Anti fog window spray versus aftermarket tint

[JavaDaHat]

Hi All,

Got the windows tinted in my PHEV this week and, while the dealer-endorsed company did a really good job, they looked at me like I had three heads when I asked them about a product for tinted windows to prevent fogging up.

As most of us who live in Ireland / UK probably know, HS PHEV windows do fog up when it rains and we choose not to use the heating / AC to drive in EV only. I got a few dehumidifying pillow thingies from Amazon that I placed on the dash and they improved the situation considerably. But after the tint was installed on all windows, the fogging up is a lot worse than before. Now, there are loads of sprays for windows that help with fogging up. However I noticed that they say not to use the products on "manually tinted windows". Since my tint was indeed manual I asked the tint specialist about which product I could use but they drew a blank.

So a question to the forum - does anyone know of a product safe to use for manually applied tint film and which could help reduce fogging up?

Thank you!

 

[JavaDaHat]

I attach before (but clean) and after (but dirty) pics if anyone's interested

 

[Dave]

The Tint looks really good and certainly improves the look of the car. It should improve the interior environment. Is there a slight tint in the front door windows as well?

 

[JavaDaHat]

The Tint looks really good and certainly improves the look of the car. It should improve the interior environment. Is there a slight tint in the front door windows as well?

Thanks. Yes all windows are tinted including the windscreen. Obviously rear ones are darker as there's no legislation in Ireland regarding the level of tint. The front windows and the windscreen could only be lightly tinted. But definitely had to be done. Only had maybe one or two drives in a full, spring sun but we could already tell that it's gonna be an oven very soon without the tint. It's weird that here the HS PHEV has 0 tint all around which is unusual and even the man who did the job was surprised.

 

[Dave]

Thanks. Yes all windows are tinted including the windscreen. Obviously rear ones are darker as there's no legislation in Ireland regarding the level of tint. The front windows and the windscreen could only be lightly tinted. But definitely had to be done. Only had maybe one or two drives in a full, spring sun but we could already tell that it's gonna be an oven very soon without the tint. It's weird that here the HS PHEV has 0 tint all around which is unusual and even the man who did the job was surprised.

Very interesting. I have booked my ZS EV in to get rear of B Pillars done in a dark tint. Maybe I should consider the other windows as well. It has never occurred to me to get them all done.

 

[JavaDaHat]

Very interesting. I have booked my ZS EV in to get rear of B Pillars done in a dark tint. Maybe I should consider the other windows as well. It has never occurred to me to get them all done.

Every window in its corner where the text is has a designation of the level of tint so you can sent a photo to your man and he'll be able to tell if your windows are fully transparent too or not. If they are fully transparent you will pretty much cook in the summer

 

[BarryH]

Very interesting. I have booked my ZS EV in to get rear of B Pillars done in a dark tint. Maybe I should consider the other windows as well. It has never occurred to me to get them all done.

I had the rear half of the car tinted shortly after I got my ZS in 2020, but halfway through September (when were all let out to play with our friends you may recall) I took one trip from the South East to the South West and my wife had to cover herself with our windscreen sun shield to avoid burning. So as soon I could I had a special Thermal Blocking film with hardly any tint put on the side door windows but not the windshield as I didn't know how it would work and the tinting company hadn't used it before. It works brilliantly and we were both very comfortable all last summer. It is supposed to block 95% of the heat and I can believe it. I'll probably get the windshield done this year at Tint Wizards as I've decided not to upgrade to the facelift ZS just yet.

 

[BarryH]

Hi All,

Got the windows tinted in my PHEV this week and, while the dealer-endorsed company did a really good job, they looked at me like I had three heads when I asked them about a product for tinted windows to prevent fogging up.

As most of us who live in Ireland / UK probably know, HS PHEV windows do fog up when it rains and we choose not to use the heating / AC to drive in EV only. I got a few dehumidifying pillow thingies from Amazon that I placed on the dash and they improved the situation considerably. But after the tint was installed on all windows, the fogging up is a lot worse than before. Now, there are loads of sprays for windows that help with fogging up. However I noticed that they say not to use the products on "manually tinted windows". Since my tint was indeed manual I asked the tint specialist about which product I could use but they drew a blank.

So a question to the forum - does anyone know of a product safe to use for manually applied tint film and which could help reduce fogging up?

Thank you!

This crops up a lot on the forum with ZS and MG5 owners and I can't really understand why people are so fearful of using what is a perfectly good solution called the HVAC? Certainly with the BEV with instant heating the screen can be quickly cleared and turning on the AC I have yet to see any reduction in range as it consumes such a tiny amount of electrons compared to the traction motor. Heating will take more juice but just give it a big blast and let the AC extract the moisture quickly making the car a much more present place to be. After all you've paid £25k to £35k to sit there why be miserable?

Now it could be different with a PHEV if you have to run a Fossil Burning Lump to warm the car up and get the heating going but a PHEV is a transitional technology and there will be a compromise somewhere I guess but then you probably can handle longer trips than the BEV driver without needing to stop for fueling which is the BEV driver's compromise. So if you are regularly needing to take long trips and require a PHEV then you won't be using it in EV mode on battery all the way and you'll be running on Fossil Juice at some point so why not start the journey that way in winter and let the Hybrid just help with the acceleration and fuel economy?

 

[JavaDaHat]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to give advice and reply to my post.

In the meantime I may have located a product that should be safe to use on tinted glass pending a test on a small area - Anti-Fog Windscreen Treatment - Invisible Glass

The official product page does not mention tint so I did send a message to the manufacturer to confirm but according to another website it may indeed be one of the only anti fog sprays safe to use for manual tint at least according to this page - Tired Of Dealing With Foggy Car Windows? These Products Can Help.

Hope this helps someone.