Model S - Window Tinting

[bigsmooth469]

Photosync vs Crystalline

I got a quote today for Cristalline all the way around (including pano roof and winshield) for $550. I called Speedshield and was quoted $1325 for Spectra Photosync. I can't believe the price difference. I realize the Photosync is better tint, but is it really $775 better?


I saw these numbers on this thread:


3M Crystalline 40 has a TSER of 59%
Spectra PS75 has a TSER of 53.5-61.5%
Spectra PS35 has a TSER of 75%


So my question is, is a TSER difference of 16% really noticeable? I do live in Dallas, and it gets quite hot in the summer.


My Audi had Wincos film on it and I hated it. I'm sure it rejected heat and all, but it was flimsy and scratched easily.

 

[Gear]

I got a quote today for Cristalline all the way around (including pano roof and winshield) for $550. I called Speedshield and was quoted $1325 for Spectra Photosync. I can't believe the price difference. I realize the Photosync is better tint, but is it really $775 better?


I saw these numbers on this thread:


3M Crystalline 40 has a TSER of 59%
Spectra PS75 has a TSER of 53.5-61.5%
Spectra PS35 has a TSER of 75%


So my question is, is a TSER difference of 16% really noticeable? I do live in Dallas, and it gets quite hot in the summer.


My Audi had Wincos film on it and I hated it. I'm sure it rejected heat and all, but it was flimsy and scratched easily.

I don't really think the pano roof needs more tint to it. I got Photosync on all the windows including the windshield (but not the roof) for $1000 and think it's well worth it. I've had other tints in other cars and the Photosync is a huge improvement. My car regularly sits in 100+ degree desert heat. I've also never felt heat radiating from the pano roof as some here have claimed even after sitting in the heat for 8 or more hours, so I don't know if they made recent changes to the pano tint or not.

 

[yobigd20]

I got a quote today for Cristalline all the way around (including pano roof and winshield) for $550. I called Speedshield and was quoted $1325 for Spectra Photosync. I can't believe the price difference. I realize the Photosync is better tint, but is it really $775 better?


I saw these numbers on this thread:


3M Crystalline 40 has a TSER of 59%
Spectra PS75 has a TSER of 53.5-61.5%
Spectra PS35 has a TSER of 75%


So my question is, is a TSER difference of 16% really noticeable? I do live in Dallas, and it gets quite hot in the summer.


My Audi had Wincos film on it and I hated it. I'm sure it rejected heat and all, but it was flimsy and scratched easily.

seeing that was your first post I'm going to assume you haven't seen my other posts regarding 3M Crystalline. *DONT GET THIS ON YOUR REAR WINDOW* . Unless you like having a purple rear window. The rear window on the MS has a special UV coating on it that when covered with 3M Crystalline tint, makes the rear window look purple - like a REALLY bad tint job. more info and pics of that here - 3m Crystalline Window Tint IN the end I had my crystalline taken off (what a waste of $$) and replaced with Madico Charcool 20% and it looks great. I've posted tons of photos somewhere above in this thread.

 

[bigsmooth469]

seeing that was your first post I'm going to assume you haven't seen my other posts regarding 3M Crystalline. *DONT GET THIS ON YOUR REAR WINDOW* . Unless you like having a purple rear window. The rear window on the MS has a special UV coating on it that when covered with 3M Crystalline tint, makes the rear window look purple - like a REALLY bad tint job. more info and pics of that here - 3m Crystalline Window Tint IN the end I had my crystalline taken off (what a waste of $$) and replaced with Madico Charcool 20% and it looks great. I've posted tons of photos somewhere above in this thread.

I see your pics but it doesn't look THAT bad in my opinion. Will the PhotoSync do that?

 

[liuping]

I got a quote today for Cristalline all the way around (including pano roof and winshield) for $550. I called Speedshield and was quoted $1325 for Spectra Photosync. I can't believe the price difference. I realize the Photosync is better tint, but is it really $775 better?

$550 is super cheap for 3M Crystillne, especially including the Pano. Suspiciously cheap, IMHO.

My quotes were fairly close between the two for the reputable installers I checked with.

 

[yobigd20]

$550 is super cheap for 3M Crystillne, especially including the Pano. Suspiciously cheap, IMHO.

My quotes were fairly close between the two for the reputable installers I checked with.

$550 is standard for 3M Crystalline around here. That is the exact same price I paid.

 

[aaronw]

I paid under 600 myself, though I chose to use a cheaper tint for the rear window. It was about as good as the Crystalline for blocking heat but it was a lot cheaper. Since the rear window tint is more likely to get scratched (I sometimes carry my dog back there and other stuff), I decided something cheaper would be better.

I have the 70 on the front windows, 50 on the rear side windows and 40 for the hatchback. The transition from the front to rear windows is not jarring like it is with darker tints.

