Beware of V-Kool - It and they are crap

[solo]

I was told that if the tint doesn't pass and needs to be ripped off, Vkool is supposed to replace it for you for free. That's the promise, but from Saat's case, the execution is something different all together.

Yes, that's always the case for salesmanship in Malaysia. They promise you everything - the Sun, Moon, Sky, his virgin twin daughters for a threesome with you and if you tint two cars maybe his wife and he will join you also so it becomes an orgy - to get you to buy their product. But when you try and claim their promises, suddenly there are 100000000000000000001 reasons why it cannot be done.

I went to one newly opened tint shop in Kuching and the guarantee the salesman told me was if I get summoned for the illegal tint, I just have to bring the summons to them and they will pay for it.

Salut

 

[loafer]

saat, Ecotint looks to be far superior compared to V-Kool based on the comparison you made. You also mentioned that you paid RM850 in your first post, is that for Ecotint?

 

[saat]

saat, Ecotint looks to be far superior compared to V-Kool based on the comparison you made. You also mentioned that you paid RM850 in your first post, is that for Ecotint?

I leave it to you to decide. i merely presented the facts.

Looking at the data, the highest range of 3M is the best on all counts.

Yes the RM850 is for the front windcreen by Ecotint. I think for a 3er, the price is 2K. Best to check.

 

[saat]

Everytime I drive, I feel a sense of relief that I dont have to be wary when approaching Smartag booms, my GPS signal is strong and my gate remote works (especially in the rain where I dont have to wind down the window and stick my remote and hand out of the window in the rain).

It was MYR850 well spent. Now onto the side and back windows

 

[BlackCat]

Everytime I drive, I feel a sense of relief that I dont have to be wary when approaching Smartag booms, my GPS signal is strong and my gate remote works (especially in the rain where I dont have to wind down the window and stick my remote and hand out of the window in the rain).

It was MYR850 well spent. Now onto the side and back windows

So which brand and type did you finally choose?

 

[namidub]

My recommendation is anything other than V-Krap. My favorite is Ecotint. It is not reflective and has the same soft deep look.

Although there are other subjective considerations e.g. Reflectiveness, look, color etc., As a rough guide see the comparo below:


Tint Comparo
TSER - Total Solar Energy Rejection
3M (Crystalline) 19-68%
3M (Ceramic) 59.00%
EcoTint (Ray Barrier) 58-64%
Huper Optik (X-T50) 29.00%
Huper Optik (Perf 3) 54.00%
V-Kool (Elite) 55.00%

UVRR - Ultra-Violet Radiation Rejection
3M (Crystalline) 99.90%
3M (Ceramic) 99.00%
EcoTint (Ray Barrier) 99.50%
Huper Optik (X-T50) 99.00%
Huper Optik (Perf 3) 99.00%
V-Kool (Elite) 99.00%

IRHR - Infra-red Heat Rejection
3M (Crystalline) 97.00%
3M (Ceramic) 80.00%
EcoTint (Ray Barrier) 95-97%
Huper Optik (X-T50) Not Quoted
Huper Optik (Perf 3) Not Quoted
V-Kool (Elite) 95.00%

Hi,just to add up on the Huper optik nanoceramic series.i believe the ones quoted above is the nonceramic ones. I did mine C70 for FWS and C40 for the rest (confirm tak lepas puspakom ones) hehe.

FYI Puspakom/JPJ requirements : FWS >70% The rest >50% VLT

Huper Optik (Ceramic 40) TSER 56% UVRR 99.9% IRHR 80%
Huper Optik (Ceramic 50) TSER 50% UVRR 99.9% IRHR 69%
Huper Optik (Ceramic 70) TSER 48% UVRR 99.9% IRHR 88%

 

[E46Fanatic]

Unfortunately TSER numbers is not a good indication of heat rejection as many local tint manufacturers publish TSER on angle figures. There is no standard TSER measurement technique so manufacturers exploit it but increasing the angle in measurements. I.e you can get 100% TSER readings on clear glass with no tints if measured on 90 degree angle. Some reputable tint manufacturers like 3M state both TSER 0 degrees figures and TSER on angle 60degrees figures.

 

[saat]

I went back to Ecotint and never again V-Krap

 

[aoch88]

Wow thanks for all the information saat I wanted to go with Vkool Elite but I guess I better not anymore now. My choice would now be either Huper Optik or 3M. Anyone has comments on these? I would definitely be pissed off if I need to wind down going through smart tags.

 

[savid]

I just install V-kool on my ride, it's the latest product from them--- V-kool 55. Using the combination, Elite on windscreen and Vkool 55 on the rest. V-kool HQ qoute SRP at RM3120 but if you can show that you are the v-kool user or can find any1 you know who got v-kool install, they'll give 10% discount. But I was lucky to get it done with the help of my friend as a sales personal, minus the commission, it's so much cheaper than the SRP-10%.

