. Not pleasant, but worth it.Didn't hurt but all the lying down , and being carefull for 10 days after gets to you.

[kartman]

Age does degrade your Vision. 18 Months ago i had Phacoemulsification at Brumingrad Hospital. Basically 2 New Lenses drilled in. Not pleasant, but worth it.Didn't hurt but all the lying down , and being carefull for 10 days after gets to you.

They didn't have to worry how deep they drilled then.

[Ace of Pop]

Nice one!!. By the way,they do a 90% tinted lens for those who want to feel like a VIP 24/7.

[CWMcMurray]

Have always had 60 all around on my cars here and never had any issues with difficulty seeing at night

But agree that if anyone has any issues with night vision then they should use less

It is all up to your personal preference/sight ability , not any wrong answer...

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[transam]

To be honest I don't see the need to cover the whole front screen, as long as you are sun covered from glare at the top l don't see a problem. On entering your ride the aircon sorts stuff out in a minute of energizing. Just not worth the risk dealing with bikes with no lights at night.

[Spoonman]

If a bike at night with no light is oncoming having an un-tinted screen is going to be off little benefit.

[Ace of Pop]

As any idiot knows a Clear Screen is Worse than a Tinted One..Give up T.A.

[transam]

As any idiot knows a Clear Screen is Worse than a Tinted One..Give up T.A.

Think you are correct there. At night many a time I open the side windows at a junction cos of my side tints. Better safe than sorry, cos this is LOS and a guy with no lights is OK with the BiB, sadly.

If I had an accident with a clown with no lights my first thought would be to break a nose.

[bangkokstick]

Hello,

Any idea why we do not see more of the metallic/mirror films ?

Are they better to see clear at night ?

And about the black one, do you all confirm that 40% in front is ok ? And 60% on side and back ?

Thanks.