Sedan rear antenna

[Swallowtail]

Is the sedan's radio antenna in the rear glass?

Looking to get tinting done, and apparently the reflective films can inhibit AM radio reception for antennas in the glass.

[Cro]

Yes and yes.
My tinter ended up putting a special non metallic tint on the rear as no dealer that I rang (at the time) could confirm wether or not the GPS aerial was on glass as well. Because of this I have no issues with AM radio.

[Rocket36]

Both antennas for GPS and radio are not "in" the glass. They are mounted at the very top under the rear trim strip at the top back of the cabin (which a tinter has to remove to do the job properly). Metallic tint in NO WAY affects either radio or GPS. I have all three...

[Swallowtail]

Cool. Thanks!

[ope126]

Both antennas for GPS and radio are not "in" the glass. They are mounted at the very top under the rear trim strip at the top back of the cabin (which a tinter has to remove to do the job properly). Metallic tint in NO WAY affects either radio or GPS. I have all three...

Swallowtail, as above! Rocket36 told me this previously in a thread about tinting the Passat.

Here is my experience as I has mine tinted just last week...

As mine also has Sat Nav, when the rooflining rear trim piece (third brake light) is removed you can see the antenna for the radio and the GPS antenna.
As for film, mine works with the sat nav / am and fm, nothing has been affected!

However, as Rocket36 also explained, if the tinter does remove the roof lining trim, make sure that all (6) metal clips go back in and that each one is CLIPPED into place. Because, if they are not, you get a terrible rattle / squeek from the rear!!! Mine had to be removed again and only 2 of the 6 clips were actually clipped in! Problem solved though!

As for the tint, I am well please.
Although, I still was keen to go the "Privacy Glass" look with the rear windows darker than the front. Maybe next time...

Send me a PM and I will let you know who did it.

Glenn

[Rocket36]

Glad to hear that got rid of your rattle Glenn!

Cheers

[Swallowtail]

Just had mine tinted... and all the doors and door trims dyna-matted. Wow, what a difference that has made. Only one problem - the rattle Glenn had, I got! Going back tomorrow for that. I got T28, black look, metallic tint. Looks awesome...

[sloutch]

Just had mine tinted... and all the doors and door trims dyna-matted. Wow, what a difference that has made. Only one problem - the rattle Glenn had, I got! Going back tomorrow for that. I got T28, black look, metallic tint. Looks awesome...

Hey, how much did it cost you to get your doors dyna-matted? Did it really block out all the road noise?

[Jayse]

Just had mine tinted... and all the doors and door trims dyna-matted. Wow, what a difference that has made. Only one problem - the rattle Glenn had, I got! Going back tomorrow for that. I got T28, black look, metallic tint. Looks awesome...

Want to see the grey with tints...

Cheers,
Jayse.

[ope126]

Just had mine tinted... and all the doors and door trims dyna-matted. Wow, what a difference that has made. Only one problem - the rattle Glenn had, I got! Going back tomorrow for that. I got T28, black look, metallic tint. Looks awesome...

Looks like they have broken one of the six plastic clip holders.
Or it has not been clipped in all six positions.

I just went to VW and purchased a whole new interior trim piece with new clips. As mine was actually broken.

Problem solved!

Cost about $80.

Let me know if you need the part number.

Glenn

[Swallowtail]

Glenn, I went back this morning and they sorted it. Took the trim piece off, there were 2 of the 6 clips not 'home', He also said that there were a couple of screws above it that were not tight, so he tightened them, and also put some foam tape on one point that was rubbing. End result - the car is verging on silent. No squeaks, rattles, anywhere, and the dynamat has reduced road noise quite significantly. The doors shut with a real 'thunk' now too LOL... It's also really strengthened the bass and mid-range definition from the Alpine splits.

[Rocket36]

Hmmm... Dynamatting sounds like something seriously worth considering...

[Swallowtail]

Hmmm... Dynamatting sounds like something seriously worth considering...

If you get it done, get it done properly. On mine they did both the door frames and also the door trims themselves. He quoted me $400 to do just the frames, and $600 for the lot, which given the time and effort it would have taken me was pretty good I think.

Pretty happy with the end result...

[Rocket36]

Wow! That's cheaper than I'd have expected... So the $600 was for the inside of the door trims and the inside of the doors? (i.e. a double layer)

What about the boot sides and floor? You reckon you'd get even more silence from that or don't want to lose the exhaust sound from inside the car?

[Swallowtail]

Yes, effectively a double layer. As to boot sides and floor, yes it would make a difference to sound-deadening, but my main reasons for doing it were: 1.) to make the doors feel and sound nicer to close - the rears particularly felt and closed quite tinnily (is that even a word LOL) 2.) to give me better bass definition from the Alpine splits in my 4 doors, and 3.) to reduce / remove some door trim squeaks / rattles that it had.

We talked about a sub in the boot, but to get anything worthwhile in the Passat with the heavy sound-proofing that is in the rear seats, etc, and also to make any impact whatsoever with the $3000 upgrade I have already had done, they were talking about a $1500+ setup (750 - 1000W monoblock, low-profile 12" sub, custom-made fibreglass housing either in the wheel well to fit in the spare wheel or in the compartment on the right hand side), and I just can't justify that at the moment.

This has enabled me to turnup the bass ever so slightly yet not lose definition.