Apologies for not reading all 405 pages of this thread. Looking to tint an upcoming car (currently waiting list). What’s the coolest (highest TSER rating) reputable brand one can get now that still passes JPJ guidelines?

Budget around 3k, but willing to exceed if it’s worthwhile. I’m in JB, so if anyone got shop recommendations, even better. SmartTag compatibility not important (in JB seldom use toll highway, so TnG enough) but must pass maps/gps and autogate remote test.

Thanks in advance.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Mar 19 2023, 10:29 PM

For driver, front windscreen is the one that gets the most heat and glare. JPJ rule VLT70 for front is really too low, even with the TSER from those expensive (V-Kool, Llumar, 3M) brands. My mom’s current car using 3M Crystalline 70 at the front she still complains of heat. Next tint job for her incoming car I plan to follow JPJ for front window (VLT50) and back (VLT30), but the windscreen I intend to make a bit darker. Example, if IrisPro Diamond series, my plan is 60 for front windscreen + windows and 30 for rear seats and backside.. My mom is old lady, so maybe JPJ just lepas her. If kena then kena la. just replace the front one only.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Mar 30 2023, 11:18 PM

My own car uses a combination of V-Kool Elite and Premier, with Elite 70 for the windscreen, and I think it’s a lot better for heat rejection compared to 3M Crystalline in my mom’s car. Personally I won’t be returning to 3M anymore. For my mom I cannot make it too dark also, or she will have difficulty driving at night or inside indoor carparks.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Apr 1 2023, 11:53 AM

Before tinting that car at the time, I checked the authorized dealers in the 3M website, emailed them for confirmation for the installer I selected, and did all the usual checking of boxes and labels at the installer shop. If still kena cheat, I cannot do anything more.


Oh, it definitely helps compared to factory tint and lasts longer than shop house brand, but still quite warm. My mom’s car spec same as yours - Crystalline 70/50/40. It’s mostly the windscreen area that I can feel all the heat and burning feeling coming from, whereas I feel the V-Kool in my own car (Elite70/55/40) is a lot cooler. I still wish JPJ allowed for a bit lower VLT for windscreen though, like 55 or 60.

V-Kool on my car (Harrier) full coverage around RM5.5k iirc, but company pay for everything. If ask me to pay from own pocket also think twice. V-Kool pricing very bloated these days, and I think it’s worse here in JB because a lot of Singaporean come here to tint and willing to pay because conversion still end up cheaper for them compared to SG price, and V-Kool Elite is one of those long time brands known to confirm they pass their own LTA inspection. In the old days the car salesman can still help get discount from Tint-Shop (V-Kool installer) but now no more.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Apr 3 2023, 04:07 PM

Yes, will still feel a bit warm. It’s just physics. No matter how good, a 5mm layer of film cannot beat that final boss nuclear reactor at the center of our galaxy.

Will not be burning hot where you touch the steering wheel and must go hospital to treat third degree burn, like with no tint.

More importantly, you turn on the a/c and the car will cool relatively fast, and remain cool. With no tint (or useless manufacturer factory tint), you need to blast a/c to max, and then once you reduce the a/c the car will start warming again if driving under sun. So your whole trip you’ll be dancing with your a/c knob, increasing and decreasing the fan speed to compensate, or if your car has automatic climate control it will do the dance by itself and you’ll start to wonder if it’s haunted.

Ah, yes. Sorry. In my head I know solar system vs galaxy, but came out wrong in writing. I blame the heat and our lousy 70% VLT ruling for front. If JPJ allow 50% front, sure don’t have this problem because can think straight.

Doesn’t V-Kool also use sputtering?
Only difference is the material - ceramic sputter for 3M vs metallic sputter for V-Kool

Many different grades of ceramics and metals out there, but ceramic in industrial applications tend to be more scratch resistant compared to soft metals like titanium, silver or gold (metals used in metallic tint sputter). For heat, yes, metallics tend to perform better because they reflect heat rather than absorb heat like ceramics do, but in terms of durability I don’t think the type of sputter is the single determining factor. There must be some other variable at play that causes your 3M to scratch easily in this case.


