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Metamorphosis - Stage 1 (Chapter 4)

The weather was getting hotter, the sun was brighter and whole lot more glaring and to me it seemed like our planet has moved a few km's closer to that big ball of fire. Even with the blackened rear glass and triangle windows, it still didn't cut it as the sun's harmful rays were burning me up and sought to destroy my previous interior. A call to Llumar's Malaysian Distributor, Tint Auto solved my problem. They suggested that apart from the regular heat and UV rejection solar film, a security film should be installed for added protection from unwanted break-ins as well as added protection during impact.

I trust these guys completely as Llumar has a long standing reputation and the guys who were doing up the tint for Project R are experts in their field. 

A Must Have For Every Car: Security Tints...

There are many types of window tint available in the market for a wide variety of uses from solar heat reduction to UV protection, privacy to safety and security, decorative applications to heat retention.

Heat rejection films are normally applied to the interior of flat glass windows to reduce the amount of infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation entering windows. Such films are either dyed or metalized (which can be transparent to visible light) to convert incoming solar radiation to infrared radiation, which is then rejected back through the glass to the exterior. They usually cost 10-15 percent more than regular windows but can reduce energy loss by as much as 30-50 percent.

To keep the sun's heat out of the house, a low-emissivity coating should be applied to the outside pane of glazed windows. If the windows are designed to provide heat energy in the winter and keep heat inside the house (typical of cold climates), the low-emissivity coating should be applied to the inside pane of glazed windows.[1] Such films also reduce the amount of visible and ultraviolet light entering a window, and are often applied to reduce fading of the contents of a room. Silvered film may also be employed to the same end. New technology spectrally selective films that block certain wavelengths of the suns infra red energy reject solar heat without reducing natural light.

Security films are applied to prevent glass from shattering. Typically applied to commercial glass, these films are made of heavy-gauge plastic and are intended to maintain the integrity of glass when subject to heavy impact. The most robust security films are capable of preventing fragmentation and the production of hazardous glass shards from forces such as bomb blasts. Some companies have even experimented with bullet ballistics of multiple layers of security film.

These security films, if applied properly, can also provide protection for vehicles. These security films are often tinted and can be up to 400 micrometers (µm) thick, compared to less than 50 µm for ordinary tint films. If anchored correctly, they can also provide protection for architectural glazing in the event of an explosion. A layer of film (of 100 µm thickness or greater) can prevent the ejection of spall when a projectile impacts on its surface, creating small dagger-like shards of glass that can cause injury. In both automotive and architectural applications, the film, which is available in a variety of thickness and tints, is generally applied to the interior of the glass, though specialized exterior films are available. In the event of an impact or explosion, the film serves to reduce the likelihood of glass breakage, but where shattering does occur they firmly hold the pieces safely in place. The films have an exceptionally strong, energy-absorbing mounting adhesive, and are composed of polyester film layers that are extremely high in tensile and break strength.

LLumar: Our Premier Choice for Safety, Heat Rejection and Style 

For this part of our project, I was looking to have some tint that could provide me with superb heat and UV rejection along with some privacy while driving and also to boost the security of the R, given the fact that we all live in a world gone insane. There are plenty of options for Heat/UV rejection + Security tints in the market. There are a thousand and one brands out there each offering either a lower price or promises of better features then their competitor. The Integra fresh from the dealership did not come with any sort of tint save for the darkened rear window and rear windscreen which is the industry standard for every car in Japan. So you can probably imagine the heat build up and the UV rays which are not only harmful to us but to the car interior as well.

I chose LLumar simply because of its quality and durability which sustains very well over a long term period. The professionalism of its technical staff and installers are unparalleled. LLumar automotive films offer an array of optically clear and tinted options that range from high-performance dyed films to metal combinations and top-of-the-line all metal films. Known for their quality and patented scratch-resistant coating, LLumar films are durable and virtually maintenance free. Looking at the catalog I decided to go for the Titanium series T8-35. 8 denotes the thickness which is 8 mils which is pretty thick by industry standards and 35 represents the light visibility in percentage. Its good to note that the Titanium T8-35 is not JPJ (equivalent to DMV in the United States and LTA, Singapore) compliant due to the dark shade of tint and percentage of light visibility.

LLumar also states that the Titanium Security range is applicable only for the side windows of the car and that the front and rear windscreens use the regular Titanium film as security tint would distort driving vision and  

Solar Control Films - LLumar solar control film keeps a car's interior cool and comfortable while reducing the load on the air conditioning system. LLumar’s UV rejection protects your car’s interior from fading and cracking.

