Not as bad as that (I don’t have fb). The gap is not as big. Can only notice if look very closely, but that’s partly because this factory tint is very light. If it was a darker tint I’m sure even a 1mm gap would be easy to spot on a bright day. This likely depends on installer skill.

Look at TSER not others criteria.

Oh my my. Obviously very poorly done or just terrible installer. Definitely not acceptable and would have requested to redo.

Totalgard got branch in Penang ?

Any other real life experience of Totalgard tint in comparison to V-kool or Huper Optic Sech60/C40 tints?

i'm interested to know as well anyone have any clue

dear all sifu, need some advise here, bought a new bezza for daughter. SA said the car already has a layer of tinted film but i guess thats not enough. So he suggested Rhinopro black rescue or black beauty

black rescue 2mil RM780, 4 mil security RM980

black beauty 2 mil RM950, 4 mil security RM1,250

should i just proceed with black rescue 2mil? or any sifu can recommend better one?

VKool super expensive but I believe it is still the best tint with performance drop that can last. Got 3 old cars with VKool Elite, 17 years, 15 years and 12 years. The heat resistance still worked good even up to now albeit slightly degraded. The tint also started to degrade (blurring) from year 14 onwards. Will be changing the tints. Will installed back VKool Elite, at least for the front windscreen, still the best clear tint with high heat resistance THAT can still worked with smart tag. Other high spec tints like 3M and Raytech with 70% VLT got problem with smart tag. Cost a bomb tho if you can afford it.

iirc my dad's old car with Vkool won't work and less chance it will work for the smart tag (old type bulky one), believe cz of Metallic Based tint. Agreed on the heat rejection quality of the Vkool, it lasted long up until the car was let go. On my car with Ceramic based tint, it works for Smart Tag but has less power for heat rejection compared to Metallic based tint. Recently many brands cw Sputtering tint based, which for me an equivalent to or better than Metallic based tint.

Hi all, has anyone tried comparing 3M Crystalline and Magnus Pro Ceramic? Confused between these two now.

If old car, might be the original Vkool 70, that one has problem working. Then they change to VKool Elite (for JPJ and Smart Tag), something like VKool 75 euro spec (that is the actual spec last time, don't know they change or not). But based on the spec now, it seems like it becoz euro spec is slightly higher than original VKool 70, based on the brochure, 70-71% VLT with 3mm windscreen glass, meaning the actual spec should be around 73 to 75%.

My cars still uses the smart tag 1st gen (bulky type) and 3rd gen. (2nd gen lost don't know where). Detection is definitely slower thus I have to put the smarttag very close to Windscreen and slow down, can feel it detect slower than Vios original tint but still they worked all the time. Those IR housing signal tags don't work tho. Even remote control, have problem working, have to move the car near or delay a bit to work.

Still very borderline VLT for Puspakom but better than other tint stated "JPJ Compliant" when their spec of 70% is the actual tint themselves without inclusion of windscreen.

This post has been edited by Cavino: Jul 27 2023, 02:46 PM

Yes I believe so. I used to have V-kool Elite on one of my old cars about 16 years ago for all windscreens front, side and rear. Even though it's not the highest spec tint, the heat rejection is the best I've experienced. It costs RM3.6k back then for my C-segment sedan. I believe if going with combination of V-kool Elite for front windscreen and V-kool 55, 40, 30 or 10 for side and rear windscreens, the heat rejection performance would be even better but the cost would be higher.

Fast forward to today, I believe prices are all higher now so it might cost RM5k to 7k to do the whole car with V-kool depending on the model of tint. If you have the budget, then it's good to go with V-kool again since it is proven to be good. No risk involved as it is a gamble if you with other cheaper tints which might or might not deliver the results that you want.

I now have Huper Optik Sech60 for front windscreen and C40 for all side and rear windscreens, all done up for RM1.7k ten years ago and cannot recommend it even though it's cheaper than V-kool. I find the heat rejection of the Huper Optik to be poor even when new. After 3 years, the car felt even hotter and after 5 or 6 years, if feels like there is no more tint on the car although it's still there stuck to the windscreens.

