If you want RM3k for both tint + coating, then the consensus here would be to go with decent local brands. With cheaper tints, it’s mainly a question of how dark you are willing to go for the front part of the car, and how many years you want it to last. Those are the only two areas branded tints can have the advantage, because their light tints have better heat rejection compared to cheaper brands (although imho still not sufficient for our weather) and they tend to degrade slower over time (also not guaranteed, tbh).

If you go with a brand like Totalgard for tint, you can probably get a very good spec and still have RM1-1.5k remaining for coating at another shop. Another option is to take the budget route and spend around RM1K for a tint + coating package at those “concept stores” and then redo every 2 or 3 years, basically splitting you budget over a longer period.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Sep 15 2023, 08:53 PM

Will it be reasonable if I do side / back window tinting first, followed by only WS tinting half a year later OR just go ahead and tint all with cheaper tint for WS first (cost and practicality wise)
Just got my car couple of month ago (new WS insurance) , but already got stone chip on windscreen.
Just a minor chip right at the road tax area, so not visually affecting me.(thus not in a rush to change WS)

Haven't checked those brands yet. Just now went to Bangi and surveyed. Found one shop quote RM1k to top-up tint on top of the available tint. The price seems reasonable. The shop's suggest spec is Black Phantom 50 (SOLAR GARD) with TSER 47%, UV 99%, and IRR93%. Not sure whether top-up tint on available tint is the best practice here. Still surviving though.

This post has been edited by razkal: Sep 14 2023, 03:05 PM

Is this brand reliable ?

XPEL is a respected brand (especially their PPF), but overpriced. Your pricelist is for their third tier film. Above that you still have Prime XR Plus and Prime XP series.

Prime XR tak boleh pakai in our weather. Bare minimum should be Prime XR Plus, but I wager the price will be at least RM500 more. Top spec Prime XP is probably around V-kool price already.

Comprehensive lifetime warranty doesn’t mean much when you’re being comprehensively baked by the sun for the lifetime of the car.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Sep 15 2023, 03:43 PM

what are your recommended brand to look for ?

Answer these questions first;

1. Are you willing to break JPJ guidelines?

2. If answer for question 1 is yes, how dark do you want to go?

3. What’s your budget?

4. New or old car?

5. Your location?

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Sep 15 2023, 03:51 PM

1. Are you willing to break JPJ guidelines? NO

2. If answer for question 1 is yes, how dark do you want to go?

3. What’s your budget? RM3000

4. New or old car? New Car

5. Your location? Puchong

IrisPro HQ is at Puchong. Their Elite Series has the VLT spec to comply with JPJ 70% front windscreen and 50% front windows guidelines. Elite series also has 5mil security spec if you want. SmartTag will work for this series if that’s important to you. Price should be around RM2.5-2.8k, depending on car type/size. Visit https://irispro.com/products/automobile-2/ for details. I have one of their sales staff contact, so you can PM me if you decide on this brand.

If you’re willing to drive to Kepong, then Totalgard is probably the best budget option according to consensus on this forum recently. Infusion Pro series should be good enough, but I cannot confirm if they have 70% VLT for the front windscreen or not. Last I checked, they had 63% VLT as their lightest in that series, so a little below JPJ spec. Their sales rep posted the Totalgard customer careline number here before. Look for Marn @ 012-5596013 via WhatsApp (weekdays only, 9am-6pm) and he will assist you with spec.

You can also contact dog999 on this forum for advice. I cannot remember his location, but should be within drivable distance for you. He specializes in 3M films, but I think he also has other brands available. Good reviews on this forum.

Important: Just to let you know, no matter how branded or high-spec your tint is, following JPJ rule of 70% VLT for front windscreen will still let in significant heat (because half of solar heat travels via the visible light spectrum) through the front of the car. A good tint will definitely help with reducing the burn on your skin, but don’t expect your car to be super cool with sun blasting into the front on a hot afternoon day with just 70% VLT, especially for newer cars with sloped windscreens and long dashboards. I want to make this clear because later if you still feel heat with whatever brand you decide on, I don’t want you to blame the members on this forum.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Sep 15 2023, 04:29 PM

Thanks for the recommendations....
Can i say VKOOL is still the gold standard ?

What the price quoted for the brand today? Long time ago still ol price. Just take their full spec package. On many seller, they combo the brand with less spec on windows to put a cheaper price

This post has been edited by ayamxxx: Sep 15 2023, 05:26 PM

back then, vkool & 3m (crystalline) are the top brands. but nowadays, there seems to be a lot of alternatives. in the us, xpel seems to be popular.

Guys, let say my front glass pecah, and Im using 3M. My insurance cover for the windshield, but does the 3M will reinstall back the tinted ? Is that what the 5 years warranty for ?

Planned to tint my car years ago but never did. Lol!

But then again, good thread tho.

This post has been edited by Ewww!: Sep 16 2023, 03:13 AM

No.

Warranty by tint company is for tint degradation or tint defects.

Purchase insurance to cover both windscreen and retint if tint is expensive brand

Sorry, missed your post earlier.
As for which option to take, it’s up to you in the end. If you can live with the untinted (or factory tinted) WS, then go ahead and tint the rest of the car first. If cannot bear the heat/brightness coming from the front, then get a cheapo tint for it alone and upgrade when you change WS. If your WS insurance includes tint coverage, then maybe you can claim that as well.

Nowadays Insurance very strict and hard to claim with expensive/quality tinted already (unlike few years back).

They priority claim windscreen first and then most tinted need topup for quality brand like 3M. Mostly they free windshield tinted are using very cheap quality tint yea.

My car has 3M tint for 12 years++ already.

But the tint got many scratches now all over and the vision is heavily affected by the scratches.

So I would like to replace the tint with very cheap tint. Any recommendation?

Besides, will changing tint affecting the heating lines as well as the rain sensors for auto wipers?

nope , they only replace the glass , for tinted you have to do by yourself

depends on two things:
1 - your windscreen coverage amount. it needs to be enough to cover both glass and tint
2 - tint shop - some applicators do provide windscreen claim service. so you can do both windscreen replacement + apply new tint.