Safety & Security Films - LLumar safety and security film holds shattered glass in place, thereby reducing the likelihood of personal injury in an accident, protecting property, and deterring smash and grab thieves.

Windscreen Films - LLumar windscreen films filter out the worst of the sun's heat and glare while letting light in so the driver has a clearer, more comfortable view of the road.

Manufactured with a patent-pending hybrid matrix formula of corrosion-resistant metal oxides, LLumar windscreen films do not
interfere with cell phones, radio reception, radar detectors, or global positioning systems. All LLumar films are designed to meet
international standards, come with a factory backed warranty, and are professionally installed at dealerships around the world.

10 Reasons Why People Choose Llumar Films

1. The only manufacturer that makes all of its film components in-house… that ensures the best quality control and the fastest response.
2. The largest manufacturing facility in the industry with over 650,000 square feet which is mostly a clean room atmosphere and is ISO 9001 certified.
3. The only manufacturer that uses an ultraviolet absorbing film layer (as opposed to just adhesive additives) in all its automotive and flatglass solar films.
4. Scratch-resistant film coatings with an unparalleled track record in the industry.
5. Our CDF adhesive system has never failed in over 20 years of continuous use.
6. The widest variety of products and widths…over 300.
7. The most comprehensive and reliable warranty programs in the film industry.
8. An unprecedented advertising and promotion program increase product and brand recognition in the marketplace.
9. A sales and marketing staff that can help you sell, train, advertise, secure leads for you, and help you become more successful.
10. CPFilms is the only film USA manufacturer with offices located in Asia, manned by CPFilms staff trained by factory, and able to give Product information within the same time zone.

The LLumar Difference...

We now look into the reasons of why the LLumar difference made us choose LLumar over the other competitors. LLumar films constitute a wide family of protective, thin-film products that serve a variety of useful proposes. Most are intended for application to glass surfaces and are made from the highest quality, optically clear polyester films, treated, coated, and laminated in various ways through vacuum metallizing, sputtering coating, chemical dyeing or pigmentation. Special adhesives and scratch-resistant coatings make the films extremely durable and bond well to glass and other materials. Over 180 unique films are used for automotive, architectural, and residential applications to control the sun’s heat, glare, and ultraviolet light, or provide color and patterned decoration. Others are used to make glass safer and more secure, or to invisibly protect auto paint from stone chips and abrasion. 

Traffic accidents happen every day, even to the most responsible drivers. In a split second, lives can be changed. In a side-impact collision:

* Unprotected side windows can easily shatter, projecting glass shards into the car.
* Glass shards can cause significant lacerations and eye injuries.
* The opening from the shattered window increases the likelihood of passengers being thrown from the car — the leading cause of death in traffic accidents.

LLumar safety and security film provides a strong, protective barrier between you and the glass in the event of an accident. With LLumar, the window may still break, but the glass fragments adhere to the film.

* Car occupants are shielded from dangerous flying glass shards.
* Passengers are protected from intruding accident debris
* Flying glass is contained and does not interfere with side airbag performance.

In less than five seconds, a thief can shatter your car window and rob you of your valuables. This can be particularly dangerous if you are in the vehicle during the attack.

LLumar safety and security film is the best defense against a "smash and grab" attack.

* By holding broken glass in place, LLumar slows access to the vehicle interior.
* The increased time to break-in and additional noise call attention to the thief.
* If you are in the vehicle during an attack, you’ll have more time to escape.

When it comes to selecting the proper window film for your vehicle, the market is vast. But you want more than options. You want the right option. Choose LLumar to provide the ultimate performance.

Solar Protection

The sun’s rays can cause a car’s interior to become unbearably hot. Installing a high performance window film can reduce your car’s interior surface temperatures by as much as 16°C (29°F)… creating a more comfortable ride, lessening the burden on the air conditioning system, and saving fuel.
Ultraviolet Protection

Ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause damage to a vehicle’s interior — and to human skin. LLumar film forms a protective barrier that blocks up to 99% of UV rays, which keeps your car’s interior looking newer, longer, and shields you and your passengers from UV exposure.

Additional Protection for Windscreens

A cooler interior starts at your windscreen! These technologically advanced films offer extraordinary level of protection from infrared and ultraviolet rays.

Quality

To ensure lasting quality, all LLumar window films are professionally installed by highly trained technicians. Using proprietary LLumar PrecisionCut™ technology, each LLumar window film pattern is computer-generated and trimmed precisely to factory specifications, ensuring a perfect fit. And our LLumar HPR adhesive is known worldwide for its strength, durability and optical clarity. This quality and attention to detail will give you the confidence that you’ve made the best choice.

