[Euro] Metalised window tinting/ radio interference

[Ian of lugarno]

Hi Folks

Being a 'newbe' my question may have already been answered elsewhere.

I would like to tint the rear window of my Accord Euro with metalised tint film.

Advised by both Solace & Solartint here in Sydney, that in using the metalised film, AM radio reception is likely to be compromised. Apparently, the salient solution to this problem is to use non-metalised tinting.

Would greatly appreciate your advice as to how much a problem metalised tinting has been with rado reception for you.

Cheers
Ian

[yourfather]

well, I have metallised film, and its very reflective, but I do not think it affects my reception at all, then again, I have a DC2, and I am not a frequent listener to AM stuff...

But I mean honestly, AM is an inferior signal to FM, so the quality was never that great to start off with

[BiLL|z0r]

I was told that all radio fequencies are effected when I had mine tinted, so I had to go for a semimetalic tint. Wasn't as dark though which I didn't like :( I never have listened to AM so if it's just AM effected I'm pissed. I always listen to FM though, hardly listen to CD's anymore.

[yfin]

When I had mine done they said they used a different film on the rear window (probably non metalised). The other windows are metal film.

This isn't unusual - lots of new cars have antennas in the rear window. I listen to AM radio most days.

[Fr3aKi3]

We have full metallic tints all round, radio reception is somewhat compromised but it only affects AM, can't seem to tell a difference with FM. It's not so severe that all you hear is static and the station can not be heard.

[JeffyG]

We are having FM reception problems. The car is tinted, but was done by Honda and they assure us is was not metalised tint.

Its annoying my wife very much, and Honda dont know what the cause is.

Anyone else find the Euro's reception to be worse than other cars they have driven? We gets lots of static, but its sporadic... unfortunately we havent been able to replicate it for the dealer.

HELP!!

[Alpine]

http://www.tintprofessor.com.au/forum/index.php

You could try asking your question on a tinting forum (as above) and get a professional's opinion about it.

[panda[cRx]]

Hi Folks

Being a 'newbe' my question may have already been answered elsewhere.

I would like to tint the rear window of my Accord Euro with metalised tint film.

Advised by both Solace & Solartint here in Sydney, that in using the metalised film, AM radio reception is likely to be compromised. Apparently, the salient solution to this problem is to use non-metalised tinting.

Would greatly appreciate your advice as to how much a problem metalised tinting has been with rado reception for you.

Cheers
Ian

this is very true, especially with the accords that have the radio antenna built into the rear windscreen. go with a non-metallic film IMO (well at least for the rear window) :thumbsup:

i have nevery heard of probs with FM reception in a euro before jeffyg :confused:

[JeffyG]

Hmmmm, well our dealer has sourced a Euro we can loan for 3 days or so, so they can keep our car and do some more thorough checks.

Will be interesting to see if the loan car displays any of the same problems as our car... I highly doubt it.

Also, I commend the dealers efforts in trying to identify and rectify the fault for us.

[aaronng]

When I had my car new, without tints. I did notice that radio reception was worse in the city. There was more hissing in the FM channels then the other car that I drive. When listening to AM, I did have to turn up the volume more than when in FM.

[JeffyG]

for us its random... sometimes it happens in the city sometimes out in the suburbs etc. Sometimes will happen in a certain place but then be fine next time driving there... even on the same day

And its a static type interfenance. I considered atmospheric conditions, but happens in rain, wind, sun whatever!

[dsp26]

reflective material can reduce reception. this was evident for me with my old nokia 3210 with the internal antenna for those of you who remember. putting a full chrome painted plastic case over it ****ed it hardcore.

however, aren't radio antennas on the outside??

oh btw its illegal... unless your car is Pre-1994 which it isn't
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi03_rev3.pdf

[aaronng]

Antenna on the Euro is on the inside of the rear windscreen, up the top. When the metallic tint is put on, it is on the inside of the antenna. So the antenna gets sandwiched between the tint and glass. I don't think that the film interferes by blocking, but rather makes it one large flat antenna instead of many thin antennas. And many thin antennas are better than 1 large antenna.

