V-Kool vs Rikecool

[Niterider]

redhotcoupe,

Good for you. If yours is vkool elite, I believe you have vkool 75 for your front windscreen and Vkool 70 on the rest.

I am going Vkool 70 all round. But the company says they wont give me saman warranty if I choose Vkool 70 for my front windscreen. I told them I will take the risk. From what I observe, Vkool 70 is not that dark and visibility, both from inside and outside is good. From outside you can see the inside quite clearly.

They also told me that with Vkool 70, my smart-tag may not work all the time. Sometimes it works and sometimes it may not. I told them I will take the risk.

The reason I wanted Vkool 70 vs Vkool 75 for the front windscreen is because there is quite a significant IRR rating. Vkool 70 is 94%, Vkool 75 is 77%

Will update when I have mine done tomorrow, hopefully.

 

[ah lian]

vkool is an excellent product. once you try it.... the rest of the brands just doesnt compare.

but i must say, the marketing, sales, prices, installation (at Hq, PJ), after sales service sucks big time.

my 2 windscreen + 2 windows tinting costs rm1.4k, citing some 'technical difficulties". its a 1.6 cc.... h34r: some #$%%^&*!!! bullshittttt!

but beware of imitation products.... i have heard that there are many. not sure how to differentiate...

 

[830]

all my references are to the best grade v kool interms of heat rejection. don settle for 2nd grade even if it is some $# cheaper. not worth the save one ... whichever brand you guys choose. just ask for the best they have got

 

[safri]

Originally posted by scin@Jan 20 2006, 11:10 AM
Mouse....

I did it at their KL branch at Jalan Maarof, Bangsar.
(if you go there, make sure you speak to Chris)

IMHO, its heat rejection properties are superior to V-K....!
And the colour of the tint itself is much more suited to BMWs.
That's also because, I personally don't like the metallic look (which also brings its own oxidation problems)
And I want to stay LEGAL and I want it to be Smartag friendly.
You get what you pay for...

go check it out....

www.llumar.com ( I think they have a local website as well)

Scin, passed by the llumar shop in bangsar many times but i thought sudah tutup kedai...how much did you pay for it man?

 

[scin]

About 1.8-2.0k I think...
Sometimes they go for onsite installations.Call Chris to make an appointment to see him.
I am very happy with this film. Looks good and keeps it cool, especially with my glass sunroof!

 

[Niterider]

Had my Vkool installed. V70 all round. Did not install V75 for front. Very good result, but not smart-tag friendly. So had to cut a small hole. Was prepared for it, so only a minor disappointment.

The car is very much cooler after many hours in the hot sun. I used to sweat profusely on entering my car, which is parked in the hot sun. Now, I dont have this sweating anymore. I can feel the effect of the aircon very quickly too. So, less work on the aircon compressor and also engine load. I think I should make back what I spent in the long term.

One more thing. My autogate remote also have to point to the small hole to open/close the gate. Or wind down the window if you like. If raining, no choice but to use the small hole...i know what you are thinking..bad thoughts huh?

When I insisted on V70 for front screen, the salesman discourages me, saying it may not be smart-tag friendly and no saman guarantee. V75 is saman/smart-tag guarantee. When he is gone, I ask the receptionist about a darker-tint car in the parking lot. She said it is the saleman's car, with V40 installed. The salesman does not do what he preaches. As you know V40 is much much darker then V70. Ofcouse V40 keeps out more heat, but since it is dark I am not prepared to take the risk. Cant imagine getting pulled over each time by JPJ or Police. For those who dont know, V40 allows 40% light penetration, whereas V70 is 70%.

In my old car I had ecotint. Cannot compare with Vkool 70. Worlds apart..but so is the price.

Bottom line, happy with the result as I wanted to keep out as much heat and UV as possible.

 

[ludavic]

Originally posted by 830@Jan 20 2006, 02:00 AM
yes mouse. you can even get RM1400 if you can 'ayat' the manager a bit. that's the lowest i've heard for a sedan. the cc thingy is just a ploy to make more money from u if you own a bigger car.

check this out.

swift RM 1400
e60 RM 1500

why?

ask the manager.

the width of a roll of tint is the same. the only difference in the length you cut out. if a car has the same length in windscreen but one is wider and one is slimmer, would you use the same amount of tint?

the key to this is the wastage. even if the screen is slimmer, they cut out more width from the same length tint, what are they going to do with the cut out part? can stick at spectacles, watch or headlamp la. just kidding la. they will just throw it away.

so the next time some1 in a tint shop tells you if your cc is bigger so charge is higher say thank you and leave the shop. RIP OFF!

or you cud ask him. you have a 330 and a 318 same make. different price ar?

or rx7 is cheaper than mitsubishi GTO by half?

hehehe.

for e30 how much? and how do they deal with the heaters behind?

sorry for ignorance i've been using cheapo tints all this time.