Driving Impressions

Tint Auto Malaysia had mentioned to us that, LLumar does not only focus on automotive, but are also very big in the commercial and residential industry. LLumar prides itself on being among the forefront players in the tinting industry worldwide and knowing that gives us full confidence in LLumar's products and their after-sales service.

My selection of the LLumar Titanium Security Film is among the top of the line for the automotive sector. I opted to go for the LLumar Titanium Security Film series as it doubles as a security film and a solar, UV and heat rejection tint. The LLumar Titanium range carried by Tint Auto is 8 mils (200 microns) which is actually quite thick for automotive use. The industry standard is 4 mils which is about four times as thick as the standard non-safety film. To date, LLumar has even 12 mils of security film thickness which is bomb-blast shatter proof. But, as Tint Auto Malaysia has mentioned to us, a thicker security film may ruin the window motor after a few months of operation due to its thickness which causes added drag and weight which causes stress to the motor. The Titanium T8-35 8 mil security film will be sufficient for both protection and heat rejection. The other plus point is that LLumar tints comes with scratch resistant film coatings.

After fitting the LLumar Titanium Security tint, I was advised not to wind down the windows for at least 48 hours to let the adhesive set in and bind with the glass. Since I opted for the Titanium 8 Mils series, proper adhesive curing will take about a week to 2 before it fully binds with the glass and by then even the Incredible Hulk will have a heck of a time tearing it apart. The first thing I noticed was the darker shade of tint which enhances the look giving it a nice stark contrast to the pearl white paint job. Since the Integra has the darkened privacy glass for the rear triangle and rear windscreen, the LLumar Titanium T8-35 enhances its darkened outlook which is a beauty to behold. After driving off, I decided to park the car in an open space without any shade in the hot afternoon sun. i left it there for an hour and a half and then came back to collect the car. When I opened the doors, I could feel that the heat from the interior was significantly lower than previously when Project R did not have any tint. The best part of having LLumar tint is that, the moment you open those car doors, the majority of heat from the cabin dissipates instantly and leaves the interior much cooler, so when you get into those seats, you won't be rushing to start up the car and crank up the Air Conditioning to the max, which is more than I can say for the previous tints that had been tried on a few of the my other cars. That feature alone is the mark of a very high quality window tint. 

In A Nutshell...

A cooler interior makes for happier and less stressful driving which in turn, puts less stress on the air conditioning, and in that respect, the compressor has lesser load on it which, increases the lifespan of the compressor and due to that, there's less load on the flow of electrical current which provides better response from the engine. It's granted that LLumar may not be the cheapest of regular tints and security tints for that matter, but why would you want to compromise on your safety and comfort for a few dollars more? Not to mention that you have the assurance and backing of LLumar and Tint Auto Malaysia should the need arise.  

Overall I am pretty happy with the outcome and results of LLumar's Titanium series tints. It moves away from the regular conventional tint out there and takes it to a few levels higher. Not only your ride now comes equipped with safety, but with good heat and UV rejection as well as privacy and the darker shade provides you with the sublime comfort while it blocks out the glare from the sun, so much so that I don't really wear my Oakley shades while driving. Taking these factors into account, we'd definitely vouch for LLumar's products for their overall quality and function. Not to mention, all LLumar's products come with a 7-YEAR warranty against defects, bubbling, discoloration, scratches to name a few. 

Overall, I've never been happier to have a visually more appealing ride, with a brand new spanking tint with its dark shade that is the perfect contrast to Honda's Championship white paint job. LLumar's tint combine both functionality and form.

*LLumar's Titanium and Palladium Security Tints can be obtained from Tint Auto Malaysia, LLumar's Sole Distributor in Malaysia. Please Contact Them for further information.*

Coming up next, Project R gets adds lightness to the car via rim downsizing glues itself to the road with new rubber from Goodyear Malaysia. 

LLumar Titanium T8-35 8 Mils Security Film (Side Windows)

Llumar Titanium T-35 Solar Film (Front and Rear Windscreen)

Tint Auto (M) Sdn Bhd

Tint Auto (M) Sdn Bhd
46, Jln Chan Sow Lin,
55200 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA

TEL : +6012-5685227

MYR 2,100 (USD $ 600)

This Feature Segment's Total Expenditure:

 MYR 2,100

   (USD $ 600)

Prev Feature: D-Day (Dyno Day), The Second Coming

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The Other Really Brilliant Eagle