I have decided to replace the back glass myself (finally found one with a good defroster). I was going to have Safelite do it but changed my mind after talking to the shop that was going to do it and was told the correct way is to rope in the glass first, then install the aluminum ornamental moldings.
Safelite (different shop back then) did a windshield for me a few years ago and the installer had a hell of a time (doing it the same way, which I found out later was incorrect). He was sweating bricks, couldn't get the aluminum moldings in right, pulled them off and tried again, left the job and came back a few hours later and kinda forced them in. The windshield leaked which they used sealants to fix. So I don't want them to F this one up and decided to do it myself.
I have a question regarding the Mercedes sealing compound application (step 16 below), which implies it is done after the glass has been roped it (between glass and rubber and rubber and window frame). Is that correct? Wouldn't it be easier to apply the sealant between glass and rubber before roping it in?