Ok, I understand the differance in the construction of these two itmes for the back glass in the car.
Are they interchangeable? On glass co. tells me yes, one tells me no.

I have to change the gasket, and would like to know, if I break it, what another one will cost me, if I can get it.
thanks

__________________
83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

if you want to fix a leak and money is a serious consideration I recommend simply cleaning your existing gasket and caulking carefully with black silicone. If you are careful it will be very hard to spot, and there is zero risk of breaking your glass.

If I had my choice at the same price I would definately pick tempered glass since it cannot delaminate.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The gasket is shot. Gaps in it as large as 1/4 inch. I calked the 85 with clear and it seems to be working.
the defrost on the Tempered is differant than the lminated. Anything to worry bout?

__________________
83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

If the gasket is shot, cut the gasket and remove the glass, very little risk. Installing the glass is also very low-risk, very little pressure is used it mostly drops in as you remove the string.

Laminated/LSG I believe is requred by some European countries for front and rear glass, TUV et al. Tempered/TSG I believe is acceptable to DOT.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Funny I was talking with a glass guy about this yesterday. Other than "smoking" that happens in the corners with age according to him the integrated heater strips in the laminated rear window is a superior design.

His reasons were:

1) The heat strips are not visible through the rear view mirror (I doubt this one. IMO it is more a factor of their small size then the mounting method.)

2) You have a smooth surface to apply tinting (agree!)

3) Laminate is stronger (maybe. Plate glass is supposedly stronger than tempered as what makes tempered fracture into small pieces leaves it under stress when it cools and thus it is easier to break. However the laminate is two thinner pieces and so I am questioning this one.)

From a safety standpoint it is probably the same. I would make the decision based upon whether you intend to tint it in the future.

I seriously doubt that plate is stronger than tempered. When we demoed some commercial doors on my building we had a hellofa time breaking the tempered glass with a six pound sledge. It seriously bounced off it time and time again.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The greatest danger on changing the rear window seals, IMO is breaking the glass when you are stretching the rubber on it, not the install itself. It seems very thin and fragile- seems to me it was tempered.

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

The LSG is considered safer and the reason that TSG is not allowed on the front windscreen. Whether it breaks is not as important in this decision as whether it stays in one piece, the reason for LSG.

Glass is pretty tough for putting on the rubber gasket but it doesn't need to stretch or the gasket is wrong.

The thin wires between the laminates is very asthetically pleasing, but I can't see the thicker TSG lines in the rear of my car in the mirror, ...

Yes, for tinting the LSG internal wires is much preferred and comes out nicer.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I have a laminated rear windshield in my 1979 300SD, but I pulled a tempered rear windshield from a Euro 1977 280SE, so now I have both types.

According to <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TX5-4NK4G0C-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_user id=10&md5=96d1d1279bf6c0894c0c825c83bd2e2d> you are correct. The glass supplier was apparently, ah, poorly informed.