Missing Headlamp Cleaning Button on New E280 CDI!

[TomTanderson]

I've just taken delivery of a new E280 CDI Avantgarde estate which is listed as having headlamp cleaning as standard.

The demonstrator I borrowed has a button next to the lights selector to operate the washer but on my car it is missing! At first I thought that there was some major build error so I took the car back to the dealer and one of their engineers checked that the washers were physically there, which they are. They also operate correctly in automatic mode (i.e. if you squirt the windscreen five times the headlamps get cleaned). They suggested that this model must just work in automatic mode (the demonstrator, which has the button and is also new, is a E220 CDI Avantgarde estate) but driving back from the dealer I began to think that what has probably happened is that Mercedes have fitted the wrong switch cluster.

I don't think the dealer is being awkward, I have been pretty happy with the service so far, I just think with so many models and options they aren't sure what the car is supposed to have!

Any thoughts before I go back to the dealer and ask them to look into this further?

Thanks, Tom

 

[scousetechie]

Not sure about your car Tom but on several cars that I have driven (not all Mercs) the headlamp washer operates when you use the windscreen washers with the lights turned on. Get somebody to look at the front of the car while you try it.

 

[jberks]

Highly unlikely they fitted the wrong button.
I'd imagine they've done away with the button and gone completely automatic instead. If in doubt, email MBUK Customer services and ask them whether the button has been deleted recently. Also, I'd imagine the dealer has taken delivery of more than just yours. What are the others like?

 

[whitenemesis]

Previous cars I had headlamp washers and they all worked automatically with the screen wash when the lights were on. Seems like MB have finally caught-up!

 

[jberks]

Thinking about it, my freelander doesn't have a button.
Makes sense really - why distract the driver by putting in a button when there is an automatic mechanism anyway. Also, I seem to remember that the auto wash on mine was something silly like every 30 washes of the windscreen, which was inadequate and meant I needed a button. The LR seems to be every 1 or 2 times and if the new merc system is every 5 you don't really need a button.

 

[TomTanderson]

Thanks for all your comments.

I suppose the reason I'm pursuing this is because, however good an automatic system, I still like to have manual control over a car. I still reckon I have a better idea when my headlamps need cleaning, rather than basing it on an arbitrary number of screen washes.

I did point out in my original post that the demonstrator I drove had both manual and automatic systems (as per the manual - blimey someone who reads the manual!) and it was built only a few weeks before mine.

It is possible that the MB have changed the spec in the last few weeks but as the dealer doesn't really know I've asked them to get a definitive answer from MB. After all, I've just spent over £30K, it would be nice to know that I'm getting what I should be!