Single windscreen wiper 'service'.

[tom7035]

There are so many posts on getting the bottom oval shaped plastic cover off the base of the single wiper system by just 'pulling it off'. No way will mine come off this way, I've tried till I'm blue in the face. There are also some mentions of allen keys, screws, tabs etc - all seem to be different. The local consensus of opinion with mine is it must be secured by screws on the underside and would entail removal of the entire mechanism from the car to get the cover off. It does seem to be well wrapped around the underside of the base plate.
All I want to do is to carry out some 'preventative' servicing/lubrication of the slides and two shafts inside, and I'm seriously considering drilling a half-inch hole in the centre of the cover to facilitate this, and fitting a rubber grommet.
Observations/opinions invited please.

 

[C220GJS]

Tom,
I don't have a problem removing the "turtle shell" on my W202 as it is only held by two plastic lugs at 4 and 8 o'clock when the piston is 12 o'clock .
Your W124 may be held in some other way, but i don't see any problem in doing as you say and using a spray grease to lubricate the internals,use a spade bit as used for drilling wood and it should give you a neat hole .

 

[tom7035]

Thanks for that C220GJS. I thought mine would be as simple as that too, but there are obviously different arrangements.
Cheers, Tom.

 

[television]

Thanks for that C220GJS. I thought mine would be as simple as that too, but there are obviously different arrangements.
Cheers, Tom.

Before you go mad and make yours religious,I will try and find out, could be the same as mine.

Malcolm

 

[television]

Tom, you lift up the lower end of the wiper arm, 2 versions 1 has a screw under this cover, the other one does not.

malcolm

 

[tom7035]

Tom, you lift up the lower end of the wiper arm, 2 versions 1 has a screw under this cover, the other one does not.

malcolm

Hi Malcolm. I know there is a screw under the small removable cover at the bottom for removing the arm itself, but apparently the arm does not need to be removed. In fact someone mentioned taking this off posed a danger of cracking the screen if allowed to spring back with the arm off.
Anyhow I'll have another closer look (again) later. It's working fine but the arrangement seems to be prone to seizing up and damaging the motor if not kept greased.
I feel such a 'ninny' having such hassle with an item everyone else says is straightforward!

 

[television]

I will have a grope around mine, in the book it just says lift off cover.

Malcolm

 

[Richard Moakes]

The older cars have a metal 'turtle shell' secured from behind, you have to remove the whole mechanism to undo the screws :-(

The later W124's have a plastic 'turtle shell' held on by clips, really easy to remove and lubricate the mechanism.

Not wanting to remove the mech, I cheated, I drilled a hole in the base of it, i.e. the bit that faces downwards not forwards, then used some lube sprayed down one of those straws like you get with chain lube, or white lithium grease. I then screwed a self tapping stainless screw in to plug up the hole. Oh, I also used a chemical barrier between the alloy of the housing and the stainless screw to prevent any electochemical reaction between the dissimilar metals.

I open it up and spray some lube in once a year now.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Dunx]

I know there is a screw under the small removable cover at the bottom for removing the arm itself, but apparently the arm does not need to be removed.

Tom, I did mine yesterday on a '97 210. I had to remove the wiper arm (by removing the screw under the hinge cover and pulling the arm off) before I could remove the cover plate, as the wiper arm mounting sits through the top of the cover plate. Not sure if your 124 is the same, but I hope this helps.

Duncan

 

[996jimbo]

Tom - when I tried mine (as you may have read) I tried poking things in the hole to release the cover but in the end gave up and, with some perseverence, got it off. Get your fingertips under the edge and pull it out and up. Left my fingertips a bit raw but it really was only held (rather ****** firmly) by clips.

This is a link (ahem) somewhere else with some photos:

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=22213

Give it another go. If you pull the whole wiper arm off then clearly I am wrong.

By the way, I had to replace the upper cover as it wouldn't stay in place after removal for the second time - cost about £5.

 

[mike65]

Is the w124 series wiper the same as w201 wiper?

If so as marked there is a screw on the "wrong side" of the plastic moulding, even with it off I could'nt prise the thing apart.

Mike.

 

[tom7035]

Is the w124 series wiper the same as w201 wiper?

If so as marked there is a screw on the "wrong side" of the plastic moulding, even with it off I could'nt prise the thing apart.

Mike.

I'm thinking this is the case with mine Mike, and thanks all for your advice etc. I'm off on Friday to some 'winter sunshine' so shall re-examine the problem if and when I decide to return!
I'll keep you posted.
Cheers for now, Tom.