Single Windscreen Wiper V Two Wipers

[Elvis]

For over 20 years one of the Hallmarks of a Mercedes was the Single Windscreen Wiper, now in the past few years it has been abandoned by Mercedes in favour of a Traditional 2 wiper set up, Why has this happened and am i the only one who thinks the single windscreen wiper is a great idea ?

 

[verytalldave]

The main problem with the single wiper was its shear mass. Its quite a heavy, large thing to move over a wide expanse of glass, therefore the motor had to be able to cope with it. And at high motorway speeds it has to move very fast. Its alot easier to have 2 or more wipers and split the load. And more reliable. Two smaller motors are cheaper than one large one. Its simply a matter of economics.

 

[Ultymate]

The main problem with the single wiper was its shear mass. Its quite a heavy, large thing to move over a wide expanse of glass, therefore the motor had to be able to cope with it. And at high motorway speeds it has to move very fast. Its alot easier to have 2 or more wipers and split the load. And more reliable. Two smaller motors are cheaper than one large one. Its simply a matter of economics.

Theres still only one motor with the two blade setup :!: so I'm afraid that theory does'nt holdup and the one blade does'nt have to move any faster on the motorway either. Quite often the linkage on the two blade setups is more complex than the up and down mechanism on the single blade setup, the only issue on the single setup seems to be one of maitainance i.e. greasing the mechanism which once you know how is extremely easy

 

[television]

Citroen also had a single wiper on the CX cars, yes the twin blade is easier to maintain but not as nice

 

[whitenemesis]

Apparently German drivers didn't like the single wiper as it tended to lift at high speed.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Citroen also had a single wiper on the CX cars, yes the twin blade is easier to maintain but not as nice

And certain Jaguars.

 

[jberks]

The single statistically cleared more screen area. But, there were complaints, which I tend to agree with, that it didn't clear enough of where it needed to. For example, leaving a chunk at the top centre or top corner of the passenger side, as doubles do, isn't really a problem for the driver, but leaving the top corner of the drivers side, as the single did, even with the clever cam, could be a problem a times. You get used to anything and I had 2 cars with the single wiper but to be honest, the double is actually better in practice. The N/S wiper still bounces about in an attempt to cover more area but it's just a lever arrangement rather than that clever cam the single one had.

 

[Legoman]

the best wipers for coverage ive seen is the new honda civic , dont like the car tbh , but the way it works is very pretty.

they work like folding your arms and then moving them in a sweeping action for those that dont know

 

[jberks]

the best wipers for coverage ive seen is the new honda civic , dont like the car tbh , but the way it works is very pretty.

they work like folding your arms and then moving them in a sweeping action for those that dont know

The first car I ever saw working that way was my Grandad's new Merc back in '72!
Not sure what it's designation was in those days but it was the equivalent of an E class. I seem to remember it having a windscreen washer pedal too!
I guess they were quite quirky in those days.

 

[whitenemesis]

the best wipers for coverage ive seen is the new honda civic , dont like the car tbh , but the way it works is very pretty.

they work like folding your arms and then moving them in a sweeping action for those that dont know

My Alhambra had wipers like those, quite good but I like the new Seat wipers that park against the A pillars. Very neat and reducues wind noise when parked

 

[Phil D]

I really liked the single wiper on my w202 (previous car) - that is till I got caught in a real downpour in belgium once - IMO the twin wiper set up deals more efffectively with extremes, but it's nowhere near as pretty.
as far as the wiper pattern on the honda mentioned earlier, my dad had a wolseley many moons ago which worked that way, quite elegant I thought
Phil

 

[philharve]

No wipers at all ... on the rear screen

Hi All

I have only one wiper on my C230K and haven't noticed it to be inferior at clearing the windscreen compared with all my previous cars which had two windscreen wipers.

The biggest shock after I purchased my present Merc' was that it didn't have a rear screen wiper. I had had the car several days when I noticed the absence of the rear wiper. I thought it had been nicked until I had a closer look. I was in two minds about taking the car back to the dealer and asking for my money back. When I calmed down I asked myself why it didn't have a rear wiper! I was later to learn that the aerodynamic shape of the rear end created eddys or swirling air currents that effectively scrubbed the rear screen clean and kept dust & dirt and water droplets off it.

I suppose one day there will be wiperless cars: dirt and moisture will be repelled by a force field or static charge that will deflect molecules of dirt and moisture from the vehicle's surface, not just the glass areas. Hmmm ... the end of corrosion and polishing? Sundays won't be quite the same again.

REGARDS

Phil