if any of the members here have questions about tinting, you can post it here and i will reply with all my knowledge. Im a pro tinter here in the bayarea and i sometime see people struggle with what kinda tint to go with, shades and does it affect the radio or the navi. Feel free to ask.

 

A few members had their sunroof tinted. I'm thinking about getting mine done too, but a shop in FL says the following:

"You cannot tint a sunroof...it is a special kind of glass and there is a risk that it will explode if tinted. "

What's the deal with tinting the sunroof?

Thanks
AK

 

Could you list some types of tint that will work with the NAV without messing it up. I just had my car done at a big shop and they said they have never had a problem with their metalized film messing up the nav in an Acura, let alone any car. No surprise, I went from 9-12 satellites to luck if I can get 2-3. They said give it 3 weeks to fully dry and it will be fine. Its been 2 weeks and still is messed up. The tint was Solar gard and it was their top of the line tint, 5%. Do you recommend the ceramice tint formula one makes or is there another brand that is easier to find. THanks

 

Yes - the ceramic based tint film is what you will need for your NAVI car - doesnt have the same sheen to it that the metallic based films do - but hey - my map works.

Hope it Helps

TL-Mike

 

There's a whole bunch of threads regarding the use of ceramic and metallic films. Some have reportedly no problems with metallic while others did. IMO, to prevent gps interference go with a ceramic film as recommended (F1 Pinnacle, Huper Optiks and I believe 3M) or go with with a dyed film (which many ppl dont like cause of fading issues). Metallic film looks better, is inexpensive and ceramic is a bit more. Most of these films carry a lifetime warranty and the dyed film is only for 5 or 6 years. Most of the ppl who opted for ceramic film used F1 Pinnacle and HO is a thicker film and harder to work with. To fine out more on F1 check their site at Formula One. You can also check out the following: Llumar, Solargard, Madico to name a few of the more popular brands.

 

There's a whole bunch of threads regarding the use of ceramic and metallic films. Some have reportedly no problems with metallic while others did. IMO, to prevent gps interference go with a ceramic film as recommended (F1 Pinnacle, Huper Optiks and I believe 3M) or go with with a dyed film (which many ppl dont like cause of fading issues). Metallic film looks better, is inexpensive and ceramic is a bit more. Most of these films carry a lifetime warranty and the dyed film is only for 5 or 6 years. Most of the ppl who opted for ceramic film used F1 Pinnacle. HO is a thicker film and harder to work with. To fine out more on F1 check their site at Formula One. You can also check out the following: Llumar, Solargard, Madico to name a few of the more popular brands.

 

i have sologard on my 2000 TL navi too. I even have the reflective tints on mine, plus the sun roof and the windshield and i have no problem with the navi or radio. Sologard film takes awhile to dry and its better to park your car under the sun. DONT park it in the garage in the first 2 weeks. And yes Sologard is one of the best out there.

 

Do you mean "Solargard" ?

Did you index your FM stations before and after? I'll bet you lost some of the lower FM 8x stations.

Why just sunlight. What about running the heater alot or a heated garage? Most films block UV so i'm guessing it's the IR from sunlight that helps dry the films. Can you explain more on why tinters suggest sunlight and not the other methods for drying the films.

Thanks,
AK

 

I currently drive a WDP TL and am so confused about tints. I kinda want to get them but don't like many tint's on white cars...especially sleek luxurious ones. I would do anything to get the ice blue mercedes glass but realize that is not feasible. Anyway, what color tint (if any) do you reccommend for a white TL??? I plan on getting either silver or gunmetal piaa super rozza's as soon as winter passes. I think that might change my opinion of what a smoke tint would look like but I'm still torn...any help???

 

100% NOOB question here...

As the GPS receiver is on the roof of the TL (for the nav) and the radio antenna's are at the front windshield (I THINK... correct me if I'm wrong... I'm easily humbled!)

Why does having metallic tint as opposed to dyed or ceramic interfere with GPS/Radio signals???...

Just from what I've heard here, I will be asking for ceramic tint, but I'd like to know why I am asking for it!

Thanks!

