Metallic vs Ceramic Tint?
 

So what type of tint does everybody here use, metallic, ceramic, or other?

I know the metallic tint will interfere with the AM/FM radio, but will it also interfere the satellite radio, cell phone blue tooth, or anything else?

Also, is there a difference in the way the different tints look? If you put the exact same cars side by side, one with metallic and one with ceramic, could anybody tell the difference?

Most of all what do you recommend?

/Steve

Go metallic. It doesn't interfere with anything.

+1 i have no problems with mine

i got a 30% ceramic tint for the first time, always getting llumar before.... i think ceramic looks classier, sleeker, and absolutely no interference with the blue tooth, radio or navi

I plan to keep this car for a long time. So I decided to spend the extra money on ceramic tint (Pinnacle F1). Overall I'm very happy with the results.

35%VLT:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2403/...60a47b98_o.jpg

Same film I used. Could not be happier:D

Though you think and feel that metalic does not interfere... think on this...

1) you just put a "window screen" of RF filtering on the glass. Now you are filtering the signals a little. Sure it's not a "block" but it is filtering. So if you were fringe with 1 bar on a cell phone, you may be .5 or none now.
2) you just put up a bigger radar profile to the popo. After all the car already has a big footprint so it's not that big a deal. But, let's say it took .5 to lock before, what if it now takes .4 sec to lock on your speed and that .1 is what it took you to slow down just enough?
3) speaking of radar, your radar detector is majorly hobbled by metallic film as it is a very weak antenna. Sure it doesn't matter forward, but many of us are V1 users with rearward facing receivers.

Chew on that.

And what if the world shifted axis .00001 degrees!

Metallic tint is not the doom and gloom so many people make it out to be. 1) With the amount of cell towers that are out, no one really has issues with signal in cars. Should we not buy a house also because we might get bad signal? Metallic tint does not deteriorate signal strength to any degree that will impact your everyday use. 2) Very unlikely that .1 second will do anything if you even notice and can react to a radar detector. 3) Family runs tint shop and plenty of people run radar detectors through the metallic rears and have no issue detecting. This has been tested and proven.

In window
 

antenna,metallic surely affects AM reception and in some models fm.Ceramic lasts longer,however you pay the price.I think it lays down better and gives a more oem look.Cell towers and radar guns are a whole different band spectrum you are addressing.Radio reception is your only concern and ceramic is better.
If you are worried about police units most are laser and light pulse and little can be done to reduce your profile,unless they are shooting you with a band radar gun .Get some RAM and apply it to the front of the car.A super fast reaction time would be in the .2 range and average drivers .4 so don't worry about shaving off .1 you won't and the cop will get you anyway.Jammers and RAM, not ceramic window tint are the ways around that issue.
:bow:

Is that 35% tint? If so, I though it would be a bit darker. I am about to get mine tinted with the ceramic tint.

I wound up switching to Ceramic after having some reception issues with the Metallic and I haven't had any further issues. It was more expensive but it's been worth it thus far. (Formula 1 Pinnacle Series film)

Where in pittsburg do you have issues? I drive through there fairly often and haven't experienced any.

Thanks all, I talked to a few tint shops down here in South Florida and pretty much everyone also agreed on the Formula 1 Pinnacle Series Ceramic tint.

Now its just a question of 15% or 35%. I've always had 20% metalic and never had a problem, but I am growing old and therefore more paranoid.

Thanks again,

/Steve

who listens to am/fm radio anyway?!?

I the police are anything like up here in Orlando- go with the 35% unless you want a ticket. What color is your interior/exterior? Darker interior makes tint look darker and so does a lighter exterior. And remember- the car has a decent factory tint so the 35 looks darker. I say go with 35.:y

metalic/ceramic tints
 

I had this dilemma too, now I have it figured out. IMO the usefulness of the more costly ceramic came down the the fact the antennas in the CLK are in the windshield and metalic tint could have interfered. I went with ceramic 30% and have loved it.

The C55 that I had went terribly wrong. I did the metalic 20% and the reception would not even work anymore. My cell phone still worked but I was in ATL where it would work in elevators going to floors below ground.

It comes down to where the antenna is in the car. Since the C350 has the exterior type I do not think it matters so much.

BTW- you can expect about a 6% or so drop in the tint level that you choose when it goes on the glass. The CLK registers at 24.7 and the C55 was 13. I got stopped I-75 South one time in the 55 simply for the tint.

If you are going to go Ceramic, Formula 1 Pinnacle Series Ceramic is the best, with Huber Optik a close second. However, it's also expensive. Keep in mind as mentioned before the radio antenna is outside our vehicles and not integrated into the rear window, thus shouldn't be affected by metallic tint. As such, there is no real gain by going ceramic over metallic. Of course dealers will recommend ceramic because dealers make more % off of it. The other advantage is if you live by the beach as metallic will corrode overtime with the salt sea air, but so will the rest of your car. As none of the advantages of ceramic really applied to me, I went metallic as the practical side of me couldn't justify paying the markup for features that would apply to me.

I've got a 2008 black/black C300 with premium 1 and ipod. I'm pretty sure my car didn't come with any facotry tint?!? If it did, i really can't see a thing.

I'm leaning toward 15% but it'll be a game time decision. Tomorrow at 8am, wohoo!

So what did you go with?

I went with the 15% Formula 1 Pinnacle Series Ceramic and it looks really good. I snapped a quick picture with my iphone from the front for a friend, I'll get one from the side tonight and post.

Thanks again for all the help!


Attachment 136121

By me cops use laser when stationary and moving X, instant on, radar when they are in their cars or on the bikes. I want every edge possible.

I can't jam as in IL it's now a felony to do so - for laser that is. Radar obviously is federally mandated and illegal from an FCC point of view to jam.

Having had an Infiniti in the past, a lot of the folks on the various forums there mentioned issues with the Infiniti version of Keyless Touch and Go. Now I don't have that in my 63, but if it blocked that and made it hard to open the car up - I can't imagine what else it will block.

As to the antenna being on the outside - how do you figure? The shark fin contains SAT antennae only as far as I know. AM/FM are in the rear window.

I have Huper Optik ceramic on mine and it is great. The heat reduction compared to metalized tint is far superior. The ceramic films are also much clearer with less glare and distortion.

has anyone heard of Llumar or Suntek films? Are they ceramic or metallic? are they good? i got a quote of $200 for 4 windows and the rear sheild. is that ok?

i checked out a few film makers. but none of them said Ceramic or metallic type on their products. how can i tell the difference?

I have Suntek HP 35% tint on my wife's car. Looks great and the install only cost $150.00 out the door :)

Looks good. you must not be in an "inspections" state. Here in NC that would be a problem. I got a quote for the lumar 35% at $185 for the doors and rear glass. Have to stay legal here or I end up ripping it off next year.

Tht 15% should be around 10% metered, thats dark.