VAG group windscreens
Discussion
Hi all,
I've noticed a lot of new VAG group cars seem to have green almost iridescent, highly reflective/mirror tinted windscreens.
How are they legal? They must be type approved with them, however they look far more tinted than I thought was legal?
just being nosey, as I'm not fussed, so no axe to grind
thanks
I've noticed a lot of new VAG group cars seem to have green almost iridescent, highly reflective/mirror tinted windscreens.
How are they legal? They must be type approved with them, however they look far more tinted than I thought was legal?
just being nosey, as I'm not fussed, so no axe to grind
thanks
TheConverted said:
Hi all,
I've noticed a lot of new VAG group cars seem to have green almost iridescent, highly reflective/mirror tinted windscreens.
How are they legal? They must be type approved with them, however they look far more tinted than I thought was legal?
just being nosey, as I'm not fussed, so no axe to grind
thanks
I'm no expert, but I think the reflective/mirror/iridescent element is irrelevant, and it is the light transmission that is the important part. Renault used to apply an iridescent/solar reflective coating to windscreens years ago which meant you couldn't see in very easily, and that was perfectly legal.I've noticed a lot of new VAG group cars seem to have green almost iridescent, highly reflective/mirror tinted windscreens.
How are they legal? They must be type approved with them, however they look far more tinted than I thought was legal?
just being nosey, as I'm not fussed, so no axe to grind
thanks
There has been a 'trend' recently for Chameleon tints on car windows, including the front, and from what I gather this is perfectly legal in the UK as it still allows enough light in.
As far as I am aware, there is no specific law that states you must be able to see inside a car through the windscreen. It's all about the light transmission.
My opinion is that the chameleon tints looks good on some cars and not on others. I personally wouldn't bother with them myself, despite being a big fan of window tints in general. My daily drivers all get tinted if they aren't factory tinted already.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 8th June 12:45
matchmaker said:
It's a heated windscreen. No visible wires. The "tint" doesn't show from the inside. My Superb has one and it's highly effective.
Yes. That as well.I thought the OP was referring to the trend for VAG cars to have a chameleon tint, but as you correctly state, the factory heated screen looks similar to the chameleon tints, but to a lesser extent:
(random photo I found)
COM31E said:
Chameleon tint?
It's the latest sign of a throbber, as far as I can tell. See also: black wheels, M-badges and painted grille fins on BMWs, 4D reg plates etc. etc.
It's the latest sign of a throbber, as far as I can tell. See also: black wheels, M-badges and painted grille fins on BMWs, 4D reg plates etc. etc.
no this is factory, I've seen too many for it to be aftermarket. unless its all the rage on bogo lease deal rep mobile market?
Lord Marylebone said:
matchmaker said:
It's a heated windscreen. No visible wires. The "tint" doesn't show from the inside. My Superb has one and it's highly effective.
Yes. That as well.I thought the OP was referring to the trend for VAG cars to have a chameleon tint, but as you correctly state, the factory heated screen looks similar to the chameleon tints, but to a lesser extent:
(random photo I found)
your all going to start noticing them now!
The 'chameleon tint' craze is owners mimicking the infrared-reflective tint glass of some more expensive models -- Porsche Cayenne, S-Class, decent Range Rovers, to quickly name a few. It's the same glass property as some people's glasses which have a purple or coloured reflection. If you've seen the same purple/mirrored tint on the windscreen of a Golf, Audi TT, SEAT Cupra, Polo GTI etc. then the chances are it's going to be a film applied to the glass on the inside and won't be be factory.
If you have sunglasses with polarising lenses then that accentuates the properties and makes it very noticeable when cars pass you.
As mentioned above, chameleon tints can firmly be placed in the same category as black wheels, wrapped roofs, 'M' badges on a 320d / 'AMG' badges on a C220 CDI etc. i.e. driven by braindead morons with their seat in the lowest possible position, with one hand at 12 o'clock on the wheel, mobile phone in the other hand and often vape smoke billowing from the window.
If you have sunglasses with polarising lenses then that accentuates the properties and makes it very noticeable when cars pass you.
As mentioned above, chameleon tints can firmly be placed in the same category as black wheels, wrapped roofs, 'M' badges on a 320d / 'AMG' badges on a C220 CDI etc. i.e. driven by braindead morons with their seat in the lowest possible position, with one hand at 12 o'clock on the wheel, mobile phone in the other hand and often vape smoke billowing from the window.
Lord Marylebone said:
Matchmaker answered it for you above. Heated front screen.
