Window Tinting for Passat Wagon

[PassatB6]

Here is some more info on tinting a Passat.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ow+tint&page=3

OK from what I can see it should not affect the Passat wagon because the antenna is not located in the window itself?

[Rocket36]

Still not sure about the wagon, but here's a post regarding antenna locations for the sedan. I imagine it's similar for the wagon.

I have no problems with the metalic tint in mine. The window tinter showed me the antennas for both the radio and the SatNav. They're under the rear window trim liner across the top the roof. Not actually in any of the glass or anwhere that metalic tint is going to affect them. I can't imagine the antennas in the wagon are a different unit but they may be located elsewhere.... Thing is, they're not flat so you couldn't tint over them, not even accidentally while blindfolded!

[apom]

I did a fair amount of research on this and the dealer actually wouldn't put metalised tints on any of the VW's anymore as they said they had had some issues and as such moved away from them for the reason of interferance

[nivek]

I ordered a sedan with metallic tinting (the after sales lady called it the "ICT" tint). I chose it because it gave the windows a mirror like finish that looked sweet on a black R36.

She convinced me that it will not affect the aerial... but after reading this thread, I'm not so sure.

[vanDub]

Bolle Green

I got my Granite sedan done with Bolle Green, looks darker than I expected from outside (compared to my other car which has a light grey tint - already fitted when purchased). The green shade compliments the car colour far better than the bluish tinge of most of the black/grey tints. I took the strong professional recommendation from the Tint shop owner on this one.

I paid $395 at Ming, the standard Ming price, but got the $550 bolle green tint supplied by Tint-a-Car to Ming (same owners).

From inside looking out the tint is suprisingly easy to see out with minimal darkening and with colours appearing enhanced. At night it is naturally a little darker to see out but white lights just have a slight yellow/greenish (amber) tinge. I also have the accessory rear blind, which I leave up all the time, and still have no issue looking throught the rear window, even at night.

If you can negotiate a reasonable price go the Bolle Green. It's made by the sunglass people of the same name and is top quality (which is needed up here as the heat is hard on poorer quality material which bubbles easily). Remember, you get what you pay for and may rue a cheap tint in later years!!

On a side note, is your car pre MY08 as the rims appear to be a 16" and a style I am not familiar with. They are not my cup of tea as my pet hate with alloys is a lack of symmetry between the number of spokes and number of wheel studs making the holes appear irregularly positioned.

[Rocket36]

LMAO!!! TINT will NOT affect the antenna for either the radio or the sat nav (100% sure for the sedan - haven't seen the location on the wagon)... ANYONE that says otherwise is simply wrong!!!

[tryingavw]

LMAO!!! TINT will NOT affect the antenna for either the radio or the sat nav (100% sure for the sedan - haven't seen the location on the wagon)... ANYONE that says otherwise is simply wrong!!!

pretty bold statement: on what experts knowledge do you base this?

many of these tints are metalized and it could well affect aerial performance.

[R36 Dreamer]

I have 15% all round on my R36 (except the front window).

Looks great, and easy to see out of at night.

I posted pictures under another window tinting thread if you want to see how it looks.

It is a metal based tint, and I can report no issues with radio reception in Sydney.

As a guide, I generally lose sydney radio stations north of Mt White. Always had the tint so cannot say whether this is better/worse than others - maybe someone without tints can chime in here?

Cheers

[Swallowtail]

pretty bold statement: on what experts knowledge do you base this?

many of these tints are metalized and it could well affect aerial performance.

On the sedan, the aerials are located under the covered panel at the top of the rear screen. There shouldn't be any reason why tint would affect the aerials in that location, unless they are removing it and tinting inside it!?!??!

[PassatB6]

I rang a VW dealer parts section and they told me that in the Passat wagon the aerial is located at the top of the rear window. Didn't tell them why I was asking. Rang the tint guy who agreed that metal tint will affect the AM performance and said that their solution is to use ceramic tint on the rear. He said it looks exactly the same.

