Honestly, here in JB, I have negative perception or 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.

Hi Sir, Marn here if you really need to know more about our product feel free to contact me at +6012-5596013. Please bear in mind even our top range product does not cost more than RM1.5K. You also can come directly at our HQ in Kepong for heat rejection testing. Below is our location:

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐝𝐧 𝐁𝐡𝐝
47, Lorong Kuang Bulan, Taman Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

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.

Hi sifus, wanna ask - is it ok if my tint doesn't comply with JPJ specs? SA advised that if i go ahead with JPJ spec tinting, will feel very hot (I'm just getting the cheapo RM500 tinting, so IRR will be very low). He suggested that i get windshield 50% VLT (JPJ: 70%), front seats 30% (JPJ: 50%) and back seats 20%.

Wanted to hear everyone's opinions on whether it's a common practice to not comply with JPJ specs, and what are the risks of kena saman? Heard that saman cases due to tinting is less rampant lately.

Appreciate any kind of sharing or feedback or advise as I'm a first time carbuyer. Thank you in advance!!

I’m no sifu. Just a layman, so I can explain only in layman terms.
Basically, solar heat comes from 3 spectrums;
53% Infrared Light
3% Ultraviolet Light
44% Visible Light

So even with the best tints that claim to reject 99% IRR* and UVR, you will still have some heat coming through if it’s a lighter shade (70% VLT means only 30% of that 44% is being blocked), so if it’s a lower spec tint, you will be adding more unblocked IR heat on top of the unblocked VL heat.

*note that this is actually more complex that I make it out to be, because some manufacturers measure against shorter wavelength ranges compared to others.

TL;DR = Yes, cheaper tints can compensate (to an extent) for their lower IRR by going darker.

Hi sifus, wanna ask - is it ok if my tint doesn't comply with JPJ specs? SA advised that if i go ahead with JPJ spec tinting, will feel very hot (I'm just getting the cheapo RM500 tinting, so IRR will be very low). He suggested that i get windshield 50% VLT (JPJ: 70%), front seats 30% (JPJ: 50%) and back seats 20%.

Wanted to hear everyone's opinions on whether it's a common practice to not comply with JPJ specs, and what are the risks of kena saman? Heard that saman cases due to tinting is less rampant lately.

Appreciate any kind of sharing or feedback or advise as I'm a first time carbuyer. Thank you in advance!!

Put aside the jpj/puspakom compliant factor, which one has better heat performance?

1. VK55 (FWS) + VK40 (front side)
2. V-kool Elite (FWS) + VK40 (front side)

I got the quote for both combo above, the #1 is higher price by rm500 compared to #2. Is VK55 better performance than Elite?
They told me VK55 is latest Solitaire series as compare to Elite which is Serendipity series (older model).

Put aside the jpj/puspakom compliant factor, which one has better heat performance?

1. VK55 (FWS) + VK40 (front side)
2. V-kool Elite (FWS) + VK40 (front side)

I got the quote for both combo above, the #1 is higher price by rm500 compared to #2. Is VK55 better performance than Elite?
They told me VK55 is latest Solitaire series as compare to Elite which is Serendipity series (older model).

Why don't you just go for VK40 all around?
I'm using VK40 for FWS for 3 years already (although changed to new tint in March from windscreen replacement) and quite pleased with the performance
As the above comment, for VKool tint, the darker the tint, the more expensive it becomes

Why don't you just go for VK40 all around?
I'm using VK40 for FWS for 3 years already (although changed to new tint in March from windscreen replacement) and quite pleased with the performance
As the above comment, for VKool tint, the darker the tint, the more expensive it becomes

My quote from Tint-Shop was different. Only Elite 70/73 was cheaper by $500. VK55/40/30 were the same price.

My quote from Tint-Shop was different. Only Elite 70/73 was cheaper by $500. VK55/40/30 were the same price.

how much if vk elite front, vk 55 front side and rear vk 40 for sedan

Should be RM4k to 4.5k, depending on size of car. My quote was for a Corolla Cross (classified C segment but in terms of interior size and overall glass coverage is more like B+ segment, imho). My Harrier XU80 I did for roughly RM5.3k (company expense, fortunately) around 18 months ago, but this one included sunroof coverage.

