Metallic vs Ceramic Tint?
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2008 C300
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
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
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From: Chino Hills, CA
Mercedes C300 Sport, BMW 745Li, VW Mk6 Golf TDI
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
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
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: New York
2008 Black C300 Sport 4Matic
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
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
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From: Jet City, USA
'08 W204.081; M 272.948 KE30; Colour Code#792
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:
35%VLT:
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From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
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From: Chicagoland, IL
09 C63
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.
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.
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From: Chino Hills, CA
Mercedes C300 Sport, BMW 745Li, VW Mk6 Golf TDI
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.
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.
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.
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
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.
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.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Reston, VA
15 E350 4Matic
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.
Last edited by who8888; Jul 27, 2008 at 10:07 PM.
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From: Bay Area~Pittsburg, CA
2013 C63C | 2002 IS300
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)
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From: Chino Hills, CA
Mercedes C300 Sport, BMW 745Li, VW Mk6 Golf TDI
Where in pittsburg do you have issues? I drive through there fairly often and haven't experienced any.
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2008 C300
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
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
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From: Orlando, Florida
E350 Sport/ML350RWD
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
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
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From: Wilmington,NC
E63
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.
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.
Last edited by tpick23; Jul 28, 2008 at 12:15 PM.
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From: Chino Hills, CA
Mercedes C300 Sport, BMW 745Li, VW Mk6 Golf TDI
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.
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2008 C300
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.
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!
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From: Wilmington,NC
E63
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2008 C300
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From: Chicagoland, IL
09 C63
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 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.
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C350 - Saks Special Edition
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.
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From: Chicago
2004 E320, 2006 Audi A6, 2008 C350 W204, 2010 BMW F10, 2012 Porsche Carrera S 991, 2014 E350 W212
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 checked out a few film makers. but none of them said Ceramic or metallic type on their products. how can i tell the difference?
Last edited by yxc145; Jul 30, 2008 at 10:27 PM.
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From: Wilmington,NC
E63
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
Thanks again for all the help!
Attachment 136121
Tht 15% should be around 10% metered, thats dark.
