[thirdmainroad]

Solar Shield Nano Ceramic Sun-film long term review

I’ve learnt the importance of high-quality sun films for cars. They’re a worthwhile long-term investment with a 5-year warranty, and they usually last much longer.

To effectively cool and keep heat out, sun films should be installed on all windows, including the front and rear windshield.

I’ve moved from cheap sun films to 3Ms CR70s and then tried Solar Shields upon a recommendation. I chose their top-of-the-line Nano Ceramic Teal Series 70 series with the highest heat rejection. It cost around Rs 40,000 to install on my Taigun.

Two years later, I’m thrilled with my choice. The front windshield significantly reduces glare, making it easier to drive during the day, as well as the night with oncoming high beams. The vision remains clear, and my automatic rear view mirror functions properly.

I now find it uncomfortable to drive and sit in cars without high-quality sun films. Once you experience the difference, you miss it when it’s not there.

Solar Shield Nano Ceramics outperform 3Ms CR70s and are highly recommended.

While I think they are the best, they are not the most expensive. They are actually cheaper than 3Ms!

https://solarshield.in/

I’ve attached their product catalogue from their website.

SolarShield All in One Catalogue.pdf

I also noted down some of SolarShield’s partners’ contact information:

- Chennai - Hatimi Sales Agencies: +91 98411 53207
- Coimbatore - Caar Bloom Enterprises: +91 99440 55545
- Hyderabad - Xtream Automotive: +91 77021 75455
- Bangalore - Pro Ventures/Marketeers: +91 98864 02971
- Delhi - Autochoice: +91 98101 02446
- Ahmedabad - Yug Motors: +91 97370 64545

Need for replacement

I recently scratched my windshield and had to replace it. Windshield experts didn’t have mine, but Chennai Windshield in Taramani, Chennai, had VW originals in stock. Despite their great Google reviews, I hesitatingly went there. But they did a stellar job replacing it for only Rs 6500, about 2k less than experts.

https://g.co/kgs/ZqHxhYD

With the new windshield, I had to get sun film on it again. I was initially quite skeptical, and thought I'd save the 14-15 k that it would cost me. I thought it was mostly in my head, and that it wouldn't really make too much of a difference. I don't drive at night as much anymore, and the protection against high beam glare wasn't as important to me as it would have been a year ago.

But in no time, I realized that it was essential that I get the Solar Shields on the windshield. The windshield is the largest glass in a car, and that's where most of the what comes in from. And while driving with direct sunlight - my steering and hands would get uncomfortably warm. To add, the car would be much warmer - especially the seats when parked outside.

I contacted Solar Shield directly via their website and explained that I needed a replacement for the front. They offered a discount without me even asking for one and quickly organized for their dealer in Chennai to send a replacement and installer to my house, and it was done hassle-free and really well!


In the meantime, I got talking to someone at Solar shield and I got a lot of interesting details about the sunfilms, which I thought would be great to have up here.


Sun film details

Infrared rays make up about 53% of the solar energy. Visible light makes up about 44% and lastly ultraviolet (UV) light about 3%. All of these 3 energy make up the solar spectrum and their combined energy is what we refer to when we use the term Total Solar Energy.

Therefore, when comparing how much heat it can reject, we should be comparing Total Solar Energy Rejected (UV + visible + IR). Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) is a factor that describes the total amount of solar energy (UV + visible + IR) that is rejected from passing through glass.

The IR rejection rate is a number that lets one understand that the film can reject majority of the heat from infrared. It does not mean that if a large portion of the IR is blocked then almost no heat will be transmitted through a film.

Different Types of Sun Control Films:

Various sun control films are available, each with unique properties and benefits.

1. Deep Dyed Films - These non-reflective films provide some glare and fade control, but not much heat control. They fade easily and turn purple, but block UV rays. They’re the most economical film, but not very durable.

2. Metal Sputtered Films - These films are created by sputtering metal particles onto a polyester film in a vacuum chamber. They have good solar control properties, but aren’t popular due to their metallic sheen. They can interfere with electronic devices.

3. Nano-Ceramic Films - These films are made by sputtering metal particles and then de-metallizing them to create a ceramic-based material. They retain most of the heat rejection properties of sputtered metal films without the electromagnetic interference that causes signal loss. They’re the highest quality and most expensive films.

Note: Crystalline films are made of multiple metal-free nano-layers.

Why Nano Ceramic Films?

Nano ceramic films, made from advanced nanoscale ceramic materials, outperform traditional films made from dyed or metalized polyester. They excel at heat rejection, blocking up to 99% of UV rays and reducing infrared heat, while maintaining clarity and color stability. Nano ceramic films are also more durable and resistant to scratches and abrasions, making them suitable for harsh environments. Unlike metalized films, they don’t interfere with electronic signals.

[lemedico]

The age old question gets repeated: are these legal? Are these conforming to the vague guidelinesof transparency?
How I wish to have all my car's to be sun protected, but the whole large question mark about it's legality holds me back each time!

[nisshith]

I have one doubt on the windsheild glass. I assume that the protection film goes inside the car, so if I need to replace it what happens to all the stickers (fastag, RFID tags, HSRP etc)?

[el lobo 6061]

Originally Posted by lemedico

The age old question gets repeated: are these legal?

No.

Sun-films are banned by Supreme Court of India.

Manufacturers are playing with wording and calling them safety glazing.

Its better to have factory manufactured pre-tinted glass. 70% visibility for front and 50% on sides. This is allowed by law.

