Interior/Exterior Interior and exterior modifications for Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Interior/Exterior Polarized Sunglasses and Tinted Windows = Rainbows?

Old Jul 20, 2003 | 04:36 PM
  #1  
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Always saw glass imperfections with polarized glasses from the outside of some cars.

But now that I have the MINI tinted with 35% HP 3M, I now see rainbow streaks of color from INSIDE the car in bright sunlight. You cannot see it with regular sunglasses or the naked eye, just with polarized sunglasses.

And no, I am not smoking anything!

This is distressing to say the least. Anyone else experience this?

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
Red
 
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Old Jul 20, 2003 | 04:41 PM
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This is a common occurence with polarized sunglasses and tinted windows.
It happens with all cars, not just MINIs, and it can get kind of annoying so if you find it distracting you might want to use non-polarized glasses for driving.

 
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Old Jul 20, 2003 | 04:48 PM
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Thanks Calvin! Just wish the tinter would have told me.

Regards,
Red
 
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Old Jul 20, 2003 | 07:25 PM
  #4  
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Polarized sunglasses refract the light causing the distortion you are seeing-the sunglasses are causing it not the tint. Some black cars even look like rainbows.
It is distracting though.

Lois

 
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Old Jul 20, 2003 | 07:43 PM
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I had some high end "Divers" sunglasses that were fantastic. They did show stress patterns in glass that normal glasses did not show. You should get accustomed to it after a while and it shouldn't bother you.

The polarized glasses were so much better controlling glare than the norm, that it was well worth this drawback. Of course, I was not looking through tinted side windows so you might find it harder to adjust.
 
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Old Jul 20, 2003 | 07:51 PM
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I just purchased my first pair of Rx polarized sunglasses. I've had them 2 weeks. It takes some getting used to!

The black cars do look like rainbows!

It was my optomitrist who told me all about it when I bought them. I knew what I was getting, but it's still odd. I'm sure in no time I'll take it for granted!
 
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Old Jul 20, 2003 | 11:13 PM
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I have not done any tinting on my windows; however I have been using prescription polarized sunglasses for years and have become used to the “patterns” I see in automobile glass. The benefits of polarization far outweigh any distractions that soon become just “back ground noise”.
 
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Old Jul 20, 2003 | 11:18 PM
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after I tinted my windows, suddenly all of the gray cars look pink or purple.

I'm still getting used to it. The weird part is seeing this in all of the other cars too
 
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Old Jul 21, 2003 | 12:15 PM
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This happened to me in my T-Bird.. it freaked me out initially... What I like about polarized lenses is being able to SEE thru the cars in front of me a lot better... it puts me more on equal footing visually with higher vehicles if you ask me.

Did you know traffic deaths are at an all time high, due to the SUV and increased rollover risk, not to mention 3 tons of steel hitting another vehicle is a bit more destructive than our mere 2600 lbs.? I can't stand SUV's, unless you live up north, where driving in snow is very very common.

sorry for the rant
 
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Old Jul 22, 2003 | 02:28 PM
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I have always noticed the "pattern" in some glass with the polarized lenses, but not "rainbows" on my own side windows inside the car.

My tinter says he never heard of it, and I should wait a week for the moisture to dry up between the glass and the material. He thinks that is the cause.

I will keep you posted.

Regards,
Red


 
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Old Jul 23, 2003 | 09:36 PM
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>>And no, I am not smoking anything!

U should try window tint, polarized sunglasses, AND smoking something!

 
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Old Jul 24, 2003 | 01:41 PM
  #12  
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>>>>And no, I am not smoking anything!
>>
>>U should try window tint, polarized sunglasses, AND smoking something!
>>

OK! Thanks for the suggestion!

Regards,
Red Eyes
 
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Old Jul 24, 2003 | 05:32 PM
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>>I have not done any tinting on my windows; however I have been using prescription polarized sunglasses for years and have become used to the “patterns” I see in automobile glass. The benefits of polarization far outweigh any distractions that soon become just “back ground noise”.

Oh totally agree. My new sunglasses have made such a difference. I love them. I even take them out of the car and wear them when I'm working in the yard! I bought them to be car driving glasses because my other glasses are transision and never get dark enough inside the car. but the polarized glasses are far easier on the eyes than the transision.

 
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Old Jul 24, 2003 | 05:34 PM
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>>>>And no, I am not smoking anything!
>>
>>U should try window tint, polarized sunglasses, AND smoking something!
>>



We'd be having too much fun! !
 
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Old Jul 24, 2003 | 05:41 PM
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>>>>>>And no, I am not smoking anything!
>>>>
>>>>U should try window tint, polarized sunglasses, AND smoking something!
>>>>
>>
>>
>>
 
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Old Jul 28, 2003 | 08:54 PM
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>>>>>>>>And no, I am not smoking anything!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>U should try window tint, polarized sunglasses, AND smoking something!
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
 
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Old Jul 29, 2003 | 02:16 PM
  #17  
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>>>>>>>>>>And no, I am not smoking anything!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>U should try window tint, polarized sunglasses, AND smoking something!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>

As Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen once sang "...they put you in jail for having too much fun" (Too Much Fun).

Now how is that decided? Depends where and when you are having this so callled "fun".

And after 10 days I am still seeing the damn rainbows. But I am accepting them now. The colors are great. Oops! Better look out the windshield again!

Regards,
Red (and LOTS of other colors!)

_________________
The meek shall inherit the passenger seat.
Life is better MINImized. CWFAC 03
 
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Old Jul 30, 2003 | 06:57 PM
  #18  
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What is a good price to have the windows tinted?
 
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 02:57 PM
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I thought it was from all the drugs I did as a youth. You mean it's only the window tinting?!?



d
 
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Old Aug 2, 2003 | 02:10 PM
  #20  
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>>I thought it was from all the drugs I did as a youth. You mean it's only the window tinting?!?
>>
>>
>>
>>d

Quick test: Take off your sunglasses. Roll down the window. If you still see the rainbows, your youth was not misspent.

Regards,
Red

 
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Old Aug 2, 2003 | 03:43 PM
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If I am wearing my polarized glasses, I have to roll my head 90 degrees to my shoulder to see the Nav screen. My cell phone screen is also *****.

any one remember that hokey Roddy McDowell movie with the special glasses that would reveal the aliens?
 
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Old Aug 2, 2003 | 09:42 PM
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Can't see my cell phone screen either, but now you have me looking for aliens through the rainbows. Ain't life grand?

Regards,
Red
 
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