Window Tint and Blue Tooth.

[Rogues]

I saw some reference made to 'flaky, erratic' bluetooth reception in a thread somewhere and thought some might be interested in this info if you're thinking of windowtinting...........
We all want the best looking, deepest & clear tint for our rides so inevitably we get the most expensive tint.
Currently the best is, I believe, what is known as 'magnetic film'........its supposed to be the bees knees in tint.........the problem is it also interferes with bluetooth and radio reception if put on the back window.
To negat this problem the window tinter specialist should be substituting the 'magnetic' on the back window with a good quality alternative.
SO.....if you are thinking of tinting, make sure your guy is not just whacking the most expensive on, all round.

Cheers Rogues

[1991_Vn2nV]

Not magnetic film.

Metalized tint. This has been a problem for AM radio reception etc. for cars for a long time, the problem is there are NO decent alternatives. The problem with radio reception is an easy fix, as the issue is just because the metalized tint covers the demister wires which ground the aerial.

The issue for bluetooth and wi-fi etc. however is harder to overcome as the problem lies in the RF Sheilding capacity of metalized film...

Basicly here are the options. You can either have METALIZED tint which is the good quality tint or go for simple DYED tint. Dyed tint offers the look, but not the UV protection, anti-fade protection, reflectivity, and the film tends to fade over time, often pretty quick. You can get a hybrid which is a cross between the two but its still not as good as proper metalized tint.

Note that the darker the tint, the worse the problem. This should not effect bluetooth inside the car though, just connections to outside the vehicle as the tint simply stops the ability of the bluetooth to penetrate the windows.

[vr5speed]

the aerial is on the roof of the car is it not? i use a non metal on rear screens of fords as the aerial is in the back window (above demister) but on them it stuffs up the AM not FM if metal is on it but still replace rears screens from radio interference no matter wat film is applyed, as for ve if aerial is on the roof then tint should not affect radio or blue tooth, just remember how long the coxial cable is now campared to older cars. Who tinted your car and wat price range were u charged?

[1991_Vn2nV]

Your use of english is horrible buddy. I cannot for the life of me read that post properly.

Bluetooth doesnt have anything to do with the aerial so I fail to see the importance anyway.

[adz8911]

Where abouts is your bluetooth receiver located? In my dad's 380 it's in the dash somewhere. We have tinting on it (65% / 35%) and the tinting doesn't interfere with our bluetooth at all.

The 380's antenna is also located in the rear windscreen, not on top of the car like the VE's and no noticable drop in reception quality occured once tinted (I have heard it affects AM signal but we never listen to that anyway).

[Doctor Bob]

the VE bluetooth is above the glovebox
window tint should not interfere with bluetooth, unless the signal in the car is being bounced around due to the film? causing signal echoes or something?

Rob

[Phreddy]

Indeed Bob, there could be refelctions causing out-of-phase cancellation. I don't think this would be terribly dramatic though - I'd suggest having a look at either the bluetooth kit fitted to the car, or the phone itself. Tint would interfere with the bluetooth when you're outside the car, but would you need to use it then?

Seriously tho, if anyone has this trouble check the receiver - or maybe re-position it so it's clear of major metalwork in the car. That would be more likely to cause problems IMHO.