Have a V70 Volvo on order (believe it or not 5 months lead-time from date of order! Hope to take delivery end August / start Sept).
I have until mid-June to change / add any options, and one thing I initially considered was factory-fit privacy glass / tinted windows for the rear doors, cargo area and back window.
Sat in a similar V60 with this glass in the showroom as I was concerned about reduced visibility ('life-saver' glances when overtaking for example), and it seemed OK, but I thought with a black interior it might make the rear of the car a gloomy place to be, and the very presence of the glass might make errant crims think I had something inside worth stealing (rarely the case). Therefore the idea was rejected.
However, a recent trip to Germany with the boss, and the obligatory fill up of a couple of hundred bottles of wine at Majestic in Calais on the way out (would have been shut on the way back) meant that the BMW I currently have needed to have tarpaulins / blankets spread over the evidence, perhaps introducing more temptation, which might have been reduced if the glass was considerably darker as well (whilst the tints are not black, you have to get quite close to have a half decent view inside).
Also I am told the tints help keep the car cooler in full sun. Really? Surely the front windscreen and front door windows will still let enough sun in to negate this effect?
Has anyone here got factory-fit tinted windows on their car (not the normal pale tint but the considerably darker ones from the B pillar back) and can they give some feedback to the pros and cons in the real world?
Thanks in advance!
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I have two pretty identical Landcruisers; one has dark factory tint, the other has clear glass.
It does make a noticeable difference in the sun.
It makes no noticeable difference to visibility in any conditions.
It makes no noticeable difference to the light when sitting in the back.
It is impossible to see into the rear seats and luggage area of the one with tints without pressing your face against the window, and even then is not clear and one cannot see details.
"Errant crims" are so used to seeing factory tinted windows that they draw no conclusions. However, they make very fast conclusions from covered luggage areas.
Its a lot more pleasant in the back when either the sun is glaring or its night and motorway lights / other traffic / etc would otherwise be an irritation.
I can think of no "usage" reason not to have them. Only you can decide if you like the way they look; I do.
Last edited by: No FM2R on Wed 28 May 14 at 14:01
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The best thing for covering a valuable load is a set of winter tyres. Better still, change the oil every three weeks; that way the car won't be out in the open enough to attract the wrong kind of attention.
Which is a cheeky way of saying that a quick forum search would get you all you need on our collected views. I'm against the stuff, but my children are better looking than me. If yours aren't, you may have a use for it. For preventing solar gain, I'll be amazed if anyone can prove it makes a difference, given that it works in the visible spectrum, not the infrared. (My Mercedes glass, with regular tint all round, claims to reflect IR but it still gets pretty toasty after an hour in the sun. Any car will.)
}:---)
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>> Have a V70 Volvo on order (believe it or not 5 months lead-time from date
>> of order! Hope to take delivery end August / start Sept).
>>
Which one have you gone for a D4 VEA engined variant ?
My BiL ordered and picked up an XC70 D5 SE Lux within two weeks (with light tints) last month.
>> I have until mid-June to change / add any options, and one thing I initially
>> considered was factory-fit privacy glass / tinted windows for the rear doors, cargo area and
>> back window.
>>
>> Sat in a similar V60 with this glass in the showroom as I was concerned
>> about reduced visibility ('life-saver' glances when overtaking for example), and it seemed OK, but I
>> thought with a black interior it might make the rear of the car a gloomy
>> place to be, and the very presence of the glass might make errant crims think
>> I had something inside worth stealing (rarely the case). Therefore the idea was rejected.
>>
If you're worried about people seeing what you're carrying get a saloon :-)
I've got the almost black tints from the B pillar back and can say it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to the interior temperature when the car is sitting out in the sun all day. It's still scoorchio in there. Good thing now is they have the windows and sunroof linked to the central locking so you can open it up before you get to it and get the initial blast of heat cleared before you open the door.
I was very much anti-tints before I got this car. Visibility is surprisingly good so the "sorry I didn't see you mate, it's the tints innit" are talking rubbish it's simply because they didn't look!
I'm still wary when I'm on the bike though, if I can't see the driver through the rear window I assume they have not seen me.
The only benefit I've seen is the dim-dip rear view mirror is now redundant as the tints filter out the beam from following cars. You know they are there but you do not get blinded by misaligned beams.
Last edited by: gmac on Wed 28 May 14 at 14:27
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Yeah get them, it's going to be tough enough to look cool in a Volvo so anything which adds a bit of bling has to help a bit...
