3M Crystalline on Panoramic Sunroof on Model S? Thoughts and Experiences Appreciated

I have 3M crystalline 70 on the 4 side windows and rear window in Texas, and am very happy with it. I didn't do the roof and found last summer that the factory tinting in the roof is sufficient.

I very much do not recommend 3M Crystalline. while I cannot answer the sunroof question, on the other windows it looks like crap. Especially the rear hatch. The crystalline looks very purple on the MS. I took mine off and replaced it with Madico Charcool.

I don't think that the pano roof needs any additional tinting, I am thinking of going with photo synch on the sides and windshield, I am using the tesla shade on the rear glass and that seems to work out well. what is the word on photo synch?

I have been a long time hüper optic user, but had planned on using the 3M Crystalline on my MS (ordering this fall). But after reading many threads from MS owner's experiences plan on installing Photsync instead for it's higher heat rejection (I am in Texas). I am leaning towards 55 all around 75 on the windshield (+|- the pano).

3M Crystalline is not the best for heat reduction: Based on TSER (Total Solar Energy Reduction), PhotoSync would be better. I would recommend reading the mother of all window tinting threads at Model S - Window Tinting to get a better perspective on everyone's opinion and experience. My opinion is that tinting is not necessary on the pano roof. I've experienced a full summer in Arizona, with no need for pano tinting (I do have PhotoSync all around [65%] and on windshield [75%]).

I didn't tint mine, but I think it depends on where your car is parked during the day. If it's in the shade then there's no need. If it's in the sun it's worth doing.

The interior of the car will get hot when sitting in the sun, regardless of the tint of the car. The heat will rise and the car will be hottest near the "ceiling". You can mitigate some of that by placing your pano roof in vent mode or using the remote app to vent and turn on climate control a little while before entering your car.

araxara said:

The interior of the car will get hot when sitting in the sun, regardless of the tint of the car. The heat will rise and the car will be hottest near the "ceiling". You can mitigate some of that by placing your pano roof in vent mode or using the remote app to vent and turn on climate control a little while before entering your car.

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If you do this then is tinting really necessary? Do you feel the heat while driving with your AC on because of lack of tint on the side windows for example?

dsm363 said:

If you do this then is tinting really necessary? Do you feel the heat while driving with your AC on because of lack of tint on the side windows for example?

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With our without tinting, you can feel the heat from the windows when driving. Tinting reduces the heat considerably. You will notice the heat when placing your hand in the sun coming from the side window or the windshield, but you will hardly feel any heat from the pano roof. You can always have your pano tinted at a later date, if you feel that it will be necessary. That's what I decided to do and found it wasn't necessary in my case.

Tesla some time ago made some references to a pano shade possibly being available (there is a track in the pano roof for it). I would consider it, just to reduce the amount of light coming in and possibly add an insulation layer for conducted heat/cold.

Besides reducing the heat, window film reduces the UV damage to the interior. Photosync has slightly higher heat rejection than 3M crystalline, but I didn't think it was worth the extra expense. I don't think my windows look purple. Maybe that happened with a darker film? I used 70% because I just wanted heat and UV rejection and not the tinted look.

That's what I'm looking for too. Really just want UV blocking and some heat reduction without it being obvious windows are tinted.

I have 35% 3m Cryst. on the sides. Formula 1 30% on rear (because of the purple effect) 70% 3m cryst on front, and 90% cryst on pano. Couldnt be happier.

rekoh said:

I have 35% 3m Cryst. on the sides. Formula 1 30% on rear (because of the purple effect) 70% 3m cryst on front, and 90% cryst on pano. Couldnt be happier.

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impossible. they don't make 35% 3m Cryst. you must have something different.

I used Photosync and it made a big difference for me with the heat reduction. You can use 75 (clear tint), which is what I also used on the windshield.

yobigd20 said:

impossible. they don't make 35% 3m Cryst. you must have something different.

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And 70% wouldn't be legal on the front

We have photosynch made by Prestige and very happy with it. Can't tell it's there for the windscreen for their tint made for the front at 75%. We have 35% photosynch on the pano just to max out the suns rays from entering and have the sides done in 65%. High quality product and better than the other tints my wife put on to our other cars.

araxara said:

With our without tinting, you can feel the heat from the windows when driving. Tinting reduces the heat considerably. You will notice the heat when placing your hand in the sun coming from the side window or the windshield, but you will hardly feel any heat from the pano roof. You can always have your pano tinted at a later date, if you feel that it will be necessary. That's what I decided to do and found it wasn't necessary in my case.

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Good advice.

Tesla some time ago made some references to a pano shade possibly being available (there is a track in the pano roof for it). I would consider it, just to reduce the amount of light coming in and possibly add an insulation layer for conducted heat/cold.

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Early during production Tesla listed a manual sun shade as an included feature of the panoramic roof. Later it was removed from the description of the panoramic roof. After close to two years I have to conclude that this feature is not likely to be offered by Tesla despite earlier promises.

Larry

Larry Chanin said:

Early during production Tesla listed a manual sun shade as an included feature of the panoramic roof. Later it was removed from the description of the panoramic roof. After close to two years I have to conclude that this feature is not likely to be offered by Tesla despite earlier promises.

Larry

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my MB SL had a pano roof with a shade and I really enjoyed being able to block out the sun, the jury is still out for me about if the MS needs added coverage on the pano

apvbguy said:

my MB SL had a pano roof with a shade and I really enjoyed being able to block out the sun, the jury is still out for me about if the MS needs added coverage on the pano

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Hi Marc,

It would be nice if Tesla followed up on their promise to add the sun shade retroactively, but unfortunately so far they haven't. Having the option of blocking out solar radiation from entering the vehicle would reduce the solar heat load through the panoramic roof by about 19%. Having said that if the retrofit turned out to be poorly implemented, that is if it were cheesy looking or introduced rattles I would opt out if it were to be offered.

I should add that I have had my Model S for 16 months and frankly I can't recall a situation were I was uncomfortable due to heat coming through the panoramic roof. Passengers in the rear might be more affected. The idea of having a quality implementation of a sun shade appeals to me, not because I have been experiencing a problem, but because I like the option of saving energy by reducing the heat load on the air conditioning. This is the same reason I recently added tinting to my car. (3M Crystalline 70% all around including the windshield, none on the panoramic roof. I also installed the Tesla shade on the rear hatch. I think it is well implemented, but over-priced.)

Just like those situations were we place a sun shield on our windshields, the panoramic shade would come in handy when leaving the car out in the sun say while shopping at a mall. It also might be useful during a long road trip by conserving range.

Larry