 

Wraith, I'm assuming you have a 3G TL. First off, the piece on the roof is the XM satellite radio antennae. The GPS antenna is located in the rear shelf between the back seat and the back window. This thread on Tint/Navi Interference will explain more. There was also another post about reception and checking for the number of GPS satellites which I can't find.

 

Someone correct me if i'm wrong but,,,

The XM antenna is on the roof and the GPS antenna is beneath/within the rear deck area..... Thus XM works fine but the GPS/navi "may" suffer with certain tint compositions applied to the rear glass..

 

KJ and Haw...

Huh.... Thanks for schoolin me. I though I heard the school bell ringin' as I typed that question! Learn something new every day.

Thanks for the link to the other thread and pWnInG me on the above!

 

More than happy to help out. Hopeully gave an insight in making the correct choices instead of going through the trial and error process.

 

I found it! (from thread on Have you Found Any New Features)

For example, under GPS Navigation, you can see in real time which satellites you are tracking. Here in the Northeast, I generally used 5 simultaneously, but have had as many as 8. It looks like there is room for 12 as advertised, but I can't see 12 at a time here. Probably better down south.

You can reset your microphone level to how you talk. I did that by accident, but I think it works better now anyway. You can calibrate for new different radius tires (I didn't even want to press that button), as well as see the status of many of the cars other systems that are tied in to the nav computer and otherwise.

Then there is a trip computer of sorts, that somehow provides the data to the main trip computer. I haven't yet figured out all the codes. Part of the problem is that it measures in metric. I think it measures your speed in, believe it or not, millimeters per second. Need to play more though. Looks like you can also use this screen to save a log to a PC card (the slot is on the unit in the trunk). I don't know what data is saved, but maybe you can use it to track where your kids actually bring the car

 

I will give the tint a few weeks in the sun to see if it gets better. If not, I will go the 100+ miles to Tucson for the Ceramic tint in the back window. Question, the ceramic tint only goes as dark as 15%, I need 5%. I was thinking of getting them to put a layer of 15% ceramic on first then back it with a regular dyed 20%, so it would be close to 5% without interfering. The dyed tint should turn purple in a few years due to the ceramic tint filtering alot of the UV first before it gets to the regular dyed tint? Does this sound feasible or what? It would be expensive to do 2 layers of ceramic at about $200. Has anybody tried moving the GPS antenae to some place else?

 

Wraith, that would be a good test for the folks who have metallic film just to see how many satellites can be tracked. Unfortunately the ppl couldn't do a before tint and after tint test. If you're tracking less than you should based on geographical location, one can assume some interference is possible?

 

It seems I am saying this for the hundredth time but....

Page 3 of your Navigation Owners Manual says NOT to use metallic tint as it WILL interfere with the GPS antenna. It will also partially block cell phone signals inside the car and weaken your AM reception.

If you are in a very strong signal area, you might get away with it.

Tinters will lie all day long to sell you a tint job. We hear this all the time: "I've done a million TLs and never had a problem."

Then the members post that they have problems. Also problems with tinting without the moleskin installation (see the Garage sticky thread for much detail).

If you have a TL, you need moleskin. If you have Navi, you need ceramic tint. Formula One Pinnacle or Huper Optik are the two favored brands.

 

100% .... Xpditor, this topic comes up so often and ppl still feel metallic film does not interfere with GPS signals. I'm sure you've seen all the posts regarding this. There's really not much one can do if the indivdual is hell bent on it. All one can do is inform and try to provide some insight so the correct choice can be made or at the least, an option. Regardless of what Honda/Acura recommends or what the forum members recommend, it basically comes down to an individual's preference. Without proper knowledge and information, trial and error can become very expensive!

 

I also have a TL with navi and i really dont have problem with reflective film. Im not trying to advertise here or anything so i dont see a point of lying. In addition, not only TL comes with navi, other cars do too. I have worked on all the nice cars, you name it, brand new with the newest navi and technology and they dont have problem with the film. Im not saying it doesnt affect the radio and navi at all but not to the point where you will have no recpetion. Theres also pros and cons, pros for the metal film is that it blocks out more heat and it protects the dash and the leather so much better and the cons is that it affect the navi and radio a little which is not a big deal at all. Try it yoursef then you know what im talking about, you dont always have to go along with what the book says. I cant tell there is a differenece to my navi and radio after i use the metal film.

