Should I Accept the Free Window Film from a 4S Store?
2 Answers
It is advisable not to accept the free window film offered by a 4S store, as the quality of such complimentary products is usually subpar. Below is an introduction to vehicle window film: 1. Overview: Automotive window film involves applying a thin layer of material to the front and rear windshields, side windows, and sunroof of a vehicle. This layer, also known as solar film or heat-insulating film, serves multiple purposes. 2. Functions: Its primary functions include blocking ultraviolet rays, reducing heat transmission, preventing injuries from shattered glass, minimizing glare, and, due to its one-way transparency feature, protecting personal privacy. 3. Thickness: Typically, automotive heat-insulating film has a thickness of around 1.5 mil. Mil is an imperial unit where 1 mil equals one-thousandth of an inch, or 0.0254 mm.
When I picked up my car last time, the sales guy also gave me free window film. To be honest, I hesitated about it. The film was fine in the first year, but over time, problems started to show. Last summer was so hot that even the air conditioning didn’t help much, and the metal door panels were scorching to the touch. Once, I left the sunshade on the windshield, and when I took it off, the plastic clips had warped from the heat. Now I know that the film given by the 4S shop is mostly dyed film, with a heat insulation rate of at best 30%. It blocks about 80% of UV rays, but the dark tint makes nighttime driving visibility terrible. A friend warned me: never let them apply it to the rear windshield—low-quality film can bubble from heat, and you’ll end up paying to remove it, possibly damaging the heating wires in the process. My advice is, if you’re on a tight budget, just apply it to the side windows and spend an extra 500 for a better film on the windshield.
