Hmm, wiper maintenance.

[GarbageOverlord]

So yesterday, I had to do a drive in the rain (eeek, more rust!) This meant using the wiper properly in anger for the first time since owning the car.

This highlighted 2 things.

1. The appears to be some kind of rain sensor - really? The wiper worked more in heavier rain than lighter rain. Amazing for such an old car.

2. It sounded very clunky and noisy. Qué watching YouTube videos and learning about greasing the mechanism at the base of the screen. (It also made me realise that there is a plastic cover missing at the bottom of the wiper arm which likely will let in water).

Now I've gobbed in loads of grease to the "jumping" part but I have a feeling there is wear in the linkage mechanism. I'll have to keep an eye on that

As for the missing plastic arm cover, well they appear to be made of solid gold judging from the price of a replacement - 50% of what I paid for the car! Hmm. I've ended up buying a second hand arm from eBay just to get the required bit of plastic.

Can't really make up my mind whether 2 wipers are better than one, buts it's clever. Mind you I did read that it only clears 6% more of the screen than conventional setup, which seems a small gain for likely huge development money...

 

[C16RKC]

Glad you are getting stuck in with the Mercedes ownership repairs

I love those older Mercedes with single wiper arms that jump up and down to clear all the screen.... sadly I have only ever owner the "2 wiper" versions. I wonder why they changed?

I might have remembered it incorrectly... but I think the W220 had two arms but the passenger one still did the "jump" to help it clear a bit extra. I might have got that wrong?

 

[brandwooddixon]

A warning as regards noise, if you get a clunk type noise at the top corners of the windscreen, it's likely that you have an ill fitting wiper blade fitted. I found that a lot of the cheaper wiper blade fittings don't take into account that the wiper blade is pushed and pulled along the axis of the wiper arm as it sweeps the windscreen.

 

[Blobcat]

Glad you are getting stuck in with the Mercedes ownership repairs

I love those older Mercedes with single wiper arms that jump up and down to clear all the screen.... sadly I have only ever owner the "2 wiper" versions. I wonder why they changed?

I might have remembered it incorrectly... but I think the W220 had two arms but the passenger one still did the "jump" to help it clear a bit extra. I might have got that wrong?

Cheaper to replace with 2

 

[GarbageOverlord]

A warning as regards noise, if you get a clunk type noise at the top corners of the windscreen, it's likely that you have an ill fitting wiper blade fitted. I found that a lot of the cheaper wiper blade fittings don't take into account that the wiper blade is pushed and pulled along the axis of the wiper arm as it sweeps the windscreen.

Hmm, interesting info. I actually tried to replace the blade but the eBay seller sent the wrong size, and didn't have the correct one. However the current blade is fine for the moment.

 

[Blobcat]

Good thread below:

How to: Replace wiper mechanism on W210

Recently my wiper mechanism packed up my W210 (whilst going 70 mph on the m25 on torrential rain) which was a bit of a pain! I had recently greased it, and pulling the cover off on the side of the motorway did not reveal any issues so after being recovered home I*ordered a*replacement*mechanism...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

Pictures gone from the below, still useful info though:

How to lubricate the wiper mechanism

The wiper mechs on Mercs with single blades can dry up over time, which can lead to corrosion and eventual seizure. You can imagine what Mercedes would charge for a replacement! Someone had already sprayed the outside of mine with copper grease, not a job I'd recommend as it is a grinding...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

 

[GarbageOverlord]

Good thread below:

How to: Replace wiper mechanism on W210

Recently my wiper mechanism packed up my W210 (whilst going 70 mph on the m25 on torrential rain) which was a bit of a pain! I had recently greased it, and pulling the cover off on the side of the motorway did not reveal any issues so after being recovered home I*ordered a*replacement*mechanism...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

Pictures gone from the below, still useful info though:

How to lubricate the wiper mechanism

The wiper mechs on Mercs with single blades can dry up over time, which can lead to corrosion and eventual seizure. You can imagine what Mercedes would charge for a replacement! Someone had already sprayed the outside of mine with copper grease, not a job I'd recommend as it is a grinding...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

Yes, that's pretty much what I did, larded it full of Lucas Red n Tacky grease, excellent stuff.

 

[Doug1234]

How thick’s the Lucas red grease ? , you may get issues in cold weather ( winter ) if it’s too thick

 

[GarbageOverlord]

How thick’s the Lucas red grease ? , you may get issues in cold weather ( winter ) if it’s too thick

I'd say it's no thicker than any other yellow grease (of which there were some remains).

I use it because it came out top on one of Project Farms rigorous tests.