[Gansan]

I am driving with Garware ice cool shield on my windshield for ten years and did not face any issue driving at night. But it does enhance the reflections on the windshield from inside the car under certain conditions.

[goandude]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

It blocks light and that can't be a good thing at night. .

You will too drive without any problems until you meet an unmarked median at night!

It happened to me, hit an unmarked median at night. Glare from oncoming vehicles added to the problem.
70% VLT takes away 30% of all light, headlight glare (good) and your headlights reflected light (bad) so it's a difficult choice to make.

[condor]

Originally Posted by goandude

Glare from oncoming vehicles added to the problem.

The primary problem is the glare.

IMO, If you didnt have the sunfilm, the glare from the high-beams would have been more. Even with the 30% reduction, you still were blinded.

[mvadg]

Originally Posted by condor

The primary problem is the glare.

IMO, If you didnt have the sunfilm, the glare from the high-beams would have been more. Even with the 30% reduction, you still were blinded.

Even worse, because of the film there will be flares due to scratches. All in all, there's no escape from the fact that film of any sort will reduce visibility, especially at night. Only way out is some sort of a night vision system - GM had this available on some of their cars. (in fact, quite a few high end brands seem to have this)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_night_vision

If you want to DIY
https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/di...y-price-point/

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

What about cars that come with a factory tint in the car? My Polo does. Does that make it dangerous to drive at night? Absolutely not. I do have a concern about adding a tint to the factory tint, and that is another reason, apart from the legal threat, that I haven't.

Automotive glass is a regulated item - so as far as its OEM nothing to worry.

As far as I have seen apart from the base models of certain cars in the past just about everything else comes with tinted windows from the factory these days!

Here is how they look on an A4 sheet of paper - OEM, no film.

Side glass.


Windshield.

[condor]

Originally Posted by mvadg

Even worse, because of the film there will be flares due to scratches.

I think @goandude got his sunfilm installed very recently. And if what you say is true, he already has so many scratches to cause that ??

Sunfilm is on the inside. It will take a lot to cause so many scratches on it. I dont think his sunfilm has deteriorated so much. Or if it was on a diff car with old sunfilm, then why did he get the film now (again) ?

Basically, if you dont want, dont install it. If some one wants, they will. There is enough number of us who have it. Good quality film that lasts long. And will continue to have it on our cars.

[goandude]

Originally Posted by condor

I think @goandude got his sunfilm installed very recently. And if what you say is true, he already has so many scratches to cause that ??
.

I had sunfilm installed on all windows and windscreen on my previous 12 year old Swift Dzire, and on that car it served it's purpose well till I had the mishap. (hitting unmarked divider). The windscreen sunfilm was in good condition and not scratched at all.

On present i20 I have installed sunfilm only on 4 windows. This is because of my previous experience in night visibility. However the heat coming thru the front windscreen is very uncomfortable.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Automotive glass is a regulated item - so as far as its OEM nothing to worry.

Legality, yes I know. But I don't think I'd want darker than CR70, which would be in addition to the factory glass tint.

Back in 1990, I had a VW Golf, in London, that had a slight tint. I didn't even realise it! I had a break-in and the driver's-side window was smashed. I told the on-the-spot glass guys, "clear." When they came, they said, "No it isn't. But don't worry, many people make this mistake and we always bring the tinted one as well."

And, as I tell that story, I recollect that the gentleman who sold me my current Polo didn't realise that its glass is tinted. I showed him against a white wall. Once you know, it's obvious, but it is subtle and can be missed.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

And, as I tell that story, I recollect that the gentleman who sold me my current Polo didn't realise that its glass is tinted. I showed him against a white wall. Once you know, it's obvious, but it is subtle and can be missed.

A similar story here - My first vehicle (with my own money) , within an hour of getting the vehicle I tanked up and started the ~600 Km drive. As the day light faded I could no longer drive confidently because the Thrissur - Walayar stretch those days were like an obstacle course, no road markings or even a median and I could not see a damn thing. After a while it started raining as well to make matters worse. I parked at the nearest petrol bunk and waited till morning before identifying the problem - sunfilm. It was light enough that I missed it during the hot summer morning.

[ultimatechamp]

I have had Garware Ice Cool Shield installed in all my previous cars and had been using them since 2009, and never ever had any issues. Rather the bigger front glass lets in more light and heat and the green house effect is pronounced if one doesn't use tints on the front glass. In my new car bought on 6th February 2022, again i have installed Ice Cool Shield
As condor said, scratches can be prevented, especially if one is more careful while the car goes for service and they clean with a rough cloth or you have kids at home . Otherwise there is practically no chance of scratches from inside.

I have also used Garware Ice Cool Grand in all my previous cars since 2009 on the other glasses and this time as it was not available, I had to install Garware Ice Cool Elite in my new Ignis Alpha for the rest of the glass. It is equally good as I recently got a chance to test it on a tour in the hot parts of Odisha in my new car.

Whether one will use it on the front windshield is absolutely his/her prerogative. I use it and I have zero complains , rather I strongly believe it is a necessity

[kushagra452]

Hello!

I am contemplating getting a sun film for my Swift's windshield. Can anyone suggest a good place in Delhi to get it done on a budget? Between, 3M and Garware, which film performs better in keeping out the sun? Thanks!

[straight6]

This is what happened to the garware film when i sprayed wd40 inside the car to displace any rain water. Later the mass guys cleaned it with something and restored it. I couldn't clean it with just a wet cloth.

[condor]

Originally Posted by straight6

This is what happened to the garware film when i sprayed wd40 inside the car to displace any rain water. Later the mass guys cleaned it with something and restored it. I couldn't clean it with just a wet cloth.

About 75% of WD40 is paraffins. So when you sprayed it, you spread a fine layer of wax on the film. Hence this.

Next time, try something simpler like Colin spray.

WD40 is for lubrication. Any reason to spray it inside when rain water would be on the outside of the glass ?

[straight6]

Originally Posted by condor

About 75% of WD40 is paraffins. So when you sprayed it, you spread a fine layer of wax on the film. Hence this.

Next time, try something simpler like Colin spray.

WD40 is for lubrication. Any reason to spray it inside when rain water would be on the outside of the glass ?

Actually I only sprayed it on the floor after the carpet was removed. Not directly on the film.

[condor]

Originally Posted by straight6

Actually I only sprayed it on the floor after the carpet was removed. Not directly on the film.

Looks like you sprayed a lot of WD40 that it spread out to get deposited on the glass ?

Off-topic for this thread: I am not able to picturise water below the carpet and using WD-40 to make the water run-off. Or may be it was a precautionary spray. May be this point can be discussed on the WD40 type thread.