Hi Dave,
I contemplated this question myself recently.
My 1969 280SL (grey blue which is a metallic colour) has already been restored and still has the original factory tinted glass (green and also had the green strip on the windscreen) but I didn't know my glass was tinted, until I was introduced to some friends and we all met with our Pagoda's. They kept going on about how good mine looked with the tinted glass compared to theirs which had clear. I had to replace my windscreen which was done locally and was replaced with tinted (without the top strip) and all these new friends wanted to know where I sourced it. (unfortunately, I couldnt tell them as it was done by a panel shop who couldn't remember the supplier).
I recently purchased a Dark Red 1970 280SL which will soon start its restoration and I have often put the cars side by side in my garage to make a list of things needed, etc. The 1970 has clear glass and it just doesn't look as nice in my opinion, and that of my friends who have seen them together. So, whilst I don't need to replace all the glass on the 1970, I have decided to bite the bullet and go with tinted all round as part of the restoration.
I would be interested in knowing how your glass supply goes (regardless of whether you go with clear or tinted) as I will need to source it myself later. For now I intend to use a local (Aust.) manufacturer who can reproduce any auto glazing, incl matching the tint and the manufacturers stamp. Which is hopefully an easier and cheaper option than shipping from Germany but it is good to know when can still get if from somewhere. (I assume you are using SLS?)
Hope this helps
Rob
