Tinting windows help cool interior?

Tints will keep some heat out of the car.

I never knew they made a Mk2 Leon without aircon, so I've learned something today!

A MK2 without AC? Never heard of that one before I though AC was standard throughout the range? Guess everyday is a school day.
Alex

Yeah I thought they all had it, what model and year is your car?

I'm not sure if the tints help, it's the fact that the heat gets in and can't get out...

They probably wouldn't do any harm

Some of the tints are UV-A/B solar reflective so stop the heat getting through in the first place. However I'd check to see the ones you are looking at have this facility.

Try the new Crystalline series from 3M. CR 70 is almost clear but with great heat reduction.

Check this out http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...me/Products/WindowFilm/CrystallineWindowFilm/

Read this as well http://www.modified.com/tech/sccp_0...w_tint_mitsubishi_lancer_evolution/index.html and google around for more info.

I am going to install crystalline to all my windows tomorrow and I'll let you know.

Leon mk2 + no a/c = UNTRUE SURELY.

*Has a think*

The tints would absorb light energy and heat up. And would then heat the inside of the car up.

But clear windows allow the light to pass straight through (at certain angles) so would trap less energy.

Mmmm a-level physics.

http://www.windowfilm.co.uk/Commercial3.aspx?CF=Commercial_Prod_1_product

We have many different types of film available; ranging from our standard Reflective Silver through to Bronze, Grey or Tinted. These window films will reduce the heat by around 75%.

The heat reduction capability is obviously greater when on the move than when stationery, but when you have a tin lid soaking in heat you don't have much option. Brother in law had his done last year, and his kids are far more comfortable temperature-wise in the car when on the roll.

FAST AL said:

Leon mk2 + no a/c = UNTRUE SURELY.

Click to expand...

Think they did a base model called essence, which was reference minus air con

Apologies.I stand corrected.

I've deffo noticed a difference with my standard tints. If I leave a can of pop on the back seat or foot-well it's much colder after a few hours then if I leave it in the front cup holder. Also the arm-rest keeps them colder than I expected.

SeanQ I went today to a professional installer. They are trained and certified for this job so you better find a good professional to do this. Cleanliness during installation and end result clarity is of great importance, plus you get a certificate (for MOT) and lifetime warranty. These specific films are very new offering double the heat reduction than previous generations yet are almost clear but they come at almost double the price. Once they were installed, the car was left on the sun for few hours and when I got in the car I immediately felt the heat difference in the cabin than before. The most amazing thing was that that the windows that were covered allowed almost no heat so I couldn't feel the heat from the sun whereas those not covered you could feel the heat coming through. An additional observation was that the a/c reached the desired temp very quickly and kept it stable with minimum work. I believe that if a film can keep a car cool under Greece's scorching sun it can surely keep your car cool in UK. Although in my country putting film on the windshield is not recommended, it is so good that I decided to do my windshield too because I can't stand the heat coming through it.

For reference check this out:

Crystalline CR-70 (New gen.)..........................Color Stable CS-50 (Previous gen.)

68% Visible Light Transmitted....................................51% Visible light transmitted
50% Total Solar Energy Rejected...............................37% Total solar energy rejected
(59% On Angle)
97% Infrared Rejected..............................................30% Infrared rejected
38% Solar Heat Reduction.........................................18% Solar heat reduction
9% Visible Light Reflection Int....................................8% Visible light reflected
9% Visible Light Reflection Ext.
99.9% UV Rejected...................................................99% UV light rejected
23% Glare Reduction................................................42% Glare reduction

The installer were a 3M approved dealer and they had the films in stock. You should search for approved 3M dealers in UK and then find a local one. If you can't find one you could order the film but they come in big rolls (approx. 50 x 1,2 meters) so I don't think it is wise to buy a roll just for your car (plus it way too expensive). Also as a general information have in mind that cheap films have aluminum (to reduce heat) but the seal your car from a signal in or out of the car so antennas don't work and reception is bad. Another negative of cheap tints is that they turn purple after few years so they look like crap. 3M films in general (CS and CR series) don't have aluminum and they don't turn purple after time.