My ride is nice and cool now, no problem with the S-Tag, wireless gate access card and phone signal. Since the car come with GPS, I don't use my Phone GPS anymore. So I didn't check the GPS signal quality.

 

[savid]

Hi Saat,
Btw I was informed by V-kool that the warranty is only valid for current purchaser, guess this is the catch that they won't pay for the next owner if the film is torn off by JPJ.

 

[saat]

Another graduate of AST.

Yeah, they can say what they want now. I was the one who put it on. It is my company car. They made a lot of promises during pre-sales but how about the GPS, Smart Tag and Autogate issues that I have been complaining all these years.

They wont change.

I will continue my crusade to tell the world they are crap. I suspect they have lost a few sales already.

 

[saat]

I suspect this is a very clever caveat to avoid having to replace the film with full knowledge that their claims of being a "JPJ approved" film is false. Cos there is a double catch there:

1. Torn by JPJ - which will happen cos the film will inevitably fail the test.
2. A new owner - which will require the a JPJ inspection and the film will fail the test.

Either way you are screwed cos the film does NOT pass the test.

 

[savid]

Well, those around my time are all around the world now, not many left in Malaysia. Btw I finished my training much later than you lah...
Still miss that nice and peaceful Scottish highland.

 

[digerati]

waa... what a revelation... and all these while, i thought v-kool is the king of all tint films...

 

[wobbles]

I had V-kool done for the first time, for my F02 - this after various other experiences with Huper Optik, Rike-cool etc for my previous cars. Truth be told, amongst the tints approved by the LTA (Singapore's version of the JPJ), V-kool has really been the best in reducing heat and radiation in the car. And mind you, my F02 is Sapphire Black, so it does get pretty darn hot on a sunny day!

The issue about gantries and tolls having trouble reading our IU (in-vehicle units) - ie similar to your smart tags etc IS TRUE. However, this is due to the extremely high metallic particulates that the film contains - and that's what really scatters the infra-red and UV radiation and keeps the heat out of the car.

To overcome the issue about the IU or smart tags, the local V-kool installer came up with this rather simple solution:

They have a small template cut-out, and there absolutely no issue with my IU being read and recognized by the various toll gantries

Dunno about the smart tags though, because some of you might not have the smart tags attached to the windows (for fear of getting the windscreen shattered when a thief tries to steal the tag, I suppose), so having a fixed template cut-out may not work for the Malaysian cars.

Just thought I'd share my experience with the brothers here

 

[saat]

I had V-kool done for the first time, for my F02 - this after various other experiences with Huper Optik, Rike-cool etc for my previous cars. Truth be told, amongst the tints approved by the LTA (Singapore's version of the JPJ), V-kool has really been the best in reducing heat and radiation in the car. And mind you, my F02 is Sapphire Black, so it does get pretty darn hot on a sunny day!

The issue about gantries and tolls having trouble reading our IU (in-vehicle units) - ie similar to your smart tags etc IS TRUE. However, this is due to the extremely high metallic particulates that the film contains - and that's what really scatters the infra-red and UV radiation and keeps the heat out of the car.

To overcome the issue about the IU or smart tags, the local V-kool installer came up with this rather simple solution:

They have a small template cut-out, and there absolutely no issue with my IU being read and recognized by the various toll gantries

Dunno about the smart tags though, because some of you might not have the smart tags attached to the windows (for fear of getting the windscreen shattered when a thief tries to steal the tag, I suppose), so having a fixed template cut-out may not work for the Malaysian cars.

Just thought I'd share my experience with the brothers here

Bro,

If you think V-Kool has the best heat rejection, please see the published data below comparing the various popular brands:

TINT COMPARO
TSER - Total Solar Energy Rejection
3M (Crystalline) 19-68%
3M (Ceramic) 59.00%
EcoTint (Ray Barrier) 58-64%
Huper Optik (X-T50) 29.00%
Huper Optik (Perf 3) 54.00%
V-Kool (Elite) 55.00%

UVRR - Ultra-Violet Radiation Rejection
3M (Crystalline) 99.90%
3M (Ceramic) 99.00%
EcoTint (Ray Barrier) 99.50%
Huper Optik (X-T50) 99.00%
Huper Optik (Perf 3) 99.00%
V-Kool (Elite) 99.00%

IRHR - Infra-red Heat Rejection
3M (Crystalline) 97.00%
3M (Ceramic) 80.00%
EcoTint (Ray Barrier) 95-97%
Huper Optik (X-T50) Not Quoted
Huper Optik (Perf 3) Not Quoted
V-Kool (Elite) 95.00%

V-Kool is NOT the best when it comes to heat rejection. From the above you will see that V-Kool is not even anywhere near the top when it comes to heat rejection in all categories. In fact it languishes at the bottom in many categories. Bro, V-Kool marketing and the data don't seem to speak the same language.

