The heat insulation of the windshield of Ideal L6 and L7/L8 is very different, s
A few days after picking up my Ideal L6, I noticed that under the intense Chengdu sun, the perceived temperature inside the car, especially in the front row, was indeed a bit high, and it was mainly concentrated on the parts of the skin that were directly exposed to sunlight. Therefore, I decided to apply heat-insulating film to all the car windows. Since I did quite a bit of research and learning before and after the film application, I would like to share with you the tips and experiences of applying window heat-insulating film, as well as how to roughly distinguish whether the film applied by the 4S shop is genuine or not.
01
Has the Ideal L6's front windshield been downgraded?
There's also a small anecdote here. In the previous article about picking up the car (related review: I sold my Audi Q5L for an Ideal L6, and the real reason is these three points), I also mentioned that the Ideal L6, including the seats, interior design, steering wheel, and even the engine hood, all seem to be of the same origin as the L7 and L8, which makes one wonder: How does the L6 manage to be so much cheaper than the L7 and L8 at the starting price? By chance, I came across the claim that "the heat insulation level of the L6's front windshield is not as good as the L7's" online, and this time I took the opportunity to verify it at a professional film application store.
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The data obtained through the professional infrared index testing instrument at the film application store clearly shows that under the same testing conditions, the Ideal L7's front windshield measured only 680W/m², while the Ideal L6 measured 1880W/m², which is nearly twice as much. This clearly reflects the saying "you get what you pay for." As the entry-level model in the current Ideal L series, the L6 indeed uses materials that are not as good as the L7/L8/L9 in some aspects.As for the front row side windows, since they all use double-layer laminated soundproof glass, the test data is relatively close.
It should be specifically noted that the measured infrared index is more of a reference index for heat insulation and infrared isolation, and it is not the only standard to judge whether it truly has heat insulation. Especially after applying the film, there may be a situation where "the infrared index is very low, but the actual heat insulation effect is poor."
02
How to distinguish the brand, series, and model of heat insulation film?
There are actually quite a few brands of heat insulation film (the above picture is the mainstream brand of heat insulation film). Especially like me, after searching for the ideal film on a certain book, all kinds of plans are dazzling. But if you combine the recommendations of offline stores and online plans, it is not difficult to see that the common film brands to choose (taking Chengdu area as an example) are probably V-Kool, LLumar, and 3M.In it, V-KOOL and LLumar are said to be from the same family, with the former being positioned as mid-to-high-end, while LLumar is more consumer-friendly, which can also be seen from the pricing. LLumar and 3M can generally be applied for around 2000 yuan, whereas V-KOOL starts at around 4000 yuan.
Essentially, most of the heat-insulating films on the market today are nano-ceramic films, such as those from 3M and LLumar, while a small portion, like the well-known front VK70 from V-KOOL, belongs to the category of metal reflective films.
The core difference is that the latter reflects the heat source, so it has a relatively longer-lasting heat insulation effect under long-term exposure to the sun. However, it also has a potential issue: it may slightly affect mobile phone signals. Fortunately, the signal reception capabilities of current domestic mobile phones are quite strong. On the other hand, nano-ceramic films operate more like heat absorbers, also capable of blocking some heat sources, but when you touch the film, it feels relatively hot.Further Discussion on the Differences Between Series and Models of Various Brands
Taking the Dragon Film's Smart Choice, Joy, and Houyi series as examples, it can be seen from the merchants' parameter tables that the first two parameters to consider are the "Total Solar Energy Rejection Rate" and the "Visible Light Transmission Rate." You can also understand that the higher the visible light transmission rate and the higher the total solar energy rejection rate, the better the film is, of course, the price will also be significantly higher.
Among them, due to national regulations that the transmission rate of the front windshield film must exceed 70%, when choosing the front windshield, I personally think that the main reference should be the total solar energy rejection rate and the visible light reflectance. The significance of the former is self-evident, and the latter is because if your reflectance is too high, it is very likely that the reflection of some interior layout will be reflected onto the windshield, which may interfere with the driving line of sight.
Of course, in the model tables of some brands, parameters such as the total infrared rejection rate and the infrared penetration rejection rate will also appear. My suggestion is to first select a brand that fits your budget, and then choose the series and model based on the parameters.How to Distinguish Authentic from Counterfeit Heat-Insulating Films?
It is well-known that many 4S stores still use the offer of window tinting and floor mats as bargaining chips when selling cars. But are the heat-insulating films they provide genuine or fake? The best way to verify is to personally observe the tinting process and check if the serial number on the packaging matches the one on the film before cutting it.
Then, a more crucial step is: after the film has been applied for a few days, visit the official website or WeChat public account of the heat-insulating film brand you chose. Generally, you can look up your tinting information using the vehicle identification number (VIN). At this point, you can once again verify if the serial number matches the one before cutting, to ensure its authenticity.
Of course, there are also some quick tips to identify the authenticity of heat-insulating films. For example, with Dragon films (I am more familiar with them because I have applied Dragon films myself), the genuine product will not display any logos or marks after being applied to the glass, whereas counterfeit Dragon films often have a mark on the bottom film to mimic authenticity, which is usually a sign of a fake.Choose "Large" Over "Small" for Screen Protector Shops
Regarding the question of where to get a screen protector applied, I suggest opting for larger, reputable stores rather than settling for cheaper, smaller shops that might ultimately lead to "penny-wise and pound-foolish" outcomes. Here are several benefits I've personally summarized for getting a screen protector applied at a regular store:
1. Professionalism, quality, and after-sales service are guaranteed (most films come with a 5-7 year warranty);
2. The likelihood of counterfeit films is lower in authorized brand stores;
3. Reputable and professional stores promptly update their cutting templates for newly released car models, whereas smaller shops might have only previously dealt with models L7 and L8, but the window dimensions of the L6 actually have some changes. Nobody wants to be a guinea pig, right?4. A formal store has a dedicated film application workshop (such as a humidification system to ensure that particles settle on the ground in a closed space, preventing dust or particles from being trapped between the film and the glass), and before applying the film, they will cover the painted areas of the car to avoid damaging the paint.
05
Ideal L6 Film Application Effect
In fact, I was torn between the V-KOOL VK70 and the LLumar Comfort Series package for a long time, as the price difference was almost double. Ultimately, I chose the more cost-effective Comfort Series package, which cost less than 2400 yuan after completion.
Take a look at the comparison of infrared test data for the front windshield and front side windows before and after the film application:It can be observed that the front windshield's heat rejection has dropped from around 1800 W/m² to approximately W/m², which is quite a noticeable effect. However, I would like to remind everyone again: some salespeople might use various tactics to let you personally experience the heat insulation effect or show you approximate values of previously applied films to persuade you to choose more expensive, higher-end films. But I hope everyone will make choices based on their actual situation. If the budget is ample, you can definitely go for the most famous series from various brands. If the budget is limited, applying a heat insulation film for around 2000 yuan can also have a significant effect.
07
Driving Summary
In general, if the budget is sufficient, I would recommend choosing the V-KOOL VK70 or LLumar Houyi 70 for the front windshield, as these two types of heat rejection films indeed offer more noticeable heat insulation effects compared to other films. For other parts, you can appropriately choose based on your preferences. By the way, when selecting the color depth of the film for the side front and rear windows, pay attention to the matching, otherwise, when applied together, the side view might appear somewhat jarring.
I believe that after reading this guide, you should have a better understanding of how to choose heat rejection films. If you have any other topics related to car buying and maintenance that you would like to see, please feel free to leave a comment, as it might be the content of our next issue!
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