T210 Estate Rear Window Clean

[clive williams]

Hi All,

We've got an irritation (but we won't scratch it!) with the 210 Estate. In this weather we are having to clean down the rear of the car every 50mls or so as it seems to attract the crud left on the roads around here in rural Leics. After about 50mls/three days the rear wiper is leaving just streaks even though copious amounts of water are used and the area around the swept arc is opaque with dirt. The number plate is also illegible - there has to be plusses and minusses. Its obviously the aerodynamics cause the suction area at the back of the car, which attracts the dirt.

The question is - Is there a deflector available, which maybe fits to the rear corner to reduce the suction effect? They are available for some cars I know such as the Range Rover and you used to see trucks with something like that on the front quarters. At a pinch I might try to make something in alloy if nothing is available because its becoming a real pain. We've never had a vehicle attract so much dirt on the rear as this car, not even the vans and trucks we used to have.

Clive

500E W124 rear window stays amazingly clean
E320CDIT210 can't see where i've been or how much damage I've caused!

 

[television]

After parking my Volvo V70R next to one with a deflector, His window was only a little dirty, where as mine was like yours, so I bought one,and its much better now.
Big problem with the MB is that the roof line slopes down towards the back, and I not sure how it would look.
For more than 50 years I have been driving in an estate car, and had to put up with that problem, So I bought the SL, no problem at all as I never take it out in the rain.
Malcolm

 

[tom7035]

'Rain-X' treatment may help a little in the meantime.

 

[television]

'Rain-X' treatment may help a little in the meantime.

Bought some last week Tom, it has not rained sinse.

Malcolm

 

[tom7035]

Bought some last week Tom, it has not rained sinse.

Malcolm

I'll let you know when I go on holiday then you can buy some more!!

 

[television]

I'll let you know when I go on holiday then you can buy some more!!

Holliday ? I know that I have heard of the word, but I have forgorten what you do with it, I have the same problem with Sex.

Malcolm

 

[clive williams]

........Big problem with the MB is that the roof line slopes down towards the back, and I not sure how it would look.
For more than 50 years I have been driving in an estate car, and had to put up with that problem, So I bought the SL, no problem at all as I never take it out in the rain.
Malcolm

Hi Malcolm,

The roofline on the T210 is more vertical than the T211 but the thought of modifying a deflector or indeed making one from scratch doesn't worry me. What sort of fixing is used on the Volvo unit? Does it involve drilling and fixing to the 'C' pillar? Re the aesthetic considerations the look is less important than the performance but I will attempt to achieve the best of both worlds otherwise my rep as a designer would be blown. There is obviously enough meat on a front truck deflector to shape it to suit - that might be the route to try?

Of course a valid alternative would be the route you go with the SL especially, as the dust is less likely to stick to the vertical surface. The other half won't like it though!

Hi Tom,

The window is liberally coated with Rain-X, which works exceptionally on the side glass and windscreen but, the rear window is getting a mist of mud slurry, which does not have the characteristics as straight water. It helps I'm sure but doesn't solve.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[television]

It fix to the side of the hinge clive picture enclosed

Best regards Malcolm

 

[clive williams]

It fix to the side of the hinge clive picture enclosed

Best regards Malcolm

Thanks Malcolm. Much appreciated.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[television]

http://www.samsteffansson.se/samindex.html

Clive, there are some here, I feel sure I have seen them on the road.

english price, divide by 14.3

Malcolm

 

[clive williams]

http://www.samsteffansson.se/samindex.html

Clive, there are some here, I feel sure I have seen them on the road.

english price, divide by 14.3

Malcolm

Thanks Malcolm,

I could only find this one,which is a roof spoiler at £488 (+post and pack)
http://