The only drawback I have noticed is I get a bit of a purplish rainbow effect from my Maui Jim polarized sunglasses.

Automall Tint Specialists in Fremont did a great job.

 

[bigsmooth469]

$550 is standard for 3M Crystalline around here. That is the exact same price I paid.

@yobigd20 & @liuping - this quote is for the entire car - windshield, pano roof, windows, and hatch. I couldn't believe it. I searched for an installer off of 3m's website and that's what the guy quoted me. Great reviews on Google as well.

I just hate to not have the best heat rejection given how hot it gets out here, but the more I think about it, the more I tell myself - I can't justify an extra $800 for tint.

 

[darthvdr]

I opted for Photosynch as well since mid last year and have not looked back. Wife and I are very happy with the tint. When it was getting to over 100 degrees in the summertime, for some reason the MS was very hot compared to our other cars. We decided to do some research and visited a few local shops carrying a variant of products and ultimately went with Photosynch. The next day, it was about 100 degrees and we barely felt the heat transferring through the windows. That was our confirmation that this tint works as advertised.

 

[lloyds]

I love my photosync. I drive a lot to meet with clients, so I get a lot of seat time. Tint is one of those things that you do once, so for my personal use I really do get my money's worth. I've had the other top tints done to my other cars and in the summer time, my skin tells me photosync is much better than the rest.

So as I've said before, I love my photosync!

 

[Gear]

@yobigd20 & @liuping - this quote is for the entire car - windshield, pano roof, windows, and hatch. I couldn't believe it. I searched for an installer off of 3m's website and that's what the guy quoted me. Great reviews on Google as well.

I just hate to not have the best heat rejection given how hot it gets out here, but the more I think about it, the more I tell myself - I can't justify an extra $800 for tint.

Like I said, I think you can comfortably give up the idea of tinting the pano roof. I don't have any aftermarket tint on mine and haven't noticed any heat coming from the roof even after 8+ hours of sitting in the hot desert sun. I have Photosync everywhere else and it made a huge improvement.

 

[Xenoilphobe]

Just got my white P85 done today. Unfortunately it is 19 degrees outside so I can't measure solar gain.

I went with SPH55 on all windows, with the exception of the windshield and sunroof which I left stock.

Here is is the note from the Viet Tran the Director of Sales connected me with a great east coast dealer - Absolute Perfection and my experience there today was excellent.

VA law allows 50% for the front sides (driver/passenger) and 35% for the rear sides and back window. Given the transitional properties of the film, you may want to consider the SPH75 for the front sides and SPH55 for the rear sides/back window. Feel free to contact the dealer for their advice.

Please find the dealer quote and contact information below:

All windows: $600 (includes front sides, rear sides and back window)
Pano-roof: $250

Dealer: Absolute Perfection, Inc.
Location: 5399 Enterprise Street, Ste. 3, Sykesville, MD 21784
Contact: Tim @ (410) 549-4285 / [email protected]
Website: Home Window Tinting Maryland | Office Window Tinting Baltimore| DC| VA | Vista Window Film Dealer | Marylands Only FormulaOne Automotive Tint Dealer

If you decide to proceed, I can assist in coordinating the appointment or you can contact the dealer directly.

Spectra PhotoSync™ (SPH)
We utilize a proprietary technology, Solar Adaptive Coating, which allows this nano window film to increase Total Solar Energy Rejection based on solar intensity while retaining an impressively light and clear shade. In cold climate, the heat retention properties perform exceptionally well to insulate against heat loss. The technological advances of Prestige’s coating provide high performance without the use of any metallic.

* Any application or film shade not compliant with state/city regulations is to your discretion and warranty does not apply.

All windows: SPH55
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=605359459522765&set=a.471115546280491.106538.471108926281153&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=528993113832743&set=a.501626483236073.1073741827.482267565171965&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=531198170278904&set=a.531198160278905.1073741830.482267565171965&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=597313020327409&set=a.471115546280491.106538.471108926281153&type=1&theater
Front sides: SPH65 / Rear sides: SPH55
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=567786359946742&set=a.471115546280491.106538.471108926281153&type=1&theater
The link below includes product demos from one of our exclusive dealers:
Hot Out There? Prestige PhotoSync Nano Window Film is THE SOLUTION - 6speedonline.com Forums

Thanks again for your consideration. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.



Best regards,



Viet Tran
Director of Sales
Prestige Film Technologies
(925) 989-9473 - Direct
(408) 657-3880 - Office
(866) 723-4278 - Fax
[email protected]
Prestige Film Technologies - Prestige Clear Guard, CarboniteHD, ClearVue, Image Capture Film, Screen Protector and ViewBlock

 

[TylerCA]

Just got my white P85 done today. Unfortunately it is 19 degrees outside so I can't measure solar gain.

