FormulaOne Installer in Phoenix?

January 12, 2005

Anyone know of a current FormulaOne installer in the Phoenix metro area? The one company listed in their dealer locator doesn't use F1 anymore. I even called F1's western regional office, who referred me to their local sales rep, who hasn't yet returned my call, so I figured I'd ask around here while I'm not-so-patiently waiting. :bingo

I just got an '05 Acura TL w/Navi, and the dealer had no idea what film was used to tint it. I called their tint shop, and found out it was Solar Gard HP Charcoal 38 - surprise surprise, my AM radio reception is crap, and GPS seems to have occasional accuracy problems as well.

So, rather than have them re-tint with a useless low(er)-end film, I think I'd like to try FormulaOne Pinnacle - if I can just find someone who actually installs it... :dunno

Thanks for your help!

--John

blade · January 12, 2005

I've installed HPCharcoal to many 05 TLs before with no complaints at all. :bingo But it doesn't need to be retinted. The film can be cut from one side to the other right above the upper-most defroster. This will break the connection between the antenna and the defrosters and should restore your AM reception.

And if you are going to have it retinted...why have a totally different brand of film installed. There are non-metallized color-stable films available.

January 12, 2005

Thanks, I'll have them give that cut a try first. I assume there doesn't need to be much of a visible gap, just enough to break conductivity?

Regarding retinting, I was looking for something not only color-stable, but with comparable heat rejection - which seems to rule out most other non-metallized films besides Huper ($$$) Optik and F1 Pinnacle.

Thanks for the advice...

--John

blade · January 12, 2005

You shouldn't see a gap.

HarveyD · January 13, 2005

Regarding retinting, I was looking for something not only color-stable, but with comparable heat rejection - which seems to rule out most other non-metallized films besides Huper ($$$) Optik and F1 Pinnacle

With Pinnacle, you get high heat rejection, color stability and NO interference.

Try the dealer locator on www.formulaone.com

January 13, 2005

harveyD

what are the #'s on the rejection?

January 13, 2005

Try the dealer locator on www.formulaone.com

[*]245442

Been there, done that (see my original post, up top). Even calling them hasn't helped me find anyone who installs their stuff in Phoenix yet... :nope

Sprinter, you can find their heat rejection and other specs here:

http://www.formulaone.com/pinnacle.htm

--John

January 13, 2005

Try the dealer locator on www.formulaone.com

[*]245442

Been there, done that (see my original post, up top). Even calling them hasn't helped me find anyone who installs their stuff in Phoenix yet...

Sprinter, you can find their heat rejection and other specs here:

http://www.formulaone.com/pinnacle.htm

--John

[*]245467

man your all over this!

January 13, 2005

I'd have to say that at 58% heat rejection thats a great # for a dyed film!!

January 13, 2005

Cutting the film across the uppermost defrost line will restore AM reception, but will not improve GPS performance. :gasp

Pinnacle is the way to go in a CPFilms product line... CP also makes LLumar Film where you can find a color-stable dyed product in AT charcoal.

As to FormulaOne in Phoenix... if the one listed no longer carries the product, I believe the closest F1 shop would now be Tucson (The Specialist).

Hyper Optiks has a residential film that is used as a crossover film install on autos.

It, like F1 Pinnacle, has an IR (infrared) absorbing deposition in its structure without using a dye layer for color. HO's product is less user friendly to an installer from a heat forming standpoint and with as much heat required to get the film to formed to auto glass curvatures, it calls into question what chemistry damage has occurred from the heat... This coming from a technical standpoint.

3M has a CS line that is color-stable dye with a pigment coating to increase solar performance...

Solar Gard has a pigmented film line known as True Grey...

All these products will give you a degree of performance for creature comfort while driving and will not interfere with electronic device reception or transmission.