is an aftermarket windshield the same quality like genuine Mercedes?
I believe that having the windshield installed from a local Mercedes dealer makes the entire process quite stress free and probably less complicated. They are responsible if the screen arrives damaged and they can count on professional installers.
Also any benefits from tinted glass ? Or band tinted ? Maybe less uv penetration?
My own opinion is that most windshields would be of similar quality. The manufacture of windshields is an enormously complex process. It's not done in someone's backyard, or in a small factory. I once worked for several weeks at DCL (Duplate Canada Limited in Oshawa, Ontario) and became familiar with the process and quality control. In fact I was there on a quality mission, in the inspection part. We inspected the glass prior to manufacture and during the process as well. Here are two YouTube videos of the process.
https://youtu.be/kRi0s3cMg2U?si=3kV0HDut4BlSyqUVhttps://youtu.be/HH3fAyJrEYo?si=LW50Q_EiyXy53ntBDCL was set up for production; those weighted frames were on a conveyor and they were making large quantities of windshields. You don't make one at a time. Too much setup involved with the glass cutting and related.
I had an aftermarket PPG windshield for about 20 years. I'm a stickler for a windshield free of scratches, and especially, pitting or sandblasting which happens with years of highway use. So without even thinking about it I wanted a new windshield during the restoration in 1999-2001. When I had work done on my car in 2020-2021, I replaced that PPG with a Mercedes. At that time the price difference was not that much. I guess I may have gotten one of the last OEM windshields before they went on backorder.
I don't think that a tint or no tint offers much of anything but appearance. I don't think it cuts down on heat or UV or anything significant. Most automotive windshields today have a bit of a tint to them, as very clear, tint-free glass is quite costly. The tint band is something different; that's actually on the vinyl lamination in the center. My first PPG windshield replacement had the tint band. Not sure what technical value this adds either. In the sun, I'm driving with sunglasses.
If you don't need a windshield replacement--yours is not delaminating, no major pits or scratches or cracks, and not sandblasted to the point of affecting your driving, probably leave it alone. If you have a large and growing crack such as J.P. has, well you may not even pass inspection with it in many jurisdictions! Then you don't have much of a choice but to get what you can get.
J.P. there are a number of our members in the DC area with a LOT of experience in these cars. I'm sure they can point you to someone other than SafeLite for a replacement. Unless someone can find a windshield in stock somewhere you'll have to wait or go with something other than OEM.
