Front windscreen tinting: My experience with Puspakom

[CS Chua]

I bought an ACV31 Camry and noted that it has tinting all round by Solar Safe, a reputable company. Before sending it to Puspakom for the mandatory inspection for transfer, I called Solar Safe to find out whether I should remove the tint or not. I was assured that it is JPJ compliant. So, the next morning I went to Puspakom but failed the inspection as the front screen registered 57% VLT. I went home and took out the tint myself and went back to Puspakom for another inspection. I passed this time.

After that, I sent my car to put a new tint for the front screen. Since the 4 windows and the back screen were approved (with Puspakom stickers) I did not change it. I did some research and learn that V kool and 3M are the top 2. I settled for the 3rd best as it is more than 50% cheaper than Vkool and 3M. But the IRR is still 90%. The car remains cool during the afternoon and the aircon feels cool within a few minutes unlike my previous cars when I had to wind down the windows to let go of the hot air.

Anyway, I learn that JPJ compliant does not mean Puspakom compliant. While at Puspakom for 2 mornings I talked to the runners and others there and everybody told me that no company can pass Puspakom inspection for the front windscreen. They always remove the tinting first before the inspection.

So, that is my experience. Lesson learnt is, always remove the front tinting before going for inspection unless you do not mind paying the RM30.00 and going back a second time.

[currymee]

CS,

Wouldn't that be expensive to remove the front windscreen tinting and then after the test, reapply a new one ? :confused:

Sorry to sound blur as I am planning to tint my car soon and my understanding is that once you remove the tinting, you basically "koyak" them and re-do a new one ? right ?

[CS Chua]

CS,

Wouldn't that be expensive to remove the front windscreen tinting and then after the test, reapply a new one ? :confused:

Sorry to sound blur as I am planning to tint my car soon and my understanding is that once you remove the tinting, you basically "koyak" them and re-do a new one ? right ?

Yes it is koyak forever, but if you do not remove the tint, puspakom will not approve and without their approval certificate, one cannot transfer the car to the new owner which is me. So, the tint has to be removed. This morning I saw a BMW which needed to have all its tint removed i.e. the 4 windows plus front and back. In my case, it was only the front screen that failed.

I know this is a stupid world run by a stupid government. We always pay more in the end.

Anyway as long as I do not need to go back to Puspakom, I am OK until I sell the car. It is JPJ compliant but not Puspakom compliant. You will be alright as long as you are using your car but I will not advise you to take those darker colors because when there is a JPJ road block you can get into trouble. The main thing is to get IR film with the emphasis on IRR reduction but with 70% VLT. To me, the UV reduction is not important. It is the IR that is more important and that is where the price goes up.

[currymee]

Yes it is koyak forever, but if you do not remove the tint, puspakom will not approve and without their approval certificate, one cannot transfer the car to the new owner which is me. So, the tint has to be removed. This morning I saw a BMW which needed to have all its tint removed i.e. the 4 windows plus front and back. In my case, it was only the front screen that failed.

I know this is a stupid world run by a stupid government. We always pay more in the end.

Anyway as long as I do not need to go back to Puspakom, I am OK until I sell the car. It is JPJ compliant but not Puspakom compliant. You will be alright as long as you are using your car but I will not advise you to take those darker colors because when there is a JPJ road block you can get into trouble. The main thing is to get IR film with the emphasis on IRR reduction but with 70% VLT. To me, the UV reduction is not important. It is the IR that is more important and that is where the price goes up.

Thank you for clarification :)

[CS Chua]

Digressing a bit from the thread:

I bought a detailing package from Groupon for RM88 that covers washing, claying, polishing and waxing. The shop was Proguard in Bandar Puteri. Their services were good but I learn some things. Claying is not a separate process from washing. Instead of using their hands to wash it, they used a machine with a type of canvass that looks like what they used for polishing, to wash the car. They claimed that this will remove all the tar and what not. I always thought that claying is done after the car has been washed and dried.

And then the polishing. The ads state that there will be a polish and 2 waxing. Again it is not 3 separate processes. I had thought that they will do over the car 3 times. Oh, no. The guys had 3 different bottles with them. I guess one of them is for polishing. After they had completed a door, they went to the next door. After completing the 2nd door, they went back to the previous door, squirted another bottle on it and worked on it. Same as the 3rd bottle. That way, as far as they are concerned, it has been done 3 times. I was rather confused and still is confused. Logically, they have done 3 times even though they did not complete the whole car and start all over again. They just did 3 times in a localised area before moving on to the next area. What do you think?

Anyway, they showed that my leather seats can be improved when they did a demonstration on it. It was clear that my leather seat has darkened from the grimes and their solution could take it out. So, for RM175 (after 30% discount) they will scrub and polish the leather seats, the four door panels, and also the dashboard, plus the roof canvas. It sounds good to me so I am going back to get it down.

[jan tomaswaki]

Chua, FYI i bought a Prius which also include a tinting,the windscreen were stick with Puspakom hologram sticker .

[CS Chua]

Chua, FYI i bought a Prius which also include a tinting,the windscreen were stick with Puspakom hologram sticker .

New Prius? Maybe factory fitted? I like the Prius, very quiet. I sat in one while in LA and was very impressed by it.

[jan tomaswaki]

I think it was fit in Malaysia and get approved by JPJ.Yes the car is pretty quiet and so quiet i always left the car engine on for 1 hour.The prius is keyless.