Windscreen instrument reflections at night

A reminder related to a film to block light transmition scatter

quote:

Originally posted by JFB #05177:
I wonder if 3M "louvered" anti glare film would work on eliminating the reflections on the glass.
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/m...dustrial-prod-br.pdf
price list
http://www.apioptics.com/3m-display-film-spec.html

Yes, I saw that in the thread, but was wondering if anyone had tried it and what the outcome was (or of anyone had come up with some other solutions).
Cheers, Tim.

quote:

Originally posted by JFB #05177:
A reminder related to a film to block light transmition scatter

quote:

Originally posted by JFB #05177:
I wonder if 3M "louvered" anti glare film would work on eliminating the reflections on the glass.
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/m...dustrial-prod-br.pdf
price list
http://www.apioptics.com/3m-display-film-spec.html

After looking around for a while on the internet, I think that these films are the same as those used as 'privacy filters' for surf tablets, computer screens and mobile phones. See here (http://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/privacy-screen-protectors-us/?WT.mc_id=www.3mscreens.com). If so, then simply getting one of these from the local mobile phone shop or computer shop, cutting out a circle of the right diamter and attaching it to the speedo, tacho etc would solve the problem. I will get one and try it out and report back (if someone else doesn't beat me to it).
Cheers, Tim.

Hi all,
I have now tried this out and to cut straight to the chase - yes it does work, but I don't think I can reccomend it. The problem is that the film creates a kind of fuzzy, unfocused effect, so the instruments don't look sharp when you look at them. I will try to upload some pictures to explain.
So another solution is required.
Cheers, Tim.

Here are the instruments in daylight with the film only on the speedo - it may look O.K. in the picture but in real life it is noticeably darker and fuzzy. Photo taken in front of face in drivers seat.

Here is a photo in daylight looking down on the instruments, the film is on the speedo and it looks completely black.

photo in the dark from drivers head looking at instruments, with instrument lights on, the film on the speedo only. Speedo numbers etc look fuzzy.

photo in the dark, only of the reflections in the widscreen, taken from drivers head position, with film on the speedo - the reflection for it is totally gone and you only see the tacho reflection

photo in the dark, only of the reflections in the widscreen, taken from drivers head position, with film on tacho - the reflection for it is totally gone and you only see the speedo reflection

THANKS...
Your photos do show the blirring and fuzziness

Thanks for sharing your test results. Great info!

What if you were to apply the film to the lower portion (1/4 1/3?)of the gauge? This way the usable portion of the gauge will still be clear.
Ron

quote:

What if you were to apply the film to the lower portion (1/4 1/3?)of the gauge? This way the usable portion of the gauge will still be clear.
Ron

That is a GREAT idea!

quote:

Originally posted by r mccall:
What if you were to apply the film to the lower portion (1/4 1/3?)of the gauge? This way the usable portion of the gauge will still be clear.
Ron

Good point. I will try to do an experiment with it and report back :-)

Hey .. I thought that a Heads-Up Display was an expensive option. :-)

Hi all,
now I have done an experiment with film on half or on ca. 2/3 of the instruments. When on half of the instruments it does not completely remove the reflection in the windscreen, as you will see from the photos I upload. When on 2/3 of the instruments it does remove the reflections entirely, but only if you rotate it round so it covers more of the speedo above the 60 km/h area - which is also the most important area of the speedo. The garage wasn't completely dark, which also creates a few more reflections that wouldn't be as clear if it really was at night. I guess I should also say I have the John Haass LED instrument lights in all my instruments - they are really great :-)

So, below, the first photo shows the instruments in the dark, looking directly at them with instrument lights on, with the film on the bottom half of the speedo

Cheers, Tim.

Here we have in darkness with film on the bottom half of the speedo, showing the reflections in the windscreen, it removes most of the reflections, but not all.

Darkness, without film on either instrument, showing the reflection in the windscreen.

Here we have photo looking at the instruments in darkness, instrument lights on and film on 2/3 of the speedo

Here are the reflections in the windscreen, in darkness with film on 2/3 of the speedo, as you see not all the reflections are gone, I could remove them all, if I rotated the film, but then it covered more and more of the important part of the speedo - i.e. above the 60 km area (30 mph).

Here are reflections in windscreen, when 2/3 film is on the tacho only, not the speedo. Here the reflections from tacho are completely gone, but I had to rotate the film so it revealed more of the lower rpm area and thus covered more of the not so important area of 5000-6000 rpm zone and above.

So, to conclude. I haven't been for a drive at night yet to see how it all works, but using 2/3 coverage will seem to work for me, with my position in the car. I will probably only put the film on during night driving and then take it off the rest of the time, it is easy to put on and take off, with some special static film strips that come in the pack, or you can make it just a bit too big in diameter and it will slip under the chrome ring and be held in place.
So I can't completely reccomend the solution, it is not optimal, and is probably also reliant on your own position in the car. But, now you have something to think about :-)
Cheers, Tim.

I have simple solution, I have a carbon fiber dash and my auto meter gauges are bright they reflect as yours do, I solved the problem by installing a piece of black tool drawer inner on the dash (pod area) that keeps my radar, sun glasses,etc. from sliding off the dash, at night I just pull it forward it creates a proper hood that stops the reflection.

Hi Chris,

I think it is a good solution, and I have been thinking of something similar, I think I will give it a go.
Cheers, Tim.