Could be spec'd with a heated screen, yes, but not conclusively. VAG's system uses a a conductive film sandwiched between the panes to heat up the glass, rather than similar to Ford's which heats up all the wavy elements and makes the windscreen go all fuzzy.I mean to be honest, the chameleon film is quite clever. You could tint all your windows with it, including the windscreen, to give privacy and stop people seeing into the car, and yet it is legal.
Whether it looks good is clearly a matter of personal taste!
I remember years ago, during the tail end of the 'Max Power' era, a friend of mine had a chrome effect type tint on his car windows, not the windscreen, but every other window. He was pulled several times by the Police who checked the tint level with the 'tintman' device, and found it to be legal as the tint was like the chameleon stuff, it barely reduced light transmission, but was reflective on the outside, a bit like a two way mirror.
They then argued it was illegal as "They needed to be able to see into the car to see who the driver was" which is clearly not true, nor, as far as I understand it, is it a legal requirement.
Whether it looks good is clearly a matter of personal taste!
I remember years ago, during the tail end of the 'Max Power' era, a friend of mine had a chrome effect type tint on his car windows, not the windscreen, but every other window. He was pulled several times by the Police who checked the tint level with the 'tintman' device, and found it to be legal as the tint was like the chameleon stuff, it barely reduced light transmission, but was reflective on the outside, a bit like a two way mirror.
They then argued it was illegal as "They needed to be able to see into the car to see who the driver was" which is clearly not true, nor, as far as I understand it, is it a legal requirement.
TheConverted said:
COM31E said:
Chameleon tint?
It's the latest sign of a throbber, as far as I can tell. See also: black wheels, M-badges and painted grille fins on BMWs, 4D reg plates etc. etc.
It's the latest sign of a throbber, as far as I can tell. See also: black wheels, M-badges and painted grille fins on BMWs, 4D reg plates etc. etc.
no this is factory, I've seen too many for it to be aftermarket. unless its all the rage on bogo lease deal rep mobile market?
Chameleon tint IS all the rage on bogo lease deal rep mobiles, though. I believe they call them "whips". It is indeed more obvious with polarized glasses.
poo at Paul's said:
TheConverted said:
I think my polarised glasses might be the catalyst here
I was just going to post this exact thing!! My Maui Jims are great on the beach, but pretty awful for driving or using a phone! !
KarlMac said:
poo at Paul's said:
TheConverted said:
I think my polarised glasses might be the catalyst here
I was just going to post this exact thing!! My Maui Jims are great on the beach, but pretty awful for driving or using a phone! !
Re. 'tinted' windscreens and drivers door window. I thought certain percentage tints were not allowed as it would be useful if other drivers/cyclists/pedestrians could see you to check if you had seen them - no guarantees that they were actually paying attention obviously!
In other news, my polarised Oakleys stop me seeing my HUD (first world probs etc)
In other news, my polarised Oakleys stop me seeing my HUD (first world probs etc)
Uncle Meat said:
Re. 'tinted' windscreens and drivers door window. I thought certain percentage tints were not allowed as it would be useful if other drivers/cyclists/pedestrians could see you to check if you had seen them - no guarantees that they were actually paying attention obviously!
In other news, my polarised Oakleys stop me seeing my HUD (first world probs etc)
Tint percentages are nothing to do with others being able to see the driver.In other news, my polarised Oakleys stop me seeing my HUD (first world probs etc)
Certain percentage tints are purely to allow the driver to still see the outside world clearly in lower light, or at night. It came about as there were numerous incidents, including serious accidents and deaths, in the 60's and 70's due to drivers not being able to see other vehicles or pedestrians clearly due to very dark tints.
The dark tints craze was started in the 60's by rock stars who wanted the VIP look on their cars, and companies like Radford, and Wood & Pickett, started customising many cars, especially Mini's, with dark window tints, and 'Double Shadowlight' tint was especially popular, which is the equivalent of what you might call 'limo tint'.
Unfortunately this craze for black windows on cars in the 60's and 70's caused a load of accidents and thus the laws about being about to 'see out' properly at all times were drawn up.
If you can apply a tint or film that stops people seeing in, but still allows you to see out without blocking too much of the light transmission, then it is perfectly legal, hence the Chameleon tints posted earlier in the thread. You can't see in, but they are legal as they only block a small percentage of light.
If you tilt your head sideways you can read the screens, we had this year's ago with the read outs on race yachts. They start using the screens sideways. With ment we could read them with polarised glasses. I'm not sure exactly but it's Todo with the lines in the glasses and screen lining up.
I think modern screen are the same they just re oriented them as my phone goes alot darker if I turn it sideways.
I just never thought about it with tints or heated screens in this case
I think modern screen are the same they just re oriented them as my phone goes alot darker if I turn it sideways.
I just never thought about it with tints or heated screens in this case
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