[tanalasta]

Hmm... didn't know that. The tinting on my car is aluminium/metal I think. Will have to test out the FM reception.

[panda[cRx]]

should be fine for FM, it's mainly AM that has issues with metallic tint man

[_CiVIC_]

i have metallic 15% reflective tint.. and my FM/AM radio is still working fine. Its a myth..

[hotout]

my 2005 VTi accord came with full metallic tint, no problems whatsoever with FM radio reception....never listen to AM

[Fr3aKi3]

i have metallic 15% reflective tint.. and my FM/AM radio is still working fine. Its a myth..

I would't say that it's a myth. When we got our Euro tinted he asked me if i wanted a metalic or normal film for the rear since the antenna is built in the windscreen. He demonstrated by turning the radio to an am station then used a cloth and rubbed it over the antenna and static could be heard (although this was more to show where the antenna was). Went with a metallic film anyway just to keep it consistent with the rest of the car, but there is a difference in AM reception and not so much with FM. In area's where AM reception was weak are now worse and more static is heard, I don't really listen to AM at all its just my parents but the metallic film does make a difference in radio reception

[JaCe]

Bit old... but just wanted to add, alot of shops still sell non-metallic tint (incl. solartint)- usually it's cheaper too since it doesn't reduce heat/glare but rather, just darkens the whole window.

Anyhow, I got mine done today and reception for FM is fine. AM I never listen to anyway; but what aaronng says sounds pretty reasonable.

[mastcell]

FWIW, I would not recommend any tinting. With most curved rear glass, the tinting film will need to be spliced and joined inconspicuously. Usually, the joint is placed where the demister wire is, and several joints may be necessary to complete the job. If the tinting guy is careless, he may cut your demister wire or your antenna wire.

I had the bad experience (fortunately, it is not my current ride) where the tinting was so badly carried out that even the glass was cut. The tinting company had to replace my rear window and redo the whole job. Several years later, the film became cloudy while the splice joint started to open up a big ugly gaps. Little blisters also popped up everywhere.

I believe the Euro's glass is slightly tinted anyway and the glass is also heat absorbing.

[yfin]

FWIW, I would not recommend any tinting. With most curved rear glass, the tinting film will need to be spliced and joined inconspicuously. Usually, the joint is placed where the demister wire is, and several joints may be necessary to complete the job. If the tinting guy is careless, he may cut your demister wire or your antenna wire.

I had the bad experience (fortunately, it is not my current ride) where the tinting was so badly carried out that even the glass was cut. The tinting company had to replace my rear window and redo the whole job. Several years later, the film became cloudy while the splice joint started to open up a big ugly gaps. Little blisters also popped up everywhere.

I believe the Euro's glass is slightly tinted anyway and the glass is also heat absorbing.

You certainly had a bad experience but by no way represents what others tinting euros have experienced. It sounds like the problem in your case was the tint shop more than anything else.

If you go to a reputable shop you shouldn't have any problems.

[mastcell]

You certainly had a bad experience but by no way represents what others tinting euros have experienced. It sounds like the problem in your case was the tint shop more than anything else.

If you go to a reputable shop you shouldn't have any problems.

You are right. Unfortunately, it was supposedly a reputable shop with several branches all over Perth. The guy who did my tinting was apparently sacked after the incident. He even cut the driver side glass around the door frame. The repair job was 'good' except the blistering, cloudiness, fading (purple-ing) and film movement (the gaps) a few years later.

It was a while back, so the material might have improved. It was not an isolated incident. Around that time, I remember paying particular attention to other ppl's car tinting and I noticed a number of them showing blistering and cloudiness after a while. Maybe it was a bad batch of tinting film. Regardless, it has put me off tinting for good.

[Ian of lugarno]

Hi Folks

As I started this thread, thought you may wish to know the result. Thanks for your advice and proceeded with metalised tinting from Solartint. Zero FM radio interference and as I do not use AM, unable to comment on pre and post results.

Cheers