Not gonna tint V-kool for the Cross (mum’s car). Already made an appointment for IrisPro – Diamond 60 for front windshield and front side, Diamond 30 for rear and boot – on Wednesday. Total RM2.8k. Will report back after a few days of use. Recently tinted our company office glass with this brand and the performance has been great, so fingers crossed the experience with their automotive line films will be similar.

interesting, waiting for your review hahah

diamond 60 means your front windshield not within jpj spec right? your state jpj dont bother to catch is it

Already made an appointment for IrisPro – Diamond 60 for front windshield and front side, Diamond 30 for rear and boot – on Wednesday. Total RM2.8k. Will report back after a few days of use. Recently tinted our company office glass with this brand and the performance has been great, so fingers crossed the experience with their automotive line films will be similar.

interesting, waiting for your review hahah

diamond 60 means your front windshield not within jpj spec right? your state jpj dont bother to catch is it

Usually they let you off if they can see your face. If not, just be polite about it and tell them that in this weather sticking to 70% “tak boleh hidup lah bang” and they will close one eye most of the time.

TL;DR = “Kalau dia boleh nampak you punya muka suda boleh lah” as most of the tint installers will tell us

Afaik with JPJ roadblocks the officers are issued one of two types of meters;

The first type is similar to the one our tint installers use, meaning the need to put the glass in between it to measure, which technically means they only have the ability to measure side windows. In those instances, you’ll pass as long as your front side windows measure above 50% VLT. Do note that many 50% VLT films will end up measuring lower once combined with the window glass, so in this case a 55% - 60% VLT film is a safer bet.

The second type is a two piece device that’s like two sticks. That one can measure any glass. The officer will hold one end outside over the windshield car and pull the other end inside (through your side window) to align it under your windshield. The problem with that decice is that they’re the same models Puspakom uses which are (I suspect intentionally) calibrated in such a way that they will fail those inspected vehicles that are below 76 or 77% VLT (some places only 80% VLT will pass), so there’s a high chance you’ll fail that test anyway even if your tint is legal.

Usually they let you off if they can see your face. If not, just be polite about it and tell them that in this weather sticking to 70% “tak boleh hidup lah bang” and they will close one eye most of the time.

TL;DR = “Kalau dia boleh nampak you punya muka suda boleh lah” as most of the tint installers will tell us

Interesting you went with Irispro. RM2.8k is in between Totalgard ~RM1k (claimed comparable to V-kool's performance) and V-kool RM4k-5k.

Just a note on VLT for front windscreen. I share the same sentiment as dev/numb. In my view, as long as it is not too dark ie. people can see your faces rather clearly when they look at the windscreen when standing outside of the vehicle, that is all that matters. I am guessing most if not all cars will fail the 75% VLT test even though the tint is claimed to have 75% or 76% VLT since the original windscreen may not be 100% VLT. Also, there isn't any JPJ or police roadblock for more than 10 years already here in Klang Valley specifically to nab culprits which go overboard on dark tints.

For me, a VLT of about 60% is still acceptable. My car which is on Huper Optik Sech 60 has a VLT of 59% and it's still not too bad. Anything below 50% VLT is considered dark already. My friend has VLT 40% on his front windscreen and he did not have an issues since there is lack of enforcement. However, I wouldn't go too dark as below 50% VLT mainly to prevent any unnecessary problems should there be a roadblock by JPJ/police in the future specifically to check on tints. They won't be checking the vehicle one by one if there is a road block. They will only stop vehicles where they can't look at the faces clearly. Secondly is during night time driving. Darker tints may affect night time driving to some extent which is unsafe.

here in kuching sarawak, roadblocks are common. mostly catch those without road tax and those tinted black black get stopped at the road side

surprised klang valley is not strict with tints considering the new rules 70% and 50% VLT was implemented only few years ago

I see. I've only been to Kuching once many years ago. Not sure about the conditions there but here in Klang Valley more than 10 years I have not encountered any JPJ/police operation on tints. That may be one reason there are many car owners who chose to go below VLT 50% for front windscreen. You won't be surprised if you see some cars where you completely cannot see the faces of the front passengers sitting inside the car where the VLT for front and front side windscreens are probably 20% or lower. Looks like VIP or gangsters cars where the windscreens are completely dark even for front side windscreens. OF course you can't do that to front windscreen as you need to look at the road when you are driving but that too I noticed some cars have very dark tints on the front windscreen. It's quite common here mainly due to lack of enforcement.

About 15 or 20 years ago when there was some operation going on to catch vehicles with dark tints, that too was rather rare. I think I only went through 1 or 2 road blocks only where JPJ/police check the tints on vehicles throughout my 30+ years driving experience.