SolarGard window film

Tinted windows needn’t remind you of gangster movies, as there are health benefits to having darker glass.

SolarGard window film claims 58 per cent solar rejection, in comparison to the standard 20 per cent offered by other tints – so we tried it out to see the difference for ourselves.

Unfortunately, fitting the film isn’t a DIY job.

A specialist from Premier Window Films in Chichester, West Sussex, spent two-and-a-half hours darkening the glass in our MINI – taking it to the legal limit of 70 per cent light transmission at the front and 20 per cent on the rear.

The process involves cutting the film to a template and then heat shrinking it to fit.

He even applied talcum powder to deal with the curved glass at the rear.

Once finished, the results were clearly visible, although we were told the film would take 30 days to fully cure.

We were also advised not to open and close the doors too often at first, as the water-based swirls needed a few hours to dry.

We left our test car parked in a sunny spot for two hours, next to another vehicle, and inside the MINI felt far cooler with the SolarGard than the other model.

The set-up cut down glare well, and the subtle looks appealed.

Verdict

 * Contact: 01905 640400, www.solargard.co.uk

 * Problems? Time-consuming, need specialist installer to fit, price varies according to car.

 * So why buy? Health benefits, looks stylish, rejects sunlight, reduced glare from inside cabin.