Now, according to ayamxx the Totalgard tint is comparable in heat rejection performance to the V-kool. The Totalgard costs around RM1k vs RM6k V-kool so it may be too good to be true but there's already one case here. I don't mind if the RM1k tint does not perform as good as RM7k tint since you can't complain much for the price you are paying. However, it must not be so poor that it gives only little difference when installed on the car. The Huper Optik at RM1.7k works well too but it is inferior to V-kool and also does not last long. Not sure how the Totalgard will compare to the Huper Optik or Vkool though.

If there are anymore cases of Totalgard users here who have switched from V-kool or Huper Optik, please share your experience here.

Forgot to mention on two more disadvantages with V-kool. Firstly, I was informed that there are many fakes around so you won't know if it's fake. Secondly, the pricing is inconsistent between the outlets. If you ask around, one branch may quote you RM4k and another branch may quote you RM5k or 6k for the exact same tint.

With Huper Optik, it's more consistent as the difference in pricing between outlets is in the range of few hundred ringgit only, around RM100 to 200. With Totalgard, I believe it's a minimal difference since there are only two outlets who can install the tints, I believe.

Quoted by HQ earlier, VKool Spec VK Elite (FWS), VK55 (Front Side) - Correction (earlier stated VK50), VK30 (RWS, Rear Side) for Civic 4850, for CRV 5350.

Anyway, there are also tints with very good performance for first year, so super until subsequent years drop like a rock till like no tint. VK experience means heat resistance can last real long. I also reluctant to change rear windscreen coz the risk of demister torn off is also very high. So normally I try to go for the best tint, at least rear windscreen. Front windscreen also try to go for VKool Elite due to the borderline compliancy (appx 70 to 71% with 3mm glass). Others can change more frequently if needed to. Also the nice greenish hue colouring for VK even 17 years, still there.

For VK, I will either install via NVK (HQ) or Tint-Shop to be sure. Forget abt other dealers, now even less dealer doing this coz the high price priced them out from most ppl except for super rich and die hard (like me, if I can afford it...hahaha).

I'm now looking at Raytech highest spec CS range for my old cars replacement but still thinking to put VK Elite on front windscreen due to smart tag issue and highest clear tint effectiveness to prevent dashboard fading.

This post has been edited by Cavino: Jul 28 2023, 08:22 AM

Thanks for the info on the pricing of the V-kool. Your combination looks ideal, Elite for front, 50 for front side and 30 for rear side and rear. So it is RM5350 for large SUV. I wonder if it will be the same for smaller SUV such as HRV or Toyota Corolla Cross. RM5k+ is a lot of money to pay these days but you pay for the quality and performance.

Yes, agreed on the nice greenish hue of the V-kool. I like this calming effect of the greenish hue of the V-kool. The Huper optik is brownish and does not feel as soothing as the V-kool. Not sure what hue are the other tints like.

Perhaps it is useful for tint manufacturers to publish the hue of their tints in the spec sheet so people would know.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Jul 27 2023, 03:45 PM

That”s the biggest factor that puts me off V-kool. After my trusted installer retired and sold his business, I can’t find a single V-kool installer that inspires confidence. Some outlets have frontline (reception girl) staff that don’t even know the product they’re selling, the “boss” is always too busy to attend to you and they just don’t seems as skilled.

Pricing inconsistencies between branches is also a huge turnoff. I suspect it’s worse here in JB since everyone and his dog claims to be an “authorized” V-kool, SolarGard, 3M or Xpel installer (they all claim they’re also the exclusive agents in JB, lol) in order to con Singaporeans.

Frankly, if someone quoted me RM5k+ for any of those brands, I’ll just tell them that I’d rather top up another RM5k and drive to PJ to install Spectra Photosync IRD instead. If I’m gonna pay mad prices, might as well go full Mad Max.

