Window Tint vs Radio signal? Gen 6.5

[ceresia]

Just received my new 2011 Camry. First thing I am going to do is tint the entire car. I usually get my cars done at Custom Sounds, at around $200 for an excellent job I cannot complain.

One of the tint guys there tells me that if I do not go with this expensive tint $350 or so, that I will degrade my FM signal strength...

I have a nice looking built in antenna on top of my car, or at least my dumb-arse thought it was an antenna....

Any help would be great, and also, I did search, and only found one guy talking about tint on his Pontiac Vibe....not a 2011 Camry.

[Luna2]

All Camry's radio (AM/FM) antennas are in the rear window.
The antenna in the center of the roof, at the back, is for the Sat receiver, which is mounted under the drivers seat.

[wreyes1989]

Originally Posted by ceresia

Just received my new 2011 Camry. First thing I am going to do is tint the entire car. I usually get my cars done at Custom Sounds, at around $200 for an excellent job I cannot complain.

One of the tint guys there tells me that if I do not go with this expensive tint $350 or so, that I will degrade my FM signal strength...

I have a nice looking built in antenna on top of my car, or at least my dumb-arse thought it was an antenna....

Any help would be great, and also, I did search, and only found one guy talking about tint on his Pontiac Vibe....not a 2011 Camry.

it looks like they are trying to get extra money from you, i never heard of this, and my friend that does tints said he never heard of that either and do you still use your radio?

[wreyes1989]

BTW that supra looks extra sweet!

[ceresia]

I appreciate all the responses, and thanks about the Supra comment, that is a terrible picture even.

I use my FM radio each morning to get Traffic updates, and listen to some talk radio, otherwise I use my iPod or thumb drive, I am actually going to install my DNX7100 today, since I miss my Nav already.

I don't understand why a specific type of tint would mess with my FM reception...

[GreatAvalon]

if tint is metallic based or has metallic in it, it can cause interference with your radio signal if your antenna is in your back window. it can also cause problems with a sat antenna if it is mounted in the car and you have all windows tinted. however, if the tint is carbon based, there is not an interference issue at all. i got a quote for my avalon fully tinted for $200. so if it is carbon based than no big deal. Metallic based/has metal in it, CAN POSSIBLY cause interference. the $350 tint is probably for ceramic tint. higher heat rejection, contains no metal so it wont interfere with any signals. hope this helps

[Losio]

Also if u gona use FM transmitter from inside the car the tint will lower a signal being situated in between the transmitter and the rear window antenna.

I don't mention night driving with tinted front doors - not 2 easy 2 c mirrors.

[ceresia]

Every car I have driven as a daily has had full tint on front and back windows, just never had a built-in antenna in the rear window, guess I will have to ask if the Tint they are using is metallic or not.

[gator1939]

Per Custom Sounds website

http://www.customsounds.com/home/tint.php

If it is the Comfort series it has a metal alloy layer. That would interfere with your radio signal.

gator1939

[Aceventura9586]

I had metallic tint on my old camry and metallic tint on my new camry. I have no issues with AM/FM reception. Doesn't do shit. They're just trying to upsell

[JohnGD]

I don't know about those series (Classic, Comfort, Pinnacle). They sound like LLumar films. I wouldn't use a dye-based film.

I like 3M films because of the daily experience with their film and adhesive products. The 3M ColorStable is a nano-carbon, non-metallic film. It's better than dye-based for not much more.

$350 is probably for a ceramic based film (Pinnacle?). And if they are selling the Pinnacle then the price should be ok. The question would be if you want the extra heat rejection but the film may be thicker (distortion).

[touringcamry]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

I don't know about those series (Classic, Comfort, Pinnacle). They sound like LLumar films. I wouldn't use a dye-based film.

I like 3M films because of the daily experience with their film and adhesive products. The 3M ColorStable is a nano-carbon, non-metallic film. It's better than dye-based for not much more.

$350 is probably for a ceramic based film (Pinnacle?). And if they are selling the Pinnacle then the price should be ok. The question would be if you want the extra heat rejection but the film may be thicker (distortion).

$350 sounds quite low for ceramic tint especially if it's all around. But at the same time, it's a bit high for 3M CS, unless the front windscreen is getting tinted also.

[darmster]

I have a new 11 LE and have had my metallic based window tint for 2 weeks with no FM/AM receptions issues in the Atlanta area.

[JohnGD]

I think the reason for that is because the antenna is actually outsidethe tint (on the rear window). But GPS and cell phone reception may suffer.

Originally Posted by darmster

I have a new 11 LE and have had my metallic based window tint for 2 weeks with no FM/AM receptions issues in the Atlanta area.

[pinchepunx]

I have my 2008 Camry coming in soon and one of the first things I wanted to do was tint my windows. Since it's a white car with a light gray interior I thought the contrast would be nice so the car doesn't look so "pale". I was thinking of going 35% all around. But reading this about the possible INTERFERENCE WTIH RADIO AND GPS concerns me.

Aside from Aceventura and Darmster anyone else have GOOD LUCK with their tint? OR, anyone have their Camry tinted all around and have any trouble with their radio or gps?

Thanks!!!