Also said that some dodgy tinters put old polyester on the rears of later model Camrys and AU Falcons to vercome this very issue. Said that very soon you will notice these cars with bubbling rear tint.

I do like the Bolle but looks like Formula 1 is a less expensive and the grey colour I'm after.

[Rocket36]

pretty bold statement: on what experts knowledge do you base this?

many of these tints are metalized and it could well affect aerial performance.

On the sedan, the aerials are located under the covered panel at the top of the rear screen. There shouldn't be any reason why tint would affect the aerials in that location, unless they are removing it and tinting inside it!?!??!

Correct! And they're not flat either. From memory, they're about the size of a cherry ripe bar. And they're not mounted on the glass (not the clear part that gets tinted anyway). So impossible for tinting (if done right) to affect it.

I rang a VW dealer parts section and they told me that in the Passat wagon the aerial is located at the top of the rear window. Didn't tell them why I was asking. Rang the tint guy who agreed that metal tint will affect the AM performance and said that their solution is to use ceramic tint on the rear. He said it looks exactly the same.

Also said that some dodgy tinters put old polyester on the rears of later model Camrys and AU Falcons to vercome this very issue. Said that very soon you will notice these cars with bubbling rear tint.

It's clear the tinter you spoke to was referring to antennas that are IN THE WINDOW ITSELF as he referenced the Camrys and Falcons.

Why is this non-issue so hard for people to understand? If it wasn't such a pain to remove the roof lining and put it back, I'd go and take a bloody picture of the antennas for both radio and sat nav.

Sounds like the wagon location is the same as the sedan and if so, reception is NOT affected. Mine's been tinted since April with NO issues.

[tryingavw]

Correct! And they're not flat either. From memory, they're about the size of a cherry ripe bar. And they're not mounted on the glass (not the clear part that gets tinted anyway). So impossible for tinting (if done right) to affect it.

It's clear the tinter you spoke to was referring to antennas that are IN THE WINDOW ITSELF as he referenced the Camrys and Falcons.

Why is this non-issue so hard for people to understand? If it wasn't such a pain to remove the roof lining and put it back, I'd go and take a bloody picture of the antennas for both radio and sat nav.

Sounds like the wagon location is the same as the sedan and if so, reception is NOT affected. Mine's been tinted since April with NO issues.

rOCKet its amusing to READ your POST with lots of capitals ETC.

FACT is , radio reception can and is affected by proximity to other metal objects- especially AM ( capital here are usual ) reception, so a tinted windscreen in proximity to an aerial may well affect the reception even if the aerial is not directly under it.

As an electrical engineer myself, I would not be fitting the metalized tint near a screen mounted aerial, unless an expert had actually tested it!

Having said the above, I would expect FM reception will be far less affected if at all.

Hence my original post , on what expert advise ( ie did anyone actually test it) was the comment made ? Did you compare the reception before and after fitting tint?

[Rocket36]

Re-read my post... Specifically this bit: "Mine's been tinted since April with NO issues."

Can't speak for AM radio though because I'm not 60 and don't listen to it CRAP!!! LOL!!!

Everyone's free to choose the tint they want in the end but the best (IMO) are the metalic tints. Since they have no affect on either of my antennas, I'm happy and I'm sharing my experiences here for people that are curious.

Use what you want! I don't care!

[tryingavw]

Re-read my post... Specifically this bit: "Mine's been tinted since April with NO issues."

Can't speak for AM radio though because I'm not 60 and don't listen to it CRAP!!! LOL!!!

Everyone's free to choose the tint they want in the end but the best (IMO) are the metalic tints. Since they have no affect on either of my antennas, I'm happy and I'm sharing my experiences here for people that are curious.

Use what you want! I don't care!

Re read MY post- did you compare before and after?

I said it may affect performance- not stop it working all together.

[Swallowtail]

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