ncmudbug

Does anybody know if the windows (windshield, sunroof, etc.) filter UV rays? I didn't see a reference to that in owner's manual.

Thanks!

phister

windows actually provide substantial uv protection but not complete. Heres some info from a little test done on uv rays on car windows

There is increasing knowledge about the hazards of solar and ultraviolet (UV) radiation to humans. Although people spend a significant time in cars, data on UV exposure during traveling are lacking. The aim of this study was to obtain basic information on personal UV exposure in cars. Methods: UV transmission of car glass samples, windscreen, side and back windows and sunroof, was determined. UV exposure of passengers was evaluated in seven German middle-class cars, fitted with three different types of car windows. UV doses were measured with open or closed windows/sunroof of Mercedes-Benz E 220 T, E 320, and S 500, and in an open convertible car (Mercedes-Benz CLK). Bacillus subtilis spore film dosimeters (Viospor) were attached to the front, vertex, cheeks, upper arms, forearms and thighs of ‘adult’ and ‘child’ dummies. Results: UV wavelengths longer than >335 nm were transmitted through car windows, and UV irradiation >380 nm was transmitted through compound glass windscreens. There was some variation in the spectral transmission of side windows according to the type of glass. On the arms, UV exposure was 3–4% of ambient radiation when the car windows were shut, and 25–31% of ambient radiation when the windows were open. In the open convertible car, the relative personal doses reached 62% of ambient radiation. Conclusions: The car glass types examined offer substantial protection against short-wave UV radiation. Professional drivers should keep car windows closed on sunny days to reduce occupational UV exposure. In individuals with polymorphic light eruption, produced by long-wave UVA, additional protection by plastic films, clothes or sunscreens appears necessary.


And heres more info

Does UV radiation come through glass?

Ordinary car window glass filters out about 97% of the UV-B radiation and about 37% of UV-A radiation. It is approximately equivalent to a good sunscreen, which means that if you’re sitting in the sun during a long trip you could still get burnt from the amount of radiation coming through the glass. Laminated windscreens block all of the UV-B radiation and about 80% of the UV-A radiation.

LILBENZ230

Solextra glass like in our 2005-2007 Sports is supposed to do this from what I've read. I wonder if the test cars had it or where there may be more info on it.

ncmudbug

That's good to know, but it deprives me of a reason to tint my windows! I'll probably do it anyway, though!

phister

Laminated windscreens block all of the UV-B radiation and about 80% of the UV-A radiation
^^^^^^
because of this lol regular windows blocks 97% of UV-B rays and only 37% of UV-A rays and tint blocks 80% of it. thats double of what regular windows do. Plus tinting windows keeps your car cooler in the summer.

ncmudbug

Yeah, I'm definitely getting my windows tinted (I got a groupon for tintworld). Besides my car sits outside at home and at work while Mrs. NCMudbug's car lives in the garage (the Lotus does, too, but that's not an option!).

phister

can always get a car cover lol

ncmudbug

Yeah... I got a cheap one at Big Lots to see if it was worth the effort. Some people at work use them. Well, they are a pain to get on and if it rained over night, they are an even bigger pain to take off and then you have to store this huge wet cover! I just don't think I have the discipline to bother with them. What I'd really like is to get another two garage bays!
Or 2 car car port. I don't think that will happen soon .

phister

Car port it up lol... I think I'm going to do a side car port attached to my house.

LILBENZ230

My Benz was garaged the first 2 years I owned, it, now it is exclusively an outside car. I have thought about tinting the windows, too. I'm just not sure what to do anymore.. I've got the wandering eye.

ncmudbug

Hey Matt, Thinking about getting a new ride!? Do you have anything in mind?

