73 to 86 or so GM trucks had the antenna in the front glass.

I thought some early W210 had an antenna pad in the left rear bumper cover corner.

As for the shop not wanting to do it, it might be due to lack of black border requiring much more time to trim, older car that many customers want stuff but don't want to pay what the job is worth or laminated glass in the rear.

There was some discussion on tinting boards where laminated glass can crack during the install process and later when in use. During install a heat gun is used to shrink the film and when in use, the heat imbalance from sun on the outside can cause one layer to crack.

Laminated glass has 2 layers stuck together with clear rubbery glue. This is to reduce the chance of objects coming through the glass.

Tempered glass breaks into many small granules, this eliminates large pieces that are more hazardous.

MB uses laminated in the front and many cars have laminated rear. On most cars, only the windshield is laminated and all other glass tempered. There was some talk that 2006 ish and newer Dodge cars had laminated side glass.

Also look here for tint info.

https://www.google.com/search?q=www.tintdude.com&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=laminated+glass+breakage+site:www.tintdude.com&*

More 2002 S430

https://www.tintdude.com/forum/topic/24988-2002-s-430-windshield-tint-cracking/

GM used the "T" antenna in the windshield late 70s and early 80s on almost everything, not just the trucks.

On the W210 the radio antenna is the first several lines on the rear defroster. These do not heat. Every W210 has the radio antenna there.
On the 1996 and 97 W210 they had a mast antenna that is only for the analog cell phone. The motor was tied into the cell phone controller and only extended when the cell phone was powered up. Only the top segment of the antenna (owing to the wavelength of 810 MHz) was the active part of the antenna, the other segments were grounded.

Starting in 1998 they removed the fender antenna and moved the cell phone to a pair of patch antennas facing the rear in the rear bumper cover.

There is also a backup TeleAid antenna in the left corner, facing left, of the rear bumper cover on some models.

It's my understanding that the 126 and 140 had laminated glass all the way around for noise control. The rear defroster on these cars is a wire grid laid between the laminations, instead of the printed grid on a traditional tempered window.

It has of course been a US regulation to have laminated windshields for many decades now.

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

The 140 glass is the "bullet proof" that some for sale ads claim. I'm tempted to ask to what caliber then proceed to fire on it.

In the mid 70's Ford used aircraft windshield / rear glass heating technology ( with a separate alternator that just pumped out 120 V AV 3 phase. ) and in the 80's they used fine wires embedded in the glass and 12 V.

AUTOMOTIVE MILEPOSTS | Quick Defrost Glass

GM did the heated WS in the 90's also.

I had a shop balk on the W126 because of the small corner piece on the rear window. However, when another shop wanted to charge me extra because of this, I told him I wasn't paying 25% more because the installer didn't know how to remove 2 screws.

Personally, I would remove several items to make the job simpler and probably less damage to the interior. Especially on the W126. Pulling the door panel reveals more of the window glass. Also, removal of the rear seat prevents damage and allows easier access to the rear window. If you pull these, I'm betting any shop could/would do the job.

__________________
Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

It's more than just removing 2 screws, it is the added liability if the panel becomes damaged , squeaks after install , or suffers some other problem that is causing them not to remove and work around it. Also, tint shops don't know every detail on every car assembly.

And, are you sure there are only 2 screws to remove and no other clips that might become damaged?

When removing the headliner from my 97 C280, the B and C pillar trim was difficult to remove due to force fit clips that are used to reduce squeaks and rattles.