Installed tinted PPF on my sunroof rather than window tint

[Summi99]

I’m in AZ.
$0 glass deductible
Tinted R1S roof glass with xpel xr 20% and it’s perfectly dark. Paid about $300.
Glass held up fine even in 115 degree heat since 2 years.

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[skunn]

Just FYI, we will be releasing windshield and sunroof PPF soon, for those who want to DIY. I just finished testing last week and now I need to make the template, install video etc, but it's coming soon

count me in for this! Did the self install tint and would be interested in this for sure!

 

[twraps]

count me in for this! Did the self install tint and would be interested in this for sure!

This is much easier than tint to my surprise, but would benefit a helper for the initial positioning. I installed it on our R1S and our Model Y, and have been driving like that for the past month. I've been testing windshield films over the past several years and all of them would have this horrible hazing/distortion that was giving me headaches, I was even telling people who ask me that I don't believe we will ever offer such a product...up until I finally found a film that's great

 

[SwampNut]

Really don't know why you're debating this so much.

You're right, I guess I should stop explaining the obvious to people like you who keep arguing and posting multiple paragraphs about it.

Sounds as if you have a hell of a smoking deal on insurance.

It is super low, I don't know why, other than no tickets or claims, high credit score. But still lower than I'd expect. Under $100/mo for two cars, 100/300 and $1k deductible. I've posted my dec page here before.

The PPF option is very interesting to me for the roof. I did it on the windshield and it was a disaster.

 

[DayTripping]

I didn’t have $0 glass coverage. If you do, you better make sure it covers roof glass.

Even $0 glass coverage is still a claim. It isn't free and just gets added into the overall claims cost for the insurance and just drives up the costs over time.

Prevention was the name of the game for me.

 

[DayTripping]

Any before + after pics? Or just “after”? I’m in DFW as well and love this approach! Thanks for the write up and links.

I can give them later, my truck is in Rivian at the moment. Just give Ceramic FX a call. Great people to deal with.

Also welcome to see my truck in person when I get it back. I live not too far from downtown.

 

[DayTripping]

I’m in AZ.
$0 glass deductible
Tinted R1S roof glass with xpel xr 20% and it’s perfectly dark. Paid about $300.
Glass held up fine even in 115 degree heat since 2 years.

I am not saying it will break. I will say that you can't be sure that if you do have an issue that Rivian will warranty it. Tesla did until they didn't. Now they don't at all.

Rivian already seems to be harder to deal with regarding warranty claims than before, and at some point, they'll be more likely to reign in these costs as they continue to grow. They'll have no choice.

It will raise the temps of the roof. That is a given. If your roof already has an issue, it can exacerbate the issue. You may be the unlucky one with a unseen/unknown factory defect and this could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

For me, it isn't worth the risk, and the tinted PPF does the job. It didn't cost much more than it would have to have my roof window tinted. I asked at Tesla, and they clearly told me they wouldn't cover any glass issues. I asked Rivian, but I didn't get a straight answer; it was a maybe.

I am sure it will help with some hail. I already dropped a wrench on it while putting something on my topper and thankfully no chipping.

 

[SwampNut]

It isn't free and just gets added into the overall claims cost for the insurance and just drives up the costs over time.

That's an interesting point, since a lot of us have a zero-claims discount. I don't really know how much that is. I don't know how much they can penalize your for glass claims, or not.

All this talk has me worried about glass again, so I re-quoted the coverage. Progressive wants $347 per six months MORE to add glass. My premium on the Rivian is $377. NUTS!!!

This is much easier than tint to my surprise, but would benefit a helper for the initial positioning. I installed it on our R1S and our Model Y, and have been driving like that for the past month. I've been testing windshield films over the past several years and all of them would have this horrible hazing/distortion that was giving me headaches, I was even telling people who ask me that I don't believe we will ever offer such a product...up until I finally found a film that's great

I had a really terrible experience before, but ready to consider a new option.

 

[twraps]

That's an interesting point, since a lot of us have a zero-claims discount. I don't really know how much that is. I don't know how much they can penalize your for glass claims, or not.

All this talk has me worried about glass again, so I re-quoted the coverage. Progressive wants $347 per six months MORE to add glass. My premium on the Rivian is $377. NUTS!!!



I had a really terrible experience before, but ready to consider a new option.

Out of curiosity - can you tell me more about what went wrong? Knowing that may help me tailor the install video (or cut model which I am yet to make) to avoid this.

 

[mkg3]

That's an interesting point, since a lot of us have a zero-claims discount. I don't really know how much that is. I don't know how much they can penalize your for glass claims, or not.

All this talk has me worried about glass again, so I re-quoted the coverage. Progressive wants $347 per six months MORE to add glass. My premium on the Rivian is $377. NUTS!!!



I had a really terrible experience before, but ready to consider a new option.

Just curious. Is your Rivian treated as weekend/occasional vehicle with maybe 2K miles/yr with a proof of anther daily driver vehicle?

 

[SwampNut]

Just curious. Is your Rivian treated as weekend/occasional vehicle with maybe 2K miles/yr with a proof of anther daily driver vehicle?

No, our other car is the weekend vehicle. The Rivian is listed as doing 10k/year, the other car is listed as something like 4k, but really, it sees 200-300/year. Half of it as a loaner to neighbors who need it randomly.

The motorcycles don't impact the car stuff at all. I once tried saying one of them was the primary, and no go (it was at the time, over 10k/year). The insurance on the EV motorcycle is about 70% of the cost of the Rivian, crazy.

Out of curiosity - can you tell me more about what went wrong? Knowing that may help me tailor the install video (or cut model which I am yet to make) to avoid this.

I had it installed by a shop that was recommended by the local Rivian club and certified by the manufacturer. It was initially just hazy/wavy, mildly annoying. It started to have additional problems rather quickly. Things would stick like crazy, then they'd often scratch while trying to remove them. It was yellowing. Then on a road trip I did a bug cleaning with the washer and it scratched up like crazy. Truly maddening to drive like that.

Keep in mind the Rivian lives outdoors, too. Usually facing morning to 2pm-ish sun.

 

[SwampNut]

Out of curiosity - can you tell me more about what went wrong? Knowing that may help me tailor the install video (or cut model which I am yet to make) to avoid this.

Also adding...installed on 5/6/24 and removed on 8/1/24. And that was already too long to live with it, the problems started just over a month in. So it lasted less than three months total.

 

[twraps]

Ahh I see...any idea if they ceramic coated the windshield film?

 

[SwampNut]

Ahh I see...any idea if they ceramic coated the windshield film?

They did not, and told me not to (I asked). Otherwise I would have. I did it on every other part of the car, top to bottom.

 

[twraps]

They did not, and told me not to (I asked). Otherwise I would have. I did it on every other part of the car, top to bottom.

Interesting! Challenge accepted. I will ceramic coat mine, what's the worst that can happen.

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