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Darker tints allowed!

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Soya

Soya

Supersonic

Business Times - 30 Jun 2004

LTA eases rules on tinted windows

But dealers say that won't necessarily make parallel imports cheaper

By SAMUEL EE

 

THE Land Transport Authority has relaxed the rules on tinted windows - but the move isn't expected to make most parallel-imported cars cheaper.

 

LTA recently issued new guidelines to importers on the minimum amount of light that must pass through a vehicle's rear windscreen and rear passenger windows. It said light transmission for these areas now has to be at least 25 per cent, down from 50 per cent. This means the glass can have a darker tint than before. (There is no change to light transmission for the front windscreen and front passenger windows, which must be at least 70 per cent.)

 

'The revision was made in view of feedback from motor traders on the rising trend of European and Japanese cars factory-fitted with darker rear windscreens and windows,' an LTA spokesman said. 'In addition, this could lead to potential improvements in the car's solar performance (to improve air-conditioning efficiency) and reduction in ultraviolet light transmission into the car, which may be harmful to human skin.'

 

JDM, or Japan domestic model, cars usually have rear windscreen and rear passenger windows that are more darkly tinted than the front windscreen and front passenger windows. These tinted rear windows - called privacy glass - are an option found mainly in high-end cars sold in Japan, such as the Mazda RX8 and Toyota Harrier.

 

Parallel importers who bring in such vehicles have had to get the windows replaced to register the cars. Typically this has cost about $2,000, which has been added to the vehicle's price. So with the relaxation of the rule, it would seem natural to assume that such cars will now cost about $2,000 less.

Not so, said an importer at the popular Automobile Megamart in Ubi. 'Even with the new guidelines, not all JDM cars will be able to comply,' said Vincent Tan of VinCar Trading. 'Some models like the Toyota Wish, Toyota Estima and Toyota Harrier 2.4 have less than 25 per cent visible light transmission.'

Mr Tan said tests at an authorised vehicle inspection centre showed these models have about 18-20 per cent visible light transmission. Only one model he offers, the Mazda RX8, can pass without modification because it has 30 per cent light transmission. 'So we still have to change the safety glass for most of our cars,' said Mr Tan.

 

But an engineer at a vehicle inspection centre disagreed. He said many of the JDM cars he has encountered have glass in the 30-40 per cent light transmission range, and are therefore likely to pass under the new rules. But he noted that specifications can vary from model to model and from time to time. 'These cars were made for other markets and are not brought in by the local authorised distributors,' he said. 'So we won't know exactly how much light they can transmit until we test the car at our inspection centre.'

 

Definite beneficiaries of the new LTA guidelines are companies that install automotive tinted window films, which are said to screen out infra-red light and ultra-violet rays to keep cabins cooler.

'I think there will be higher demand for darker film initially,' said the manager of a company that distributes a popular Japanese make. 'Then the market will probably stabilise.' He said one reason is the cost of such film, which ranges from $800 to $1,200 for a compact sedan. Another is that the difference between 50 per cent and 25 per cent visible light transmission isn't much. 'Some owners may not find it that useful,' he said. 'It's not going to be like the pitch black glass you see on some Malaysian cars - that's much less than 25 per cent. Anyway, if it's too dark you may not be able to see clearly when reversing at night.'

 

The LTA spokesman said: 'At the new light transmittance level, the driver will still be able to view through the rear windscreen and windows under normal street lighting conditions at night.' The revision was determined in consultation with the police, based on crime prevention, vehicle and road safety considerations, he added.

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Vivioman

Vivioman

Neutral Newbie

This should be the case long time ago already lah, it's overdue, but I'm glad that LTA has considered such a move.

 

Basically window tint is not for looks, but in our climate, it helps to make the interior less warm, the driver more comfy and perhaps also will help to reduce instances of skin cancer. In Oz, may car owners tint their car windows because it helps reduce the chances of skin cancer from the sun's rays....

 

Horray for us drivers in SG! [thumbsup]

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Tien

Tien

Neutral Newbie

but front part still cannot tint dark dark... i, the driver, cannot sit at the back seat leh dead.gif

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Ahliew

Ahliew

Neutral Newbie

i noticed that its uncomfortable and dangerous with very bright sunlight.

the glare can blind you temporarily and cant see things, covered by the glare... (im sure yall know what i mean)

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