I went with SPH55 on all windows, with the exception of the windshield and sunroof which I left stock.

Here is is the note from the Viet Tran the Director of Sales connected me with a great east coast dealer - Absolute Perfection and my experience there today was excellent.

VA law allows 50% for the front sides (driver/passenger) and 35% for the rear sides and back window. Given the transitional properties of the film, you may want to consider the SPH75 for the front sides and SPH55 for the rear sides/back window. Feel free to contact the dealer for their advice.

Please find the dealer quote and contact information below:

All windows: $600 (includes front sides, rear sides and back window)
Pano-roof: $250

Dealer: Absolute Perfection, Inc.
Location: 5399 Enterprise Street, Ste. 3, Sykesville, MD 21784
Contact: Tim @ (410) 549-4285 / [email protected]
Website: Home Window Tinting Maryland | Office Window Tinting Baltimore| DC| VA | Vista Window Film Dealer | Marylands Only FormulaOne Automotive Tint Dealer

If you decide to proceed, I can assist in coordinating the appointment or you can contact the dealer directly.

Spectra PhotoSync™ (SPH)
We utilize a proprietary technology, Solar Adaptive Coating, which allows this nano window film to increase Total Solar Energy Rejection based on solar intensity while retaining an impressively light and clear shade. In cold climate, the heat retention properties perform exceptionally well to insulate against heat loss. The technological advances of Prestige’s coating provide high performance without the use of any metallic.

* Any application or film shade not compliant with state/city regulations is to your discretion and warranty does not apply.

All windows: SPH55
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...6280491.106538.471108926281153&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...073.1073741827.482267565171965&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...905.1073741830.482267565171965&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...6280491.106538.471108926281153&type=1&theater
Front sides: SPH65 / Rear sides: SPH55
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...6280491.106538.471108926281153&type=1&theater
The link below includes product demos from one of our exclusive dealers:
Hot Out There? Prestige PhotoSync Nano Window Film is THE SOLUTION - 6speedonline.com Forums

Thanks again for your consideration. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.



Best regards,



Viet Tran
Director of Sales
Prestige Film Technologies
(925) 989-9473 - Direct
(408) 657-3880 - Office
(866) 723-4278 - Fax
[email protected]
Prestige Film Technologies - Prestige Clear Guard, CarboniteHD, ClearVue, Image Capture Film, Screen Protector and ViewBlock

Based on your interaction with the maker of Photosync, it seems this is a company that knows what it's doing. After many attempts by my assistant to reach Llumar for about a month regarding warranty, no return call of any sort. Although Huper responded, there was not much information or support provided that inspired confidence. Happy to have switched to Photosync.

 

[srsm]

Previous cars owned by me were Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and I alwasy had Huper Optik Tint. Huper Optik is the gold standard and its heat rejection is astonishing. Forget all that nonsense about 3m Crystalline. The only place you can get in the Phoenix area is from Supreme Mobile Window Tinting, 602-550-8468. He did my Model S - $499 sides and back, $150 windshield, and JR comes to your home and does it there. He installed Huper for Mercedes for 24 years and does beautiful work. The product you want is Huper X Treme Performance Drei 35. He puts 70 on the windshield [Lower the number, darker the tint. 35 is the AZ legal limit].

 

[araxara]

Previous cars owned by me were Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and I alwasy had Huper Optik Tint. Huper Optik is the gold standard and its heat rejection is astonishing. Forget all that nonsense about 3m Crystalline. The only place you can get in the Phoenix area is from Supreme Mobile Window Tinting, 602-550-8468. He did my Model S - $499 sides and back, $150 windshield, and JR comes to your home and does it there. He installed Huper for Mercedes for 24 years and does beautiful work. The product you want is Huper X Treme Performance Drei 35. He puts 70 on the windshield [Lower the number, darker the tint. 35 is the AZ legal limit].

There is no "nonsense" regarding 3M Crystalline or other window tints. Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) is the industry standard for measuring the effectiveness of window tint. Spectra PhotoSync™ still does better than Huper X Treme Performance Drei or 3M Crystalline. Some of this depends on the amount of light you want transmitted. Although AZ legal limit is 35%, I decided to use the Spectra PhotoSync SPH65, which allows 64-54% light transmission and a TSER of 57.9-63.8%. Here is a table comparing similar products with regards to their lights transmission:

Product	Light Transmission	TSER % Rejection
3M Crystalline Huper X Treme Performance Drei Spectra Photosync SPH35	40% 35% 30-33.5%	59 70 75-79

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ScotchgardAutoProtection/Home/CarBuyers/Home/Products/WindowFilm/CrystallineWindowFilm/
Huper Optik Automotive Series Window Film, Specifications, Features, Benefits, Quote Request Form
http://www.prestige-films.com/docs/photosync_datasheet_061713.pdf