You cannot stick anything on glass.

[rajivr1612]

Originally Posted by el lobo 6061

No.

Sun-films are banned by Supreme Court of India.

Manufacturers are playing with wording and calling them safety glazing.

Its better to have factory manufactured pre-tinted glass. 70% visibility for front and 50% on sides. This is allowed by law.

You cannot stick anything on glass.

Is the 70% VLT different for pre-tinted glass and sun film?
Then what purpose this rule serves? If all vehicle manufacturers start providing factory fitted tinted glass, then this rule goes for a toss.
Not sure what the Honourable SC considered before passing this judgement. A country where temperatures touch 40 deg easily and we have such stupid judgements.
Imagine the extra fuel burnt just to keep the AC compressor running for longer to maintain the required temperature.

[UrbanRider]

Originally Posted by el lobo 6061

No.

Its better to have factory manufactured pre-tinted glass. 70% visibility for front and 50% on sides. This is allowed by law.

Which mass market car company provides factory fitted pre-tinted glasses? Only for the sunroofs have I seen tinted glass. Is there any other alternative if the car company doesn’t providel pre-tinted glass on their cars?

Someone really needs to come up with a rule that serves for the masses good. What I can see in the horizon are car companies coming up with higher priced variants that come with tinted glasses as a premium option. Capitalistic world we live in!

[nirmaljusdoit]

Tinted glass only reduces UV, it does nothing for heat reduction. 40,000 INR for sunfilm is excessive and there are much cheaper atleast 40% less nano ceramic films out there in the market.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by UrbanRider

Which mass market car company provides factory fitted pre-tinted glasses?

Kia Seltos is one car which comes with pre tinted glass. This is based on the owner's confirmation when I had asked about sun films applied.

[thirdmainroad]

Originally Posted by nirmaljusdoit

Tinted glass only reduces UV, it does nothing for heat reduction. 40,000 INR for sunfilm is excessive and there are much cheaper atleast 40% less nano ceramic films out there in the market.

You are right, tinted glass does nothing for heat rejection, but good sun film does a whole lot.

I’ve tried different films, and I think .. cheap is always not good. Quality has a price.

As for the legality - let’s note that the Kerala court has recently allowed sun film provided it has over 70% visibility.

Also note, that a lot of mods we do are deemed illegal. So I think getting in to the legalities of this is pointless.

That said, with this particular film, I’ve never been stopped. Usually the Karnataka cops hound TN registered vehicles for anything and everything, but they have not figured I had the sun film on even when they stopped for routine harassment checks while I pass through KA. It’s not really very visible and resembles a high end cars windows.

For reference, find below a picture of how the sun film looks on the windshield, with the windows rolled down.

It adds a very cool and calming effect, and does not hamper visibility at all.

[maverickgenius]

Originally Posted by UrbanRider

Which mass market car company provides factory fitted pre-tinted glasses?

At least one car I know: Maruti Baleno top end (Alpha) gets factory tinted glasses (UV-cut glass in Maruti parlance).

I am thinking of replacing the glasses in my Zeta variant with the UV cut glasses. I was surprised to see that the cost of each window glass is only approx Rs 2,500 which works out lesser than the cost of sunfilms! And they come without the headache of the (il)legality angle.

[lemedico]

Originally Posted by el lobo 6061

No.

Sun-films are banned by Supreme Court of India.

Manufacturers are playing with wording and calling them safety glazing.

Its better to have factory manufactured pre-tinted glass. 70% visibility for front and 50% on sides. This is allowed by law.

You cannot stick anything on glass.

Whilst you are spot on about factory tints being legal, there is a dearth of vehicles which actually have them!

I hope the government makes IR and UV cut glass mandatory some day. Think of the benefits! Less road rage, better fuel economy, fewer skin and eye health issues and a general better upkeep of the interior plastics

[rakesh_r]

On the legality point of view:
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...new-norms.html (Kerala High Court interprets use of sun film legal, as per new norms)
To be on a safer side, i have stuck films with 70% VLT on my Gurkha and it has made a ton of a difference. We were able to comfortably travel from Pune to Kerala.

[.HEM]

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

For reference, find below a picture of how the sun film looks on the windshield, with the windows rolled down.

It adds a very cool and calming effect, and does not hamper visibility at all.


Attachment 2685202

It would be great if you can share a photo from outside, so that we can see what the cops will see. I usually travel through Loyola College, the cops will standing there every day and have see vehicles with sun films being caught and fined.

[BhayanaV]

This question must have been asked at least few thousand times in this forum. Anything pasted on car glasses is illegal. Even the magnetic shades, they are supposed to be used on stationary cars, not while driving. Depending on the location, traffic police will create issues against sun films. E.g. in Chandigarh you cannot drive a day without being caught. And it's very easy to detect it, it shows a typical tint in light, both day and night. Traffic police knows it, especially the lower ranks are expert, this is one of their convenient income source.

[loco-motor-007]

Originally Posted by thirdmainroad

Solar Shield Nano Ceramic Sun-film long term review

Two years later, I’m thrilled with my choice. The front windshield significantly reduces glare, making it easier to drive during the day, as well as the night with oncoming high beams. The vision remains clear, and my automatic rear view mirror functions properly.

I now find it uncomfortable to drive and sit in cars without high-quality sun films. Once you experience the difference, you miss it when it’s not there.

Please also consider investing in a good pair of anti-glare glasses (applicable only if you do not wear glasses normally). Costs around INR 1500 and does a pretty decent job of reducing the glare during night drive.