On the solution of a cut-out to allow your IU to be read by the gantry scanner, Malaysia too have long (probably more than 15years) had that solution to allow our SmartTag to be read. But I believe I speak for many motorists that it pains us to see why we should resort to such solution when there are better tint flims out there who do not have to resort to the same solution. It is ugly and totally unacceptable when we pay a premium for V-Kool over other films. But more importantly, why only some V-Kool users needs to have the cut-out and not many other using the same V-Kool tint. As have been posted here there are many V-Kool users who do not have to have the cut-out in Malaysia. The problem may be with the installation or in poor quality control of the batches. You go figure it. And NO we do not fear getting our windscreen smashed.

I suggest you take this issue with your installer - why thousands of Malaysian V-Kool Users do not need to resort to the ugly cut-out like you. Please post here the response you got from them and you can see that all installers have the same issue with V-Kool.


Sorry for the early morning tirade. They are still my pet peeve.

Cheers

 

[erica34]

langsung tak kasi can when it comes to vkool. haha.

 

[astroboy]

Bro,

If you think V-Kool has the best heat rejection, please see the published data below comparing the various popular brands:

TINT COMPARO
TSER - Total Solar Energy Rejection
3M (Crystalline) 19-68%
3M (Ceramic) 59.00%
EcoTint (Ray Barrier) 58-64%
Huper Optik (X-T50) 29.00%
Huper Optik (Perf 3) 54.00%
V-Kool (Elite) 55.00%

UVRR - Ultra-Violet Radiation Rejection
3M (Crystalline) 99.90%
3M (Ceramic) 99.00%
EcoTint (Ray Barrier) 99.50%
Huper Optik (X-T50) 99.00%
Huper Optik (Perf 3) 99.00%
V-Kool (Elite) 99.00%

IRHR - Infra-red Heat Rejection
3M (Crystalline) 97.00%
3M (Ceramic) 80.00%
EcoTint (Ray Barrier) 95-97%
Huper Optik (X-T50) Not Quoted
Huper Optik (Perf 3) Not Quoted
V-Kool (Elite) 95.00%

V-Kool is NOT the best when it comes to heat rejection. From the above you will see that V-Kool is not even anywhere near the top when it comes to heat rejection in all categories. In fact it languishes at the bottom in many categories. Bro, V-Kool marketing and the data don't seem to speak the same language.

On the solution of a cut-out to allow your IU to be read by the gantry scanner, Malaysia too have long (probably more than 15years) had that solution to allow our SmartTag to be read. But I believe I speak for many motorists that it pains us to see why we should resort to such solution when there are better tint flims out there who do not have to resort to the same solution. It is ugly and totally unacceptable when we pay a premium for V-Kool over other films. But more importantly, why only some V-Kool users needs to have the cut-out and not many other using the same V-Kool tint. As have been posted here there are many V-Kool users who do not have to have the cut-out in Malaysia. The problem may be with the installation or in poor quality control of the batches. You go figure it. And NO we do not fear getting our windscreen smashed.

I suggest you take this issue with your installer - why thousands of Malaysian V-Kool Users do not need to resort to the ugly cut-out like you. Please post here the response you got from them and you can see that all installers have the same issue with V-Kool.


Sorry for the early morning tirade. They are still my pet peeve.

Cheers

Haiya.. I buy BMW not because of Auto Bavaria's "good service" la. I use VKool not because of the local franchise's "good service" too.

Likewise, BMW is not the greatest car too.. just an individual's preference lor, despite the problematic reliability, short warranty, expensive parts and ill after sale service by SC. That's why to me BMW ownership is really taking a dive or plunge, and not a ride over a bed of roses like what most other premium marques offered.

I use VKool of course IR rejection reasonably well is one thing despite not top of it's class, I also like it's color [greenish classy color], clarity [more so for the windshield], I can live with the RF interference though.. my Garmin also has no problem locking in satellites.. I still consider it a better/wiser choice comparing to BMW ownership.. :4:

 

[morrogan]

Just my personal humble opinion: if I am not mistaken, nowaday most of the car manufacturer put on IR heat absorbing, UV rejection and heat rejection glass on their car. Although the effect might not be as good as additional tinted film but when you add up the original glass value+the additional tinted film, it will most probably exceed the threshold as specified by JPJ/LTA. As such, what the manufacturer's claim is somehow valid, their film itself really does not exceed the required value specified by the authority. Only when you add up these 2 (i.e. original glass value+tinted) then the value exceeded.

Take for example, visible light penetration = min 70% for front windscreen, if the original factory glass already have taken out 5%, adding on a tinted film with 70% will reduce the visible penetration to only 65% so, it is going to below the legal value.