 

[MoeMistry]

In the end, manufacturer #s sometimes differ from ACTUAL #s. I've had films on paper perform better than huper ceramic. When we actually take the sample piece and use our BTU meter, it paints a much different story. Your best bet, go to the tint shop based on their skill and level of work that is in your budget. Once there, ask them to sample real life reading based on your condition. That meter never lies

Here's a real-life reading on an MS window with huper ceramic 30

Huper Optik Ceramic 30 on Tesla Model S on Vimeo

 

[lloyds]

There is no "nonsense" regarding 3M Crystalline or other window tints. Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) is the industry standard for measuring the effectiveness of window tint. Spectra PhotoSync™ still does better than Huper X Treme Performance Drei or 3M Crystalline. Some of this depends on the amount of light you want transmitted. Although AZ legal limit is 35%, I decided to use the Spectra PhotoSync SPH65, which allows 64-54% light transmission and a TSER of 57.9-63.8%. Here is a table comparing similar products with regards to their lights transmission:

Product	Light Transmission	TSER % Rejection
3M Crystalline Huper X Treme Performance Drei Spectra Photosync SPH35	40% 35% 30-33.5%	59 70 75-79

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ScotchgardAutoProtection/Home/CarBuyers/Home/Products/WindowFilm/CrystallineWindowFilm/
Huper Optik Automotive Series Window Film, Specifications, Features, Benefits, Quote Request Form
http://www.prestige-films.com/docs/photosync_datasheet_061713.pdf

BTW, thanks for giving me info about Photosync. I did tons of research before going with it. I consider it the platinum standard for tint.

 

[napabill]

There is no "nonsense" regarding 3M Crystalline or other window tints. Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) is the industry standard for measuring the effectiveness of window tint. Spectra PhotoSync™ still does better than Huper X Treme Performance Drei or 3M Crystalline. Some of this depends on the amount of light you want transmitted. Although AZ legal limit is 35%, I decided to use the Spectra PhotoSync SPH65, which allows 64-54% light transmission and a TSER of 57.9-63.8%. Here is a table comparing similar products with regards to their lights transmission:

Product	Light Transmission	TSER % Rejection
3M Crystalline Huper X Treme Performance Drei Spectra Photosync SPH35	40% 35% 30-33.5%	59 70 75-79

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ScotchgardAutoProtection/Home/CarBuyers/Home/Products/WindowFilm/CrystallineWindowFilm/
Huper Optik Automotive Series Window Film, Specifications, Features, Benefits, Quote Request Form
http://www.prestige-films.com/docs/photosync_datasheet_061713.pdf

araxara: I recall you have a brown MS. You have any photos of it with the Photosync tint? And did you have it done in Tucson and if so, where?

 

[araxara]

araxara: I recall you have a brown MS. You have any photos of it with the Photosync tint? And did you have it done in Tucson and if so, where?

Photos of the car after PhotoSync applied are in my Flickr set Tesla Model S P85 Photosync 65% + 75% Windshield. I had this done in Scottsdale at Cactus Window Tint (near the Tesla Service Center). Prestige Film Technologies (the company that makes PhotoSync) only authorizes a few installers per state. At the time I did my installation, there were none available in Tucson. If you email Viet Tran at Prestige Film Technologies, maybe they have someone in Tucson now.

When viewing the Flickr photos, keep in mind that there are some photos with the windows down. The best way to determine if the window is down or not is to look for the Tesla logo on the window glass.

 

[darthvdr]

In the end, manufacturer #s sometimes differ from ACTUAL #s. I've had films on paper perform better than huper ceramic. When we actually take the sample piece and use our BTU meter, it paints a much different story. Your best bet, go to the tint shop based on their skill and level of work that is in your budget. Once there, ask them to sample real life reading based on your condition. That meter never lies

Here's a real-life reading on an MS window with huper ceramic 30

Huper Optik Ceramic 30 on Tesla Model S on Vimeo

I was a thermal engineer for a large PV corporation for over 20 years and I can say that British Thermal Units (BTU) meters can be deceiving as they do not properly measure the full solar spectrum. I would caution anyone using this type of system as it can be highly deceptive as there are inefficiencies in its form of measurement.

When we first purchased the P85+ and started to look into tinting because of the 100 degree temperatures daily, I actually received samples from various tinting shops and sent them into my previous colleagues to test. The machinery we use is commercially used for testing pv systems and to calculate solar arrays' efficiencies. The Solar Radiometers we used are sophisticated (=expensive) in its technology to measure the full bandwidth of irradiance. My colleagues came back and said to use Photosynch. That along with the reviews on this forum sold me.