MB Sun Protection Glass

[anonymous-user]

Hi all, my 08 E-class estate has the factory fit sun protection glass (tinted windows) from the B-pillar backwards - my insurance is up for renewal and every company is asking if it is a > or < than 30% tint - I haven't got the foggiest and neither do they or my local dealer, does anyone know or have an idea of how I can find out this info?

Cheers in advance

[r129sl]

Your local police station may have a measuring device; likewise a VOSA station; some local authority taxi licensing departments have them, too.

I am surprised that the insurance companies are asking: nobody has ever asked me, "does your vehicle have tinted glass". As the vehicle was supplied ex works with the hideous tinted glass (why oh why?), it does not have to be disclosed as a post-construction modification.

[anonymous-user]

It actually does have to be disclosed on every insurers website I've been on (Confused, Elephant, Admiral and such like), if you look in the small print it advises that every optional extra (alloy wheels, leather seats, parking sensors etc etc) has to be disclosed under the modifications section, even if it is factory fitted - most people probably don't bother but I'm not risking non-payout if I need to claim.

It's not like a 'limo tint' or anything like that, you can still see in if you are within 5/6 feet of the car, it came fitted to the car when I bought it and prevents my dog from being toasted!

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 19th November 12:31

[r129sl]

How can an owner be expected to know what features of his car were standard fit and what were factory fit options (and, indeed, what were retrofitted modifications installed by the dealer or previous owner)? Bonkers.

[paoloh]

What a crock of st. You could be there for hours.
Did your car come with the 18s or was it factory fitted with 17s.....

[anonymous-user]

paoloh said:

What a crock of st. You could be there for hours.
Did your car come with the 18s or was it factory fitted with 17s.....

It's not a crock of st and what has my wheels got to do with my question regarding sun protection glass? You've been as helpful as a kick in the bks mate.

Quote directly from confused.com website which incidentally I've found in every other insurers website I've been on when you look under the does your car have any modifications question:

'What are modifications?
These are any changes or factory-fitted optional extras which have been added to the vehicle and is not part of the standard vehicle specification. This would include such things as: alloy wheels / spoilers / engine modifications'

Note 'factory-fitted optional extras' - how do you find out what your car has? I asked MB to fax me the build sheet which they did, and I know the original spec of my car so it didn't take me 'hours' to work out what's an extra and what isn't.

I am still none the wiser regarding the glass, so I'll toddle off now, toodle-pip.

[MURRAY007]

There are 2 options for glass,
Tinted glass which comes in green or blue, which is on all windows.
or Privacy Glass (black) only for B-pillar back. that glass is roughly 98%. so only about 2% see through.

hope this helps

[anonymous-user]

MURRAY007 said:

There are 2 options for glass,
Tinted glass which comes in green or blue, which is on all windows.
or Privacy Glass (black) only for B-pillar back. that glass is roughly 98%. so only about 2% see through.

hope this helps

It's the privacy glass my car has, so that does indeed help! Thanks

[r129sl]

I do not think the MB Sun Protection Glass is a 98% tint.

[matc]

r129sl said:

I do not think the MB Sun Protection Glass is a 98% tint.

Me neither, but it is significantly more than 30%. I think your insurance company is concerned that the privacy glass is on the windows in front of the b-pillar, as it is illegal for these windows to have a tint of any more than 30%.

HTH

[anonymous-user]

matc said:

r129sl said:

I do not think the MB Sun Protection Glass is a 98% tint.

Me neither, but it is significantly more than 30%. I think your insurance company is concerned that the privacy glass is on the windows in front of the b-pillar, as it is illegal for these windows to have a tint of any more than 30%.

HTH

Thanks, if I state it's more than a 30% tint it only increases the premium by around £15 over the year, which is a bit silly really as if anything privacy glass prevents thieving types from being attracted to what's in the boot of the car.

[Deva Link]

yellowbentines said:

It actually does have to be disclosed on every insurers website I've been on (Confused, Elephant, Admiral and such like),

That's not "every" insurer - in fact all 3 are the same company.

yellowbentines said:

if you look in the small print it advises that every optional extra (alloy wheels, leather seats, parking sensors etc etc) has to be disclosed under the modifications section, even if it is factory fitted - most people probably don't bother but I'm not risking non-payout if I need to claim.

What's slightly bizzare about that is that Admiral are well known for not paying out the cost of optional extras. Write off your Merc with £7K of options and they'll give you a basic version (or value thereof if older than 12mths) back.


Mine has COMAND but my insurer (Liverpool Victoria) seemed astonished at the suggestion that it might not be covered due to its value. They said anything factory fitted is covered automatically.

I'm also confused about the legal issue with tinted glass - if it's factory fitted then its covered by the cars Type Approval. Technically, things like Xenon headlights and LED rear lights are illegal in the UK but owners can't be prosecuted because the EU Type Approval over-rides English law.

Edited by Deva Link on Friday 21st November 17:20

[CoolC]

The "standard" green glass in the front doors will be at or below 30% tint (or 70% light transmision) as that's the legal limit for the UK. The darker "privacy glass" will be >30% tint.

[paoloh]

yellowbentines said:

paoloh said:

What a crock of st. You could be there for hours.
Did your car come with the 18s or was it factory fitted with 17s.....

It's not a crock of st and what has my wheels got to do with my question regarding sun protection glass? You've been as helpful as a kick in the bks mate.

Quote directly from confused.com website which incidentally I've found in every other insurers website I've been on when you look under the does your car have any modifications question:

'What are modifications?
These are any changes or factory-fitted optional extras which have been added to the vehicle and is not part of the standard vehicle specification. This would include such things as: alloy wheels / spoilers / engine modifications'

Note 'factory-fitted optional extras' - how do you find out what your car has? I asked MB to fax me the build sheet which they did, and I know the original spec of my car so it didn't take me 'hours' to work out what's an extra and what isn't.

I am still none the wiser regarding the glass, so I'll toddle off now, toodle-pip.

How about climbing back in your pram!?

I was commenting on insurance companies insisting on the info, not your need for it.

Let'ssay you drive an 11 year old car and the build sheet is not available. You know nothing about cars and you bought because you liked it. Then what do you do?