2007 Camry- Metalized tint and FM/AM reception problems?

[Agent WD-40]

Will getting metalized tint on the rear windows cause any FM or AM radio reception problems? I just want to make sure before I take the plunge. Now I just need to decide if I want 20% all around or 20% rear and 35% on the front...

[netman]

Originally Posted by Agent WD-40

Will getting metalized tint on the rear windows cause any FM or AM radio reception problems? I just want to make sure before I take the plunge. Now I just need to decide if I want 20% all around or 20% rear and 35% on the front...

I've got the 3M ColorStable didn't seem to affect my radio reception.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...beT4DCJBL6BVgl

IMO, I thought the 20% was kinda dark at times. If you can, better to have one all around so it won't look so different.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

I got 5% in the back windows and 35% in the front, i wish i had gotten 20% in the front. and i might do that..see how much it will cost to redo the fronts. It does take a bit of getting used to at night.

[Agent WD-40]

Originally Posted by netman

I've got the 3M ColorStable didn't seem to affect my radio reception.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...beT4DCJBL6BVgl

IMO, I thought the 20% was kinda dark at times. If you can, better to have one all around so it won't look so different.

I'm looking at the 3m color stable (which isn't metalized). The 20 in the color stable is a little darker than the regular 3M metalized 20 film. Do you think it is too dark?

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

well ask yourself...Do you do a lot of night driving? Do you find it hard to see at night (ie. Backing up) are you sensative to the sun..

you could do 20 in the back windows and 35 in the front. it would look alright.

[r_egan]

I went with Suntek Carbon film (http://www.suntekfilms.com/carbon.htm) so that I wouldn't have any radio reception problems. Very nice film.

[Agent WD-40]

I'm just going to do 20% all around. I know I will like it in back and if I don't like it in front I'll just go lighter later.

So, to answer the first half of the question- nobody has had any problems with FM/AM radio reception with the metalized tint on their new camry?

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Mine's an '02 but the radio antenna is in the window. And i do have metallic tint and no problems for me.

[Agent WD-40]

Thanks for the help so far. I'll see what the price difference between the two is and go from there.

[akide]

I have Sungard Diamond metallized film on my Camry, 20% in the back and 35% in the front and I don't have any issues with my AM/FM radio reception.

[CamrySExxx]

what ever you do get the same %age all around. i think it looks kinda dumb. we have that done on our gen5... but when we did our gen 6 we got 20% all around. looks much better

[remay]

re: Will getting metalized tint on the rear windows cause any FM or AM radio reception problems?

I have a 2007 LE and had Llumar metalized film (lifetime warranty - not sure which product) before I realized that it might interfere with radio reception. I believe it IS causing problems with AM radio reception. In the mornings I can hardly receive a prominent 50Kw station in our area.

My question to anyone is how the antenna is laid out in the rear window? I was told if it is in the defrost drid, then metalized film will be a problem. If it is separate from the defrost grid, then the film could be sliced with a razor blade parellel to the antenna wire so that it doesn't ground the antenna.

[Yazovets]

I have metallic tint on my windows. While I have not noticed any FM reception issues as compared to before, it DOES affect satellite radio reception.

See my satellite antenna is INSIDE the vehicle on the rear shelf where the rear speakers are.

Before it could be in any position to catch. Now, it must be right in the middle so that the two rear glass shoulder lines never obstruct its line of "sight". Else I sometimes lose signal when I'm driving in the woods between large cities.

But as I said, if the antenna is placed in the center, there are no problems.

I have also experienced no problems with cell phone reception.

Wireless internet reception (802.11g and b) however ARE affected. With my laptop, if all windows are closed I get 10-20% weaker signal from the same spot as compared to before. Rolling down one front window just a few centimeters helps. But even if I don't, I still catch the network.

There are pros and cons to metallic tint. But I don't mind living with the several limitations it creates.

[Agent WD-40]

I appreciate all of the input. In the end I put 3M ceramic Color-Stable tint on. The shop gave me a good deal on that film. I'm quite happy with it so far. Obviously not reception issues either.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

^ pics?