Tints

NZ XR6 · 21-02-2011, 08:16 PM

I'd planned to get the windows tinted on my new wagon but after driving it for a few days am having second thoughts. The standard greenish tint seems to block the heat quite well, and it's certainly much easier to see out the front windows as it gets dark, and especially the rear window when reversing.

What sort of experiences have you had with tints on the Mondeo? Are there any specific films that you would (or wouldn't) recommend?

XR5-Boy · 23-02-2011, 02:14 PM

I know the old man has left his standard bluish tint on the XR5. However, if you were to put darkest legal on top of it, it may be too dark. I'd say go with a lighter tint and that way it should be fine

NZ XR6 · 23-02-2011, 03:24 PM

Thanks, I think the blue tint on the XR5 is a special heat rejection treatment.

Just had the car tinted with a Huper Optik ceramic film (40%). Not a cheap option at $450 but it's very clear to look through and really takes out the heat. Apparently the tint on my previous Mondeo wagon was darker than is legal in NZ (35%) as they hadn't allowed for the standard tint! Might also explain why it was dark to look through.

scribbly · 23-02-2011, 04:41 PM

I went as dark as possible on my vehicle. The upside is the dimming of the really bright headlights at night (in the rearvision mirror) and of course the cooler vehicle to overcome the crappy aircon just blowing into the front seats.

allanv6gt · 23-02-2011, 07:57 PM

Tint on rear would be nice...just to get rid of those daylight time headlights and DRLs, which my snazzy automagical rear vision mirror doesn't seem to recognise.
Night time is fine.

Drive : MB XR5T with not quite auto enough internal rear view mirror.

NZ XR6 · 23-02-2011, 09:22 PM

Scribbly, it's all very technical but apparently the important number is TSER (Total Solar Energy Rejection) and the darkness of the tint is not the best measure of this.

I've just been for a drive at night and the ceramic tint is certainly much easier to see through. I'm yet to see how it performs when the sun is high.

The aircon in my new wagon is much better than the old one - I've actually felt cold a couple of times, and that was before the tint was applied.

ajay1940 · 24-02-2011, 06:42 PM

I'd be interested to know if they've improved the aircon. This would influence my upgrade choice. The MA air is barely adequate for Aussie summers.

NZ XR6 · 24-02-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajay1940

I'd be interested to know if they've improved the aircon. This would influence my upgrade choice. The MA air is barely adequate for Aussie summers.

The early MA Mondeos had poor quality condensers which would often leak or suffer stone damage and fail. The aircon performance could be improved by a recharge, but of course the basic problem was the crappy condenser.

The new wagon is definitely better than my old 07 build Mondeo but I doubt that Ford would ever admit to any mods. I don't know if the MC has a different aircon; all I can say is that a late model MB is better than an early MA.

Smoke Pursuit · 28-02-2011, 12:19 AM

And the MB still has crappy aircon...

Have to tint our XR5.. its just too hot in QLD.