What is the best film for the glass sun roof to give best UV etc. protection from the sun?

 

I believe all decent quality tints provide 99% UV protection. We just did ours with SunTek 5%. 3M also has film, but my provider said it was the type that would fade and turn purple in about 5 years.

 

Krylon spray paint. Seriously though, I had 20% tint put on my sunroof and it wasn't dark enough so I had it covered externally in white vinyl. Now in the day light it looks like a really dim fluorescent light.

 

I installed a 5% window tint with ceramic, the darkest you can get and I'm very please with the performance to date. The ceramic is a nano technology and reflects both heat and UV rays. I keep my screen closed too which will help with fading. Good Luck!

 

I'd have to throw my thumbs up on the ceramic tint... had it installed on my wifes 08 expedition EL, tons of window space.... the ceramic tint, Pinnacle series (if I"m not mistaken).. was put on ALL windows (except front window of course)... and I must admit, in the TEXAS SUMMER, black leather seats, etc. the car was no where near as hot as I know it could have been and for comparison sake to my 07 civic honda civic with (metallic tint, not dyed) which just seems to RETAIN the HEAT, dont' get me wrong it does the job, but very big difference betwen my metallic tint versus my wifes ceramic tint.... just amazing in keeping the HEAT out.....

I'd like to think some of us dont' have a problem with light as long as the HEAT doesn't transfer and I'm sold that ceramic tint does the job and does it well.....

 

"Purpling" was more of a problem with the old dyed polyester films, and isn't an issue with the newer metallic/ceramic films. 3M makes a variety of films, and the only one I can think of that *might* purple with age is their bottom-of-the-line "FX Standard" film.

 

ceramic tint is the way to go.

 

Who are the manufacturers or brands of ceramic tint? I'm planning to have my Clubman windows and sunroof tinted this month wtih Llumar film, but I do not know if they offer a ceramic film.

 

I've been warned by my dealer that the sun-roof glass may crack if tinted, stated there have been a few cases. I have opted for the ZIPPEE shades, they fit both sunroofs great and do keep out alot of heat.
http://www.zippeegear.com/

 

The sun roof glass itself blocks all UV rays, it's what glass does. Any UV protection in the tint film is to protect the film from UV exposure.

I put a perforated Union Jack on my Clubman's sun roof. It cuts light transmission by 25%. There is a clear plastic film over the perforated graphic, that has UV protection, but that is to protect the graphic from fading.

Dave

 

So Dave, are you saying that all factory glass (side glass and windshield glass included) in my MINI has UV protection? I'd like to know more about this. Can you provide a resource that states this? I would like to know details...what % of UVA and what % of UVB, etc.

 

Here is an article about glass and UV protection.

http://www.smartskincare.com/skinpro...v-indoors.html

Clear glass will block all of UVB radiation, but isn't good with UVA. Laminated glass, as used on windshields, does block UVA.

Premium auto glass as used on Audie, Mercedes and BMW, have UVA protection built in to their tempered glass, to protect the leather interiors of their cars.

Dave

 

Great to know! Thanks for the helpful information, Dave!

 

glass blocks nearly all of uv light there is no need to coat glass for any such protection.

 

All but the windshields on MINI's are Polarized, like sunglasses, so they block out UV rays; you can tell this by the weird way they look when you put polarized sunglasses on. The front windshield is not polarized, but it will block out some UV rays.

 

Just to point out a minor inaccuracy in this thread...

Agreed that most glass blocks most ultraviolet (UV) light transmission; and blocking the rest through tinting will generally be good for your interior in that it will reduce or eliminate fading of the colors and general deterioration.

However, what you're really looking to block is heat. This comes from two primary solar sources: visible light and and infrared (IR) -- in almost equal proportions (IR is a bit higher contributor); UV only provides about 3% of the heat radiation that enters your car through its windows/sunroof/etc.

This is the main reason why window tints are more effective when they're darker; they reduce the amount of visible light entering through a window. This is also why the sun shades that people stick in their windshields when the vehicle is parked are reasonably effective: a large reduction in the visible light transmission into the car. However, I will admit that I don't know how effective automotive window tints really are at curbing IR transmission; I know sun shades tend to absorb, then re-radiate IR; so dark tints may simply end up doing the same.

Bottom line is it's a bit of a trade-off when tinting windows; it reduces the visible light transmission, and therefore heat inside the vehicle; but may be working a bit against itself when it comes to IR...

Sorry about the "mini" science lesson; I'm an engineer and can't help myself...