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My Renault Master 2014+ has full on windows fitted all round ...
At some point I'm probably going to replace one window with an opening one which only seem available in dark tints ?
Meanwhile, the glass is un-tinted and on one hand makes the van a pleasure to drive with visibility but on the other hand it usually contains bikes and tools etc.
What sort of tint % (or other method) do people have experience with?
Some sort of balance between visibility out and stopping people peering in?
I had considered even a "double tint"... the windows start high so perhaps even bottom in a darker and top untinted or light tint?
Some sort of solar/mirror tint is probably the best compromise of security and heat reflection versus making the inside a dark cave thats hard to see out of.
Probably not helpful to your situation at all, but I bought a full rear set of these a couple of years back and they're brilliant.
Fit in seconds, keep the car cool in summer. Removed in seconds in the winter. They fit perfectly. Slight compromise on rear visibilty but not a big problem
My rear windows were already heavily tinted in the factory and with the shades fitted you can only see inside the car with your face pressed up against the glass.
I only wish they made completely opaque ones for the front windows and windscreen when parked.
I hate getting into a car that's hotter than an oven
percy
Probably not helpful to your situation at all, but I bought a full rear set of these a couple of years back and they’re brilliant.
Only in that they don't make the size.... otherwise it is a good option.
I hate getting into a car that’s hotter than an oven
I made some thermal/100% blinds for sleeping (2x blackout material + 2x reflective bubble wrap + 60mm polystyrene recycled bottle insulation) and these can be fitted for 100% combined with a commercially bought cab set (nowhere near as insulating but couldn't be faffed and I have a fleece blanket that screens the cab off and/or fold over 2 bikes behind the seats.
However these need to be stored/unstored etc. which is a pain to simply park the van up for a ride or get changed/shower. [175 litres of storage including the other "overnight stuff"]
Another perfectly viable option is just some blackout material (+/- single layer of reflective bubble wrap) and velcro/magnets (depending on window) ..
spooky
Some sort of solar/mirror tint is probably the best compromise of security and heat reflection versus making the inside a dark cave thats hard to see out of.
Yeah I was looking at that as well. Although cosmetics isn't my MAIN driver at some point I want to replace a window with an opening window (makes it easier to vent the clothes/boot drier) and add fans without the increase in height (which is sensitive to 2-3 cm for parking barriers) but I can't seem to find one in anything but dark tint. (The van is black as well)
I did think of just ordering a small piece and trying it though... then I though .. hmmm someone on STW likely has tried different tints 😉
I used dark tint film off eBay. Can't see into the back of the van and happily see out. I did find it impossible to put on without any creases though. My vans an old workhorse so not bothered about that. If you want it tinted crease free I'd pay someone.
Have you checked mini bus suppliers.
G
I used dark tint film off eBay. Can’t see into the back of the van and happily see out.
Do you know what Tint %?
traiolrat
Have you checked mini bus suppliers.
Nope, not yet mainly "van" ones..and ebay/Amazon at the moment.
I was going to order a small but yesterday just to try but then I started wondering what tint... I need. I'm pretty sure i don't want "limo" (95% reduction) or "nearly clear" at the other end but TBH after that I don't know if its 80/20 ?? I was tempted to go 50% for no other reason than .. well the obvious.
I went for limo tint so you can't see in. Bikes are worth more than the van.
Had the rear and side windows done on our Rifter.
Think it was £90.
I did my Berlingo, 95% tint. It's dark inside but no bother seeing out. There's a 99% option too.
I did fit some little convex blind spot mirrors to compensate.
If the windows are removable then it's a doddle to do them yourself on the kitchen worktop.
Tempted to have the rear window done profesionally as its more of a faff. But would probaly go with 50% as there's already less light so you can't see much in the back anyway.
marin
I went for limo tint so you can’t see in. Bikes are worth more than the van.
Yeah fair do's... do you need that though is what I'm wondering but I guess of you can see out OK then it might be more "why not".
I need. I’m pretty sure i don’t want “limo” (95% reduction)
It really doesn't look that dark from the inside. It's no darker than a dark pair of sunglasses.
I’m wondering but I guess of you can see out OK then it might be more “why not”.
Was pretty much my reasoning. 50% looks like a 'tint' when you see it, it's like the lightest sunglasses.
thisisnotaspoon
It really doesn’t look that dark from the inside. It’s no darker than a dark pair of sunglasses.
Was pretty much my reasoning. 50% looks like a ‘tint’ when you see it, it’s like the lightest sunglasses.
thanks exactly what I needed to know.
I did fit some little convex blind spot mirrors to compensate.
Oh God, I hate those bloody things! We have driving school cars in with those on, as well as Motability cars, and I can’t actually see anything in them well enough to help me manoeuvre the damned cars! It’s far easier to see along the sides without those things taking up a significant portion of the mirror real-estate, and I’m moving cars into spaces between three or four deep rows of cars, with barely three or four inches between the door mirrors. If I’m lucky...
Oh God, I hate those bloody things! We have driving school cars in with those on, as well as Motability cars, and I can’t actually see anything in them well enough to help me manoeuvre the damned cars! It’s far easier to see along the sides without those things taking up a significant portion of the mirror real-estate, and I’m moving cars into spaces between three or four deep rows of cars, with barely three or four inches between the door mirrors. If I’m lucky…
You can sleep soundly, I'll probably never ask you to reverse my car (and they're pretty small compared to the mirrors).
I can’t actually see anything in them well enough to help me manoeuvre the damned cars!
Are professional drivers not subject to regular eye tests ? If not they should be .
Oh God, I hate those bloody things!
The Trafic has some external ones, they are not even adjustable and when the seat is adjusted for me they show mainly a distorted view of the side of the van.
for me they show mainly a distorted view of the side of the van.
otherwise known as the bit of the van you cant see with a properly adjusted regular mirror - and in normal vans you cant do a life saver to check it through the rear window as there is no rear window.
Got them on the iveco - they are a godsend- But then it has blind spots the size of countries - could lose a whole car in there if your not careful
Here's a comparison shot of the untinted front Vs 95% (or 5% depending on which way you look at it) rear. The camera lies slightly as it cant deal with the dynamic range, but the rear looks about how it looks in real life.
From the outside it's basically black in the daytime, at night it's pretty transparent if you have the interior light on. Same looking out, it's black until you're under streetlights or the roads illuminated by another car. I keep meaning to do the back window at 50% which will make a difference to light levels inside the car and therefore the perceived transparency of the side windows art night.
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otherwise known as the bit of the van you cant see with a properly adjusted regular mirror – and in normal vans you cant do a life saver to check it through the rear window as there is no rear window.
Got them on the iveco – they are a godsend- But then it has blind spots the size of countries – could lose a whole car in there if your not careful
I've got my main mirrors setup to just catch the side of the Belringo. The blind spot mirrors then show up the gap outside that between what the mirrors show and what you'd see with a lifesaver check.
Unlike a big van you can see back out the side windows in the Berlingo so it's less critical than the ones in the Transit. But I find them invaluable as you catch things at the Observation bit of OSMPSL rather than at the L. Most useful on the motorway when you've got people overtaking at +1mph and they can sit in the blind spot for several seconds.
You can tint yourself but it’s a faff and impossible to do without creases and other crappy looking bits. However a local tinting specialist can do it pretty cheaply nowadays, it’s hardly worth doing it yourself.
You can tint yourself but it’s a faff and impossible to do without creases and other crappy looking bits. However a local tinting specialist can do it pretty cheaply nowadays, it’s hardly worth doing it yourself.
Beg to differ, see above ---^