 

And also, NOT all TL need moleskin. I wonder how many TL do you have? One? two? three?? i dont know but i have worked on more than 100 TL so i guess i know this better. NO offense.

 

I have double layer of film tinted on my sunroof.

 

Berkeley has some of the mildest weather in the nation with all due respect. What works fine there might not work here, less than 200 miles away.

I do thank you for sharing your knowledge, information and experience and have learned some things.

 

I have an 04 with 20% mirror / 20% tint, Infinity brand I think it was, it is metallic based tint, not dye, and I regularly have 5-10 satellites. So, as is stated, YMMV but since our cars are built identically, the only variables are line of site to the satellites, time of day (view of rotating satellites), and brands of tint.

It won't affect FM radio because the tint goes UNDER the FM antenna which is printed on the inside of the rear windshield above the defrosters

 

I go home during the summer which is in SoCal. The temp there is pretty high.

 

i have an 04' TL SSM....im looking to get all 5 windows tinted but i want the driver and passanger side windows to be a lighter tint, what do you guys recommend for SSM does anyone have any pictures...i tried searching but i couldn't find what i was looking for specifically....

 

Noob at tints here. I have an Anthracite Metallic TL with ebony interior. What tint should I get (brand)? Also should I do 35% fronts and 20% rears or 35% all around (35% max in front in Texas) ? I'm in Texas and in the summer, it feels like Hell sometimes. If you don't wanna post the answer to this question please PM me.

If you know of a reputable and excellent tint shop in Austin, TX please let me know that too. Thanks.

 

I use to own a 2000 Honda Prelude and i had the windows tinted 36%, they were more black looking which to coming to find out it was the ceramic tint. I just had my 2005 TL Tinted 32% about a month ago at Ziebart here in Minnesota. I noticed right away that the tint is not as black as the tint that was on my Prelude. I didnt ask for mirror tint, it seems like it has more of a mirror effect to it.

Would anyone know what kind of tint this is? does it have metal in it?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

it all depends on the film thickness and %. light metallized films will have minimal impact (if any) on GPS.

please get the facts before slamming mettalized films.

 

I have a couple of question here: https://acurazine.com/forums/wash-wax-23/black-fade-112578/

Did not know about this thread before posting....

Thanks Mugen.

 

whats a good color tint for the silver 05 TL?

 

charcoal or true grey by Solargard

 

Racial slur: Do you have an automatic toll pay box like SunPass? Did they give you a plastic bag with it that is coated with a transparent metal vapor film? Is the purpose of this bag, with the thinnest of metallic coating, to block the signals from the transponder so you can pay manually if you want to? Does it work?

Have you read page 3 of the Navigation owner's manual? Let me quote what the maker of the car and the Navi says:

"If you have rear window tinting installed, be aware that if the tint has metallic properties, it can seriously degrade or prevent GPS reception. This is because the GPS antenna is located under the rear window beneath the package tray."

Those are the facts. I am not slamming metalized films. And I don't have a bias one way or the other because I am not a tint installer and I don't have an investment in metallic tint. I'm not selling anything.

You can put metallic film on the side windows and prolly not harm the GPS signal. The rear window is the critical one FOR NAVI.

If you live in a strong GPS signal area (mostly in the south), and you don't have anything to compare it with, you might not notice the inaccuracies or inferior performance of the navi as it would still work- in a fashion. Just not to its full potential or accuracy.

That's not me speculating. That's Acura warning owners.

Also, a cell phone inside the car can have it's signal impacted by metallic film in the same way as walking inside a metal building while talking.

If you are dropping calls or having signal problems with your cell, see if it improves when you step outside the car. Again, in a strong signal area, and because the front windshield is usually not tinted, you might not notice the difference.

 

RacialSlurs - there was no slamming on metallized film - I have used them on my Accord (Llumar - Platinum+) and two other vehicles. I was merely reiterating the use of metalized film could cause GPS reception problems. As I said, it is a personal choice. There are some folks who haven't had problems and there are some who did. Your money, your choice.