Even after taking inflation and MYR weakness into account, your V-Kool price from 11yrs ago was a lot cheaper than current V-Kool pricing. Their prices are crazy jacked up right now.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Apr 7 2023, 10:55 AM

For the Hamel, that kind of high TSER can only be achieved with darker (JPJ non-compliant) tints. No way will you get 71% TSER with a 70% VLT tint, whatever the brand. Your brochure pic indicates (based on the Darkness scale on the bottom right of the car) 50%, 15% and 05% VLT offered, so I’m assuming the 50% VLT film will give 71% TSER (which I think is unrealistically high, but I’m no expert) while the 05% VLT film will give 85% TSER (which is believable considering that level of darkness is basically limo level tint, wish you good luck in underground carparks). You need to check with them to be sure. If you don’t care about JPJ compliance, then no issue.

IrisPro has a series that’s higher spec, called Diamond, but only has two shades – 60% and 30% VLT – so that one also won’t pass JPJ regs for front windscreen. If you want JPJ-compliant shades, you can mix and match Elite and Diamond series for highest possible TSER. From my WhatsApp conversation with an IrisPro rep a couple of weeks ago, Elite series is RM2688 and Diamond is RM2888, both for sedan, before any seasonal/installer discounts. If you mix two variants, pricing will follow package price of the higher variant.

All this is assuming both companies’ marketed TSER levels are accurate, of course. Personally, I’m always a bit skeptical of such lofty claims, which is why I’m still searching myself.

Btw, I surveyed V-Kool recently at my local Tint-Shop. A combination of V-Kool Elite70/55/40/30 + Tevolooks coating is around RM6k++ (depending on vehicle type/size). Just putting it down for you to compare. I cannot offer comment on coating and PPF, because I’m a simple “cuci + water-wax” pleb.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Apr 12 2023, 12:10 AM

Wait, what?!! RayTech Centurion so expensive now?

Edit: If intend to spend big, might as well top up and go straight for V-Kool Elite.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Apr 12 2023, 02:10 PM

As others above have stated, best is to trial and error. Maybe you can go late at night or early in the morning when less cars to test. Also take note that if you just tinted shouldn’t lower/raise windows for first few days (your installer should have tampal those sticker on top of your window and demister buttons to remind you), so better to open the door.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Apr 14 2023, 03:24 PM

Afaik, there are only two companies that will give you official warranty covered V-Kool in Malaysia. First is NVK Interior (the company responsible for v-kool.com.my), and the other is Tint-Shop (tint-shop.com.my) who are considered official distributors. Only installation from these two companies’ branches will get you the V-Kool warranty card. It’s a physical card, btw. If the shop you installed it tells you e-warranty or “just bring receipt” nonsense, means fake.

Eidt:
Also, from what I’ve read, the REM series V-Kool is not part of the international product line. I think it’s a regional OEM that’s rebranded as V-Kool. Still considered original and warranty covered (if installed at the above mentioned places) but cheaper and lower performance. If I’m not mistaken, some of the other brands carried by Tint-Shop like Solar Cool and Uni-Tint are basically from the same supplier as the REM line.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Apr 18 2023, 03:41 PM

How cheap? Budget?
Actually, a lot of cheaper tints work (for a limited period of time) if you go very dark. It’s the heat rejection on light tints that’s the hallmark of branded expensive tints (and even in that segment a lot of brands aren’t as good as they claim).

This post has been edited by dev/numb: May 3 2023, 07:55 PM

It’s not the only issue. A tint with lousy heat rejection will also cause cabin heat up again when driving under hot sun. You max your a/c to cool the car, then drive for a while before reducing a/c fan speed to normal levels. Then you realize the car is getting warmer again and need to blast a/c full. By the end of a really hot day, you’d have done that dance with the a/c fan knob so many times your fingertips will be as hard as a virtuoso guitarist’s (or the knob would have fallen off first if it’s a French car).

