3M Color Stable 5 Car Tint in Dubai
Dark 3M Color Stable shade for strong privacy, low visible-light transmission and a charcoal appearance.
Quick answers
Color Stable 5 in Four Numbers
The published figures for CS 5 on automotive glass, and what each one means.
Visible light
7%
Only 7 percent of light gets through, giving strong daytime privacy from outside.
Heat rejected (TSER)
64%
The highest total solar energy rejection in the Color Stable range.
Infrared rejected
70%
Infrared rejection in the 900 to 1,000 nm band, the heat you feel on your skin.
Legal on a private car?
No
Far below the 50 percent limit for private cars, so it is fitted to rear glass.
3M Color Stable Series technical data (Rev. B), on 73 percent VLT automotive glass. 3M now also publishes a newer CS IR range; confirm the exact product code on your quote.
3M Color Stable 5: Dark Shade and Privacy
3M Color Stable 5 is the darkest Color Stable shade. On 73 percent VLT automotive glass 3M lists it at 7 percent visible light, 64 percent total solar energy rejected, 70 percent infrared rejection and 94 percent glare reduction. It gives near-total privacy and a deep charcoal look, which on a private car in Dubai puts it below the 50 percent limit for side and rear glass, so it needs an approved exemption.
3M Color Stable 5 is the darkest shade in Car Cool’s 3M Color Stable range. Its main purpose is a deep charcoal appearance with strong daytime privacy and low visible-light transmission, while retaining the UV and solar-control characteristics of the Color Stable series.
Color Stable uses non-metallized construction with patented dye technology and ceramic nano-particles. Compare the lighter Color Stable 20 and Color Stable 35, or return to the automotive window film guide for technology comparisons.
Color Stable 5: VLT, Privacy and Solar Control
3M reference data on 73% VLT automotive green glass: Color Stable 5 is listed at 7% VLT, 64% TSER, 70% infrared rejection (IRR), 63% infrared energy rejection (IRER), 99% UV rejection and 94% glare reduction.
Shade position: CS 5 is the darkest Color Stable option in this Car Cool group. Its low VLT creates the strongest daytime privacy and greatest visible-light reduction of CS 5, CS 20 and CS 35.
Construction: Color Stable uses a non-metallized dyed-polyester construction. 3M positions the series for stable colour and signal compatibility without relying on a metallic film layer.
Use the published figures as comparison data for the stated reference glass. Actual installed performance depends on the complete film-and-glass system. Compare Color Stable, CS 20 and CS 35 before choosing a shade.
Compare the options
Color Stable 5 Against Its Neighbours
How CS 5 compares with the lighter Color Stable shades and with a heat-first film at a similar darkness. Figures on 73 percent VLT automotive glass.
Darkest Color StableColor Stable 5
- Visible light
- 7%
- TSER
- 64%
- Glare cut
- 94%
Infrared rejection70%
Maximum privacy and glare control with a deep charcoal look.
LighterColor Stable 20
- Visible light
- 15%
- TSER
- 60%
- Glare cut
- 79%
Infrared rejection58%
Still dark and private, with a little more outward visibility at night.
Lighter stillColor Stable 35
- Visible light
- 32%
- TSER
- 55%
- Glare cut
- 56%
Infrared rejection39%
A brighter cabin with moderate privacy.
Heat-first alternativeCeramic IR 5
- Visible light
- 5%
- TSER
- 66%
- Glare cut
- 93%
Infrared rejection95%
Similar darkness with much higher infrared rejection, on 3M Auto 75 data.
Color Stable figures from the 3M Color Stable technical data sheet. Ceramic IR figures from the 3M Ceramic IR Series data on Auto 75 glass. See the tint law in Dubai page for private car limits.
Before you choose
Three Color Stable 5 Myths
Three assumptions drivers make about the darkest shade.
Myth
CS 5 is legal on any window if the glass is clear
Fact
The limit applies to the finished window. At 7 percent visible light on automotive glass, CS 5 is well below the 50 percent limit on the front sides.
Myth
The darkest film is always the coolest
Fact
CS 5 rejects 64 percent of solar energy. Ceramic IR 5 at a similar shade rejects 66 percent and 95 percent of infrared. Darkness and heat are different properties.
Myth
Dark charcoal film turns purple with age
Fact
Purpling is dye breaking down in UV. Color Stable is built to hold its charcoal colour, and it blocks 99 percent of UV.
Thinking of Color Stable 5 for rear privacy?
Tell us the car. We will suggest CS 5 for the rear and a legal shade for the front, and measure the finished glass.
Frequently Asked Questions About Color Stable 5
What is 3M Color Stable 5?
Color Stable 5 is the darkest shade in Car Cool’s 3M Color Stable range. It is mainly chosen for a deep charcoal appearance, low visible-light transmission and strong daytime privacy.
Does Color Stable 5 block UV?
3M publishes up to 99% UV rejection for the Color Stable series. Exact performance depends on the specific film and vehicle glass.
Does the film protect exterior paint?
No. Automotive window film is applied to vehicle glass. Its UV rejection can help reduce one contributor to fading of interior materials, but it should not be described as exterior paint protection. For bodywork protection, see paint protection film.
Does a darker shade automatically reject more heat?
No. VLT describes visible-light transmission, while solar performance is better compared using TSER and the film’s published specification.
Does Color Stable use metal?
Color Stable is non-metallized. That construction is designed to avoid the signal-interference issue associated with some metallic window films.
What are the lighter Color Stable options?
Compare Color Stable 20 and Color Stable 35, or return to the Color Stable series page.
Appearance, reflectivity and signal behaviour
3M Color Stable 5 is a dyed, non-metallised construction. Non-metallised film keeps exterior reflectivity low, so from outside the glass reads as dark rather than mirrored, and it carries none of the signal-interference concern associated with metal-containing films. GPS, mobile data and 5G are unaffected. If low exterior reflectivity matters for the look of the car, this is the attribute to compare, not the shade number.
What the law allows in Dubai
The UAE permits up to 50 percent tint on the side and rear windows of a private vehicle, and the front windscreen must stay clear unless an exemption has been approved. At a nominal 5 percent visible light transmission, CS 5 sits far below the permitted limit, so on a private car it is normally a rear-privacy choice or an exemption-only shade. The reading is taken on the finished window, which is the film plus the glass already fitted to the car, so a nominal shade number does not by itself prove compliance. Have the installed glass measured before you commit. See car window tint law in Dubai for the limit, the fine and how exemptions work.
Warranty and documentation
3M warranty terms vary by market, film version, installer and documentation. Before installation, confirm the exact film series and shade being fitted, the written warranty term that applies to it, and what that term covers. Keep the invoice and the product documentation supplied with the job. Clear product identification and a proper invoice are stronger trust signals than a general performance claim.
What it costs
Price is driven by the film series, how many glass panels are covered, the shape of the glass, whether old film has to be removed first, and the warranty attached. See what car window tinting costs in Dubai, and car tint removal if the vehicle already has film on it.