3M Color Stable 20 Car Tint in Dubai
Mid-dark 3M Color Stable shade balancing privacy, charcoal appearance and everyday visibility.
Quick answers
Color Stable 20 in Four Numbers
The published figures for CS 20 on automotive glass, and what each one means.
Visible light
15%
Dark enough for strong daytime privacy while keeping some outward visibility at night.
Heat rejected (TSER)
60%
Total solar energy rejected on automotive glass.
Infrared rejected
58%
Infrared rejection in the 900 to 1,000 nm band.
Legal on a private car?
No
Below the 50 percent limit for a private car’s side and rear glass, so it needs an approved exemption.
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 20: Privacy, VLT and Solar Control
3M Color Stable 20 is a mid-dark charcoal shade. On 73 percent VLT automotive glass 3M lists it at 15 percent visible light, 60 percent total solar energy rejected, 58 percent infrared rejection and 79 percent glare reduction. It gives strong privacy with a little more night visibility than CS 5, but on a private car in Dubai it is below the 50 percent limit for side and rear glass, so it needs an approved exemption.
3M Color Stable 20 is a mid-dark shade within Car Cool’s 3M Color Stable window film range. It provides more visible-light transmission than Color Stable 5, so it balances a dark charcoal appearance and daytime privacy with better outward visibility.
Color Stable uses non-metallized construction with patented dye technology and ceramic nano-particles. Compare the darker CS 5 and lighter CS 35, or use the automotive window tinting guide to compare Color Stable with other 3M film technologies.
Color Stable 20 Performance and Shade Characteristics
3M reference data on 73% VLT automotive green glass: Color Stable 20 is listed at 15% VLT, 60% TSER, 58% infrared rejection (IRR), 61% infrared energy rejection (IRER), 99% UV rejection and 79% glare reduction.
Shade position: CS 20 sits between the darkest CS 5 and lighter CS 35. It gives more daytime privacy and glare reduction than CS 35 while preserving more outward visible light than CS 5.
Construction: Color Stable uses a non-metallized dyed-polyester construction designed for a stable charcoal appearance without relying on a metallic film layer.
The published figures are reference data for the stated glass condition. Compare CS 5, CS 35 and the Color Stable range before choosing a shade.
Compare the options
Color Stable 20 Against Its Neighbours
Where CS 20 sits between the darker and lighter Color Stable shades, and against a heat-first film at similar darkness.
Mid-darkColor Stable 20
- Visible light
- 15%
- TSER
- 60%
- Glare cut
- 79%
Infrared rejection58%
The balance point between privacy and outward visibility in the range.
DarkerColor Stable 5
- Visible light
- 7%
- TSER
- 64%
- Glare cut
- 94%
Infrared rejection70%
Maximum privacy, harder to see out of at night.
LighterColor Stable 35
- Visible light
- 32%
- TSER
- 55%
- Glare cut
- 56%
Infrared rejection39%
A brighter cabin with less privacy.
Heat-first alternativeCeramic IR 15
- Visible light
- 16%
- TSER
- 63%
- Glare cut
- 78%
Infrared rejection90%
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 20 Myths
Three assumptions drivers make about mid-dark film.
Myth
A 20 film reads 20 percent on my car
Fact
The number is the film. On 73 percent automotive glass, CS 20 reads 15 percent. The finished window is what counts.
Myth
CS 20 and Ceramic IR 15 are the same thing
Fact
They look similar, but 3M lists 58 percent infrared rejection for CS 20 against 90 percent for Ceramic IR 15.
Myth
Mid-dark film makes night driving unsafe
Fact
Rear glass at 15 percent is common and usable with mirrors. Very dark film on the front sides is what hurts night visibility, and it is not legal on private cars.
Want Color Stable 20 on the rear glass?
Tell us the car. We will match a legal front shade, fit CS 20 behind, and measure the finished glass.
Frequently Asked Questions About Color Stable 20
What is 3M Color Stable 20?
Color Stable 20 is a mid-dark shade in the Color Stable range. It is designed for drivers who want a charcoal appearance and useful daytime privacy without moving to the very dark CS 5 shade.
Does CS 20 block UV?
3M publishes up to 99% UV rejection for Color Stable. Exact performance depends on the film and glass combination.
Does CS 20 protect exterior paint?
No. Window film is applied to glass. Its UV rejection can help reduce one contributor to fading of interior surfaces, while exterior paint protection is a separate paint protection film service.
How should I compare CS 20 with CS 5 and CS 35?
Will Color Stable interfere with GPS or mobile signals?
Color Stable is non-metallized, so it is designed to avoid the signal-interference issue associated with some metallic films. Actual signal performance also depends on the vehicle and environment.
Appearance, reflectivity and signal behaviour
3M Color Stable 20 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 20 percent visible light transmission, CS 20 sits below the permitted limit, so on a private car it needs an approved exemption for any side or rear window. 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.