Have one relative using their tint. Don’t feel it’s so great. Installation is shoddy and the heat rejection is poor for such a dark tint. People attracted to them for the low pricing, but I feel if you want to go cheap may as well drive around a few accessory shop (like those car audio shop who also do tint) to compare spec/price/warranty since can also get low pricing. Also, personally, I tend to avoid any business that calls itself a “concept store”, because the term just sounds vapid and hollow.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: May 7 2023, 05:07 PM

Someone should take this opportunity given by the crappy weather to tag Loke on socmed and tell him lower front windscreen VLT rule.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: May 14 2023, 02:12 PM

Solitaire series is SG market specific (X75 and X83 variants for front to comply with SG LTA regs), and possibly in some other countries in the West. Why is the shop selling SG/international market stuff here? For a regular sized sedan, V-Kool Solitaire + Vseries full car coverage is around SGD1,500 - 1,800 (maybe higher nowadays) so RM2k for front section of car seems to be believable, but you better check on the warranty situation. Nothing I’ve read from NVK Interior (local V-Kool official MY distributor) says anything about the Solitaire series. Also, Solitaire is actually lower performing (in terms of TSER) compared to Elite (which is V-Kool top-end JPJ compliant tint for MY market), so you’re paying an unnecessary premium, imho.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: May 25 2023, 07:54 PM

It’s possible the websites aren’t up-to-date. Visit NVK Interior or TINT-SHOP website and one can tell they were designed donkey years ago. Even their promotions are already outdated. Last I visited a TINT-SHOP they still only quoted me for the usual Elite73/55/40/30 packages, so maybe Solitaire is really new here. What variant of Solitaire were you offered and what was the spec (VLT & TSER) listed? Did the shop promise official warranty (physical card) authorized by NVK Interior?

As a JB resident, all I can advice is to avoid any business under the FiPai group. Those people big cheats. If V-Kool, best you go straight to TINT-SHOP to enquire. Afaik, that’s the only business is Johor that will provide official nationwide V-Kool warranty. 3M harder to say because a lot of fakes around.

Spec-wise, in terms of TSER seems to be similar to what’s shown on MY site;
https://shop.v-kool.com.my/store

On one hand, RM2k seems to be okay for front half of the car if you compare to their usual quote for a whole car. On the other hand, it’s still quite expensive.

I currently use V-Kool Elite/55/40/40 on my car and can vouch for the performance, although I think our front windscreen 70% VLT rule is too low, because even with high-end brands the heat on very bad days still comes from the front. For my mother’s upcoming car I’m planning to go with IrisPro’s Diamond or Elite series, will comply with JPJ for sides and back, but go darker at the windscreen.

Someone from Thailand once told me that many of the US/Euro brands actually not suitable for our region’s high UV index unless you go very dark. Probably some truth in that.

IrisPro specs; https://irispro.com/products/automobile-2/
They claim to offer performance warranty (10yrs for their flagship series), stating that if infrared or ultraviolet rejection drops by more than 10% they will replace.

Never tried on car before, but recently for my office meeting room which has full glass front facing west, we recently installed IrisPro Optical Safety Series 50 (for commercial use) and it was a noticeable improvement over the original tint. We settled on 50% VLT because my hipster staff prefer some natural light in that room. Previously we had to use a lower a/c temperature to cool that room sufficiently from midday to closing time (setting sun), but now we can set it to 24-25C for the whole day and temperature stays constant, and there’s no more burning feeling when standing right next to the glass, but obviously these are early days and impossible to judge how it will hold up long term.

You can WhatsApp their rep @ +6018-2697128 to get a quote for your front half. Last time I contacted them, I got RM2688-Elite and RM2888-Diamond for a full car (C segment sedan or SUV). You can ask them to quote you for just the front of your vehicle. Can also ask for branch address or registered installers in your city.

Another option is to just go for regular OEM and just change every 2-3 years. Just make sure to avoid Alva or ExpressKool. Alva installation is shoddy as hell, and ExpressKool (the most popular “SA free gift” brand here in JB) has lousy heat rejection even for their darkest tints. Better you visit smaller accessory shop to see what they can offer for their own “Gard” brand if you want to take the budget route.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: May 28 2023, 05:51 PM