;-)
Seriously though, they do help keep the car cooler and don't restrict visibility at all in my opinion.
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I had this on my BMW Touring (oh dear), I think it looked rather fetching with the chrome window trim (oh dear again). However - I did order it for two reasons - better sun protection for my little children and security of the load area.
On the first, I don't think it makes an 'apeth of difference over normal tinted glass, I'd previously had the built-in window blinds and they're far more effective for your sleeping cherubs IMHO. Furthermore, I think it made my children more prone to travel sickness - this based on experience with rental cars too but purely my conjecture.
For the second, actually I think it does provide better security in preventing snooping in the load area.
Please tell me you haven't ordered a 1.6D tax dodger ?
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Well, the tax dodger variant would leave plenty of budget for a selection of cardigans to wear while driving it wouldn't it? Fairly important to have the right cardigans when you have a Volvo...
;-)))
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>>>Fairly important to have the right cardigans when you have a Volvo... ;-)))
Don't remember Pat saying she had a lot of knitting to do!
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I asked above about the car colour as it makes a huge difference to the look.... as does the degree of tint. Virtualy black on a light car can look somewhat aftermarket drug dealer whereas the very dark grey rear windows tint on my charcoal grey C5 Tourer with its black window edging looked fine to me. Like this...
s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/gallery/CITROENC5Tourer-3664_5.jpg
On a dull UK day and at night there was noticeable reduction in visibility through the darker tinted rears.
Last edited by: Fenlander on Wed 28 May 14 at 15:32
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>>On a dull UK day and at night there was noticeable reduction in visibility through the darker tinted rears.
Well, just been out and remembered to check.
It is true that light through the rear passenger windows is reduced at night, but I don't use them to drive anyway.
Light coming through the rear window (i.e. the head lights of other cars) was perfectly sufficient. Manouvering backwards in a dark lane with no lights other than the cars own reversing lights, I could see perfectly fine. (although there was a strange crunching noise).
So, because of this exhaustive test which lasted a good two or three minutes, I can safely conclude that heavily tinted windows make no meaningful difference to visibility for driving.
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Fair enough... you must have a brighter night over there!
Our drive is longer then average (several cars long, not miles), S-shap[ed and tapers towards the road. It's margins both sides are lawns belonging to other houses so you need to get it right.
It was genuinely noticeable the darker rear/tailgate windows added to night and even more so with rain just took enough edge off visibility to mean you needed to roll the window down just to make sure there was going to be no rutting someone's prize turf.
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What you guys don't reverse on the mirrors?
Girls.
;-)
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Well yes a bit of mirror action is good but you are still looking through the darkened rear window when looking immediately behind with the interior mirror. At least the darkened C5 was front wheel drive... would have been even more difficult with rwd! And I must speak further on that in a new thread... BMW chirped and flickered on Friday!!
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Cheap tyres y'see. False economy really....
Edit - pleased to hear you're starting to throw it about though. It'll come back to you eventually.
;-)
Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Sun 1 Jun 14 at 11:23
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>>Don't remember Pat saying she had a lot of knitting to do! <<
:) Funny but I told Ian to go and change his trousers on Monday because he looked like a Volvo driver!
His reply....I feel like a Volvo driver but she still picks up her skirts and shows 'em the rear bumper whenever I want her to!
We still both love it and can't wait to tow with it down to Cornwall in a few weeks.
Pat
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>> On the first, I don't think it makes an 'apeth of difference over normal tinted
>> glass, I'd previously had the built-in window blinds and they're far more effective for your
>> sleeping cherubs IMHO. Furthermore, I think it made my children more prone to travel sickness
>> - this based on experience with rental cars too but purely my conjecture.
>>
My first S60 had a rear window roller blind and blinds on the rear door windows, looked like tints from outside. It kept the sun off the two little ones in the back but it did not stop the flash of the motorway lights when driving through Belgium at night. this kept them awake.
The blacked out tints in my current S60 helps them sleep but my daughter does need tablets to keep the car sickness at bay in the newer car. Not sure if that is down to the windows or the harder suspension.
Agree with Fenlander on colour a black V70 with blacked out windows has funeral services written all over it. A white one with a flash of yellow or blue on the side helps you make remarkable progress and keeps the tailgaters at bay behind trying to guess is it or isn't it ?
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I've had this on my black LEC, blue/white S-Max and now on my black Transporter. If only for stopping casual crims seeing anything of value in the car i would always have it. It makes no difference to visibility when you're inside the car.