 

[redhotcoupe]

Originally posted by Niterider@Jan 23 2006, 01:29 PM
Had my Vkool installed. V70 all round. Did not install V75 for front. Very good result, but not smart-tag friendly. So had to cut a small hole. Was prepared for it, so only a minor disappointment.

The car is very much cooler after many hours in the hot sun. I used to sweat profusely on entering my car, which is parked in the hot sun. Now, I dont have this sweating anymore. I can feel the effect of the aircon very quickly too. So, less work on the aircon compressor and also engine load. I think I should make back what I spent in the long term.

One more thing. My autogate remote also have to point to the small hole to open/close the gate. Or wind down the window if you like. If raining, no choice but to use the small hole...i know what you are thinking..bad thoughts huh?

When I insisted on V70 for front screen, the salesman discourages me, saying it may not be smart-tag friendly and no saman guarantee. V75 is saman/smart-tag guarantee. When he is gone, I ask the receptionist about a darker-tint car in the parking lot. She said it is the saleman's car, with V40 installed. The salesman does not do what he preaches. As you know V40 is much much darker then V70. Ofcouse V40 keeps out more heat, but since it is dark I am not prepared to take the risk. Cant imagine getting pulled over each time by JPJ or Police. For those who dont know, V40 allows 40% light penetration, whereas V70 is 70%.

In my old car I had ecotint. Cannot compare with Vkool 70. Worlds apart..but so is the price.

Bottom line, happy with the result as I wanted to keep out as much heat and UV as possible.

Niterider,

Tq for the info. Will check back with my mech. Anyway, I'm enjoying the same benefit as you do. Parked the car without any shade at all today. But within 5 - 10 minutes of switching on the air-con, the front screen had cooled down a lot. Within 20 minutes of driving, reduced air-con further from 3 to 1. Should have done it longgggg time ago.

 

[Calvin Tan]

Originally posted by scin@Jan 23 2006, 11:16 AM
About 1.8-2.0k I think...
Sometimes they go for onsite installations.Call Chris to make an appointment to see him.
I am very happy with this film. Looks good and keeps it cool, especially with my glass sunroof!

scin... you got the llumar bullet proof tint ar???

 

[affan66]

has anyone every used their so-called summons warranty before? Did any of these companies pay you the summons and replace the tint?

AFAIK, it's all bullshit. JPJ approved and stuff but when you get to Puspakom, koyak!!!

 

[scin]

No la...

that's another 2k and also it add more thickness.. The coupe rimless windows has additional problems to deal with, without having another 15 microns (or whatever it is) worth of laminate on our windows!

BTW.... Calvin you should update your profile to your new car, otherwise the moderators will come after your ass!

 

[Calvin Tan]

Originally posted by scin@Jan 24 2006, 01:30 PM
No la...

that's another 2k and also it add more thicknes.. The coupe rimless windows has additional problems to deal with, without having another 15 microns (or whatever it is) worth of laminate on our windows!

BTW.... Calvin you should update your profile to your new car, otherwise the moderators will come after your ass!

aiya..many members driving same car as mine also never put what. Some even didn't bother to write anything....sign.. maybe I have to start it...

 

[scin]

Yes, you should!

 

[ludavic]

anyone has a rough price? e30 coupe. If possible place and contact. thanks.