LILBENZ230

Meh, I'm not sure, really. The Benz has 114.5k miles on it now and has never been any trouble at all. I guess I'll wait until it gives me some sort of reason and then I'll move on. The main problem I have with the Benz lately is spending a good deal of seat time in an 07 IS350 with 58k miles and every option (nav, parktronic, active bi-x). It makes the Benz seems so old, slow, unrefined and basic.

ncmudbug

Yeah, I know what you mean. My neighbor got a C300 with most everything so I started looking at adding nav, bluetooth, etc... Even, after that, it would still not be as nice as hers (not to mention the very fancy ML350 loaner I'm driving now ). There's only so much you can do to tart up your car and then it's still your old car - just tarted up!

I had planned on keeping mine for the very long term (as you have done) unless something outrageous becomes available. I doubt that anything that outrageous will come around so I'm not holding my breath. Before last Memorial Day, it never occurred to me to get a Mercedes Benz and now I have tow of them! Strange world...

I would like to trade my wife's '06 C230 for my neighbor's '08 C300 (with some cash, of course). Our neighbor really likes my wife's car and my wife really likes her car, but the $10K difference is prohibitive for us and we certainly wouldn't want to be unfair to our neighbor.

I think that's just the nature of cars. The new ones seem so much cooler than older ones and that seems to be accelerated with all the neat electronics that are available.

Lexus makes a nice car so if you go that route, you could do a lot worse.

Keep us posted...

I_C_Class

Tinting is a good idea!
My car is black on black and ever since I got my tint I noticed a huge temperature change to when I first enter the car when parked outside.

ncmudbug

My car isn't black, but it's almost (gray interior helps a little with the heat), so that's part of the motivation for wanting to do tinting. All that heat can dry out the leather on the steering wheel, but I imagine the pleather is pretty much indestructible. All in all, cooler is better - and looks good!

LILBENZ230

It's not just the features, either. The ride quality is no good on the C230K and at the mileage it has lost the tightness it once had. There are more rattles, and a general loose feeling that just comes with age on cars. To my knowledge there is no fixing such things. These are things I never really noticed till lately. I rode in a friend's 08 Yaris and it felt tighter than the Benz. Less rattles, better bump absorbtion. Makes me very sad.

Then there is the engine noise which seems much louder than it used to be. And the drivetrain noise under power and over bumps. I'm no longer sure I am interested in even small repairs anymore, and I know I am NOT doing any big ones at any point. I can't even find the motivation lately to keep it clean.

phister

sounds like you already jumped ship on it and the little things that you didnt mind or use to ignore is starting to escalate so now every time you hear it it sounds like a gong being hit. My gf 09 IS250 doesnt handle as well as mine and it definitely doesnt have the turning radius as mine I know that for sure. But I understand what you're feeling, I loved my EP3 but I just eventually wanted a 4 door car and the little things I would fix or ignore would annoy me.

LILBENZ230

I wouldn't jump ship for an IS250, either. Or a lower end 350. I am just not feeling the Benz love lately. It's also 95F outside with 400% humidity (it literally feels like someone has taken a wet blanket out of the dryer and thrown it over your face) and the Benz just doesn't feel like it can breathe. It's not going anywhere yet, it's too reliable of a car.

ncmudbug

That'll teach you to go riding around in those new cars when yours is a little long in the teeth!

You have to be somewhat of a fanatic to keep a car past a certain point. I've found it's harder to be a fanatic about a car in the present than in retrospect.

LILBENZ230

I drove it tonight and it seemed fine, like I am used to. Maybe it's the heat and humidity making everyone miserable and delirious here. It's hard to enjoy it when neither of us can breathe for the 115F heat index and 94% humidity that was here today. Once it cools down at night it drives totally different. Meh, I'm keeping it for now. Maybe this coming weekend I'll give it a good detail.

grane

They concentrate them like a magnifying glass and make hair extensions melt.
That is why there are more tinting shops in NJ and LA per capita than elsewhere. Miami and Las Vegas are next according to the insurance Risk Rating Institute.

Implants, penile or mammary, and tooth caps, do not require window tinting, according to Rep. Wiener and Suzi Orman.