Should I Accept the Car Film Provided by the 4S Store?
3 Answers
You can first check the quality of the car film provided by the 4S store and confirm whether it includes the front windshield film. If the quality is good and it includes the front windshield film, you can accept it. If the film is of poor quality or does not include the front windshield film, you can choose to exchange it for other gifts. Here is an introduction to car film: 1. Definition: Car film (Auto-tint-film) refers to a thin layer of material applied to the front and rear windshields, side windows, and sunroof of a vehicle. This material is also known as solar film or heat-insulating film. 2. Function: Its main purposes are to block ultraviolet rays, reduce heat, prevent injuries caused by shattered glass, reduce glare, and, due to the one-way transparency of the film, protect personal privacy.
When I bought my car last time, the 4S store also gave me window tint as a freebie. At the time, I thought it would be a waste not to take something free. But in actual use, the heat insulation effect was really poor—my arms would get scorched while driving in summer, and cranking up the AC didn’t help. Later, I learned that the tint films offered by 4S stores are usually basic models. While their light transmittance meets standards, their heat insulation and UV-blocking rates are relatively low. Moreover, after two years, the edges started bubbling, and when I peeled it off, the adhesive residue on the glass was extremely hard to clean. If you care about driving comfort, I’d recommend spending a bit more to upgrade to ceramic or magnetron-sputtered films, especially for the windshield film, which is the most important. The installer’s skill also matters—some 4S stores outsource the job, and poor installation can result in water ripple effects.
The quality of free window films offered by 4S stores depends on their brand and specifications. The worst case I've seen was a film claimed to be worth 3,000 yuan, but its market price was only around 200 yuan when checking the batch number. Such films are usually dyed or metallic films, which may fade to purple within one or two years, and metallic films might also interfere with mobile phone signals. It's advisable to ask the salesperson to specify the brand, model, and warranty period of the film before taking delivery of the car, and it's best to record the conversation. Some brand films, even basic models, meet acceptable performance standards, such as 75% light transmittance and over 95% UV blockage, which are decent for daily commuting. However, remember to inspect the installation quality on the spot, focusing on whether there are burrs or bubbles at the edges of the side windows and if there are sand particles on the windshield.