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I have them on the V40 - darkest set of OE tints I've seen from the outside - but good on the inside....not given a second thought. If you have BLISS fitted the system is verbs sensitive and act as a good set of eyes for the any blind spots. They ping if the spot a cyclist. Seriously I may have spec'd the tints myself. As Humph said helps in cooling the car
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Does it cope with Welsh verbs?
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Thanks for the feedback. Very interesting!
Runfer, you sould know Volvos are cooler than any BM / Merc / Audi/ etc, in fact uber-cool, as there are so few of the (especialy V70s) :-)
For Gmac, it's a new D4, so 181hp. Good enough I hope?
A D5 manual was in contention, but the new D4 with an auto box was too tempting at a lower bik.
For Fenlander, the car will be Ice White. I pondered on the lovely twilight bronze, but I like white cars (trip to Mexico City where every BM was white converted me) and it is nice my Mum had a 1978 345 dl Volvo in white as it was the 'safest colour' makes me smile.
As for idle chatterer, it is a BMW 5 series tourer the Volvo will replace. Turned 150,000 miles from new today. 1.6d? Never! Will always want more power than the car before.
As company cars with current employer I have gone from Escort ( 105hp) to Mondeo estate (130hp), to Volvo S60 (163hp) to BM 520d Touring (177hp). Now a tiny increase to 181, hence the temptation with the 215hp D5. Maybe next time?
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I suspected it was the D4 given the delivery time you quoted, they can't build those engines fast enough.
You will see a lot of company funded D4 engined Volvos soon.
I like the ice white. With the blacked out windows it's more a stormtrooper helmet white.
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>>>For Fenlander, the car will be Ice White
Ahh OK. Well each to his own but I'm uneasy about blacked out windows on white or silver as the contrast is very strong.
Edit: Just looked at the Volvo website and the glass is about the same tint as my C5 Tourer... not too dark and looks OK on white.
Last edited by: Fenlander on Thu 29 May 14 at 08:44
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So if the cost to you for tinted windows or not was about £3.70pm for 3 years.... Would we all think they are worth it. Considering my next car and privacy glass is an option. I have it now but do I really benefit... It's not as if we have it warm too often. And nothing is left on view in a saloon.
For similar cost, I could get the upgraded audio system instead with additional speakers inc. subwoofer.
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Then you'd need the glass as the boot would be full of subwoofer and your kit would be on the backseat...
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Thanks for all the feedback. NO2FMR, thanks for checking. That is really helpful.
Fascinating that there is a view of enhanced carsickness risk mentioned too....
As to RTJ, I have already specced the higher spec hifi. As I spend so many hours in the car this will be a real treat. I am also getting the heated seats (something I have not had before), and I have succumbed to an autobox for the first time since the XJ-S which was only a mid-life crisis car rather than a daily driver anyway.
There are so many possible options available with cars now, and generally I am clear as to what is important to me and what is not, but as I change cars so rarely (and am in the fortunate position to have a company-funded and nice car), then I want to both spend to company's money wisely and justifiably, whilst also matching personal preferences.
Looking at other V70's the privacy glass is nowhere near as dark on the V70 as it is on the V60 / V40's and seemingly would not make much odds from a security perspective, and the number of times I actually have a need for it for that purpose, it does not justify the extra £380, and so I have decided to give it a miss, but it was nice to do so as a result of you guy's and your valued comments.
Right, off to find a nice cardi shop. Good job I live close to Eastbourne, I guess there will be lots down there! :)
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...I have decided to give it a miss.
Well done that slightly fat man!
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Check if the ECC includes AQS, that is something I would spec having had it as standard on my previous S60. I miss it on the newer car when coming up behind a two stroke stink box or when it's pollen season.
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Yup, ECC with AQS as standard.
Had that on my old (and sadly missed) S60. Why did I ever abandon Volvo to the dubious charms of BMW I never know. Seemed like a good idea at the time!
As for the good old smell of 2-stroke, I can't remember the last time I sniffed (or heard for that matter) the scream of a nice 2-stroke. Happy memories of my two wheel days!
Just like I do when I see a decent big engine, car coming the other way or overtake, I would be the person whipping the windows down to hear and smell it :)
Scares the whatsits out of my wife and daughter when I do that, followed by the howl of some glorious 2 or 4 wheeled beast!
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Volvo V70 - Factory fit tinted windows - to order or not? - No FM2R