So you are based in JB. Is your negative perception of V-kool installers solely on the outlets in JB, or throughout Malaysia including Klang Valley or KL? I'm not sure about the quality of authorised V-kool installers here in Klang Valley or PJ, whether they are a rip-off or worthy consideration. Anyway, since the new car purchase is delayed, I won't need to make the decision so soon and have plenty of time to decide.

Totalgard RM1k (claimed to be comparable to V-Kool heat rejection performance) vs V-kool RM5k+. Big difference in pricing.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Jul 28 2023, 01:21 PM

If install, please prioritize on spec first. If the budget is rm1k for instant, the local brand get highest spec especially on IRR, TSER where's the branded maybe at mid spec with 80% IRR.
And nowadays there are as well products that give degradation warranty, mean they have confidence in their products reliability else we customer can get new tint under warranty annually.

There are plenty of other new name brand but give Premium price, for instant rm4.2k for my x70 last time and the installation is done at kinda car spa with all the facilities to entertain the customer. Well I don't know if I pay the rm4k for tint or majority of it for the facilities?

Honestly, here in JB, I have negative perception of 90% of installers, whatever the brand. If it’s a small-time Tan Ah Beng selling <RM1K package maybe I can close one eye, but a lot of these “established brand” shops seem just as incompetent and dishonest.

Visited SolarGard so called “official” store a week ago and was quoted RM4.5k for whole car. Everything she told me was copy-paste from SolarGard website, just translated to Mandarin (cannot speak English* when selling international brand is another red flag for me). She didn’t know shit about TSER. Couldn’t give me concrete reply if they could re-attach my front/rear dashcams after installation. Said her boss was busy when I asked for him. Basically, if I could describe their customer services in two words, it would be “fucking useless”. This is just an example. Not singling this particular shop out because a lot of tinting businesses here behave in the same way.

*but still has some fancy lalamui western name on her name card, lol

What’s laughable is that, when the “Ah Boy” near my house can guarantee me rear demister will not be damaged when removing factory tint (so much so that he said he will bear cost of replacement rear window if he gets it wrong), how can the so called “established” installers not offer that same guarantee? They keep trying to show me certificates on their wall. Hello, I can also show you a dozen different phd I bought from Indonesian and Philippine universities. Means I real doctor ka?

Last time I tinted in KV region was many years ago, when there were less fakes, installers were less dishonest, and prices were less insane. Cannot comment about current day scene there.

Regarding Totalgard - I had a conversation with Marn a few days ago, and he was extremely helpful. The guy knows his product. I actually have some respect for this company because they used to bring in Sahara X (which I have positive experience with) back in the day, until they went their own way with manufacturing Totalgard locally, so basically the expertise is there. Sadly, they don’t have authorized/official installers here in JB. Marn did forward me a couple of shops that buy wholesale from Totalgard but offer their own tint packages (and pricing), but one of them wasn’t operating at the level I felt comfortable with while the other only specialized in buildings. This is not a knock on Totalgard since it’s out of their control (they’re primarily wholesalers, after all), so if it’s convenient for you on a logistical level, I suggest visiting their place in Kepong to at least hear what they have to say.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Jul 28 2023, 10:32 PM

For me, in order of importance; 1. Installer, 2. Spec, 3. Price

Spec for smaller brands (or even big brands) can be exaggerated, but you will learn about actual real world accuracy if installer is honest. If installer is clear about the limitations of what the tint can and cannot do (there’s no magic bullet - if your autogate remote still works, means the tint manufacturer was lying about their high IRR) and has the confidence to tackle problematic installations (dashcams, rear demisters, tweeters sitting between a-pillar and windshield), and still manages to quote a realistic price (not too cheap but not crazy either), then I’m willing to take a chance with their local/in-house brand. Usually, if you’ve dealt with car people for a long time in this country, you can sort of tell who is honest and who isn’t based on style of speaking and body language. This is why I will always insist on visiting installer first even when dealing with a bigger company over phone/email/wasap. Will not simply allow them to make appointment for me. Even better is you recce installer first before contacting main branch.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Jul 28 2023, 04:19 PM