 

[guru]

dudes, here's my experience-

installed vkool in 02- 2k including the depan one. in 05 the thing koyak everywhere, the depan warp..look like old lady skin.
mind you i very carefull one.
oso forget about smart tag- you have to open window or cut a hole thru the tint- so jinjang!
cooling effects are ok.. kalo panas, panas jugak!! ppl say the car cool down faster but i think it's in the mind lah... but definately the matahari kurang memanaskan lah.

now i use the sun guard!! superb! just like vkool RM600 minus the front screen, RM985 all round tint (e46)

the place in Kampung Baru- on the main road(naza) very near the masjid..i forgot the name..they oso sell sport rims.. these fellas pro and they are used to dealing with mahal cars

 

[Calvin Tan]

Originally posted by guru@Feb 3 2006, 08:04 PM
dudes, here's my experience-

installed vkool in 02- 2k including the depan one. in 05 the thing koyak everywhere, the depan warp..look like old lady skin.
mind you i very carefull one.
oso forget about smart tag- you have to open window or cut a hole thru the tint- so jinjang!
cooling effects are ok.. kalo panas, panas jugak!! ppl say the car cool down faster but i think it's in the mind lah... but definately the matahari kurang memanaskan lah.

now i use the sun guard!! superb! just like vkool RM600 minus the front screen, RM985 all round tint (e46)

the place in Kampung Baru- on the main road(naza) very near the masjid..i forgot the name..they oso sell sport rims.. these fellas pro and they are used to dealing with mahal cars

I never know vkool like that quality one.... anyone tried huper optik?
Thinking of tinting my car with vkool, now better think twice and open ,mind for other option

 

[nsbone]

Huper Optik from Germany, eh... should match the German's car...

Yeah i sit once in my collegues peugeout and he just did the front for RM500. Wow, it's supercool, i think it was like the car was sitting under the garage..

 

[scin]

I have Huper Optik in my E30....

The Llumar in my 46 wins HANDS DOWN!

Smartag friendly too... No cutting hole/winding down window crap!

But whatever you install, if you park in the sun the whole day, oso panas la.....!
It's when you are driving and the sun is beating in (especially a coupe with moonroof) that you can really feel the difference.

 

[ludavic]

Slightly out of the topic - anyone used Air-cool before? How much for e30?

Also has anyone mixed and matched before? meaning using ... say like V-cool for front screen and Air-cool for the rest of the windows ... is it more cost effective than just using one brand?

 

[5201]

Originally posted by nsbone@Feb 4 2006, 12:45 AM
Huper Optik from Germany, eh... should match the German's car...

Yeah i sit once in my collegues peugeout and he just did the front for RM500. Wow, it's supercool, i think it was like the car was sitting under the garage..

Bro.... Huper Optik is NOT from Germany la.....

Its a JV between Fraunhofer Inst of Germany, PSB (formerly known as SISIR Singapore), Globamatrix and Southwall Technologies (US). Incidentally, Southwall IS the manufacturer of V-Kool. So the Huper Optik film technology is from US, and is derived from V-Kool. Note, Globamatrix is the distributor of both Huper Optik and V-Kool in this region. Comprende???

Notice i mention film technology, not the UV barrier tech. Coz Huper Optik uses Ceramic tech for UV barrier (dye and metal free), whilst V-Kool uses metal tech for UV barrier. Down side to V-Kool, the metal will corrode after several years, but this is minimal. This may lead to peeling or bubbles, but this is not usual for genuine V-Kool.

Point to take note that I mentioned genuine V-Kool. For the price that was quoted earlier in this thread (i.e. RM1300ish for Swift), pls ask the sales on what films are used. Normal practice, VK70 for the windscreen, V-Kool Golddust or other crap like V-Kool Elite for the rest. V-Kool Elite is not a product of Southwall, go ask the dealers what is the actual product and who is the manufacturer..... :nyehehe: :nyehehe:

So, if u think u got good prices for yr tint of V-Kool, check on the actual films they are putting on yr glass. If u hv time, sit there when they go it, and u'll notice that they use film from one roll on yr windscreen, and film from another for your other glasses.... dont that strike u as odd??? Also, note that the windscreen carries a V-Kool sticker, but not the other glasses..... same meaning.....

From what I can gather, RM2K for Swift guarentees you 100% V-Kool VK70 all around. But then again, shop around. Your best bet, go to the actual V-Kool distributor shop (meaning shops own by the local distributor), not their dealers, esp those that carries many products. This way, they can give u the best discounts, as its their own product, and also u get the genuine stuff, catch my drift???

Sun-Gard and Llumar is the other brands that comes to my mind for tinting, coz they carry the actual product and not cheat you with imitation stuff. My E34 is Sun-Gard-ed 100%, and is happy with the stuff. My swift is using Llumar, and is also happy with it....

Oooo.... incidentally, all 100% genuine carries warranty on scratches and blemishes.... Sun-Gard, Llumar is up to 5 yrs..... donno what V-Kool give tho...

My 2 cents, and not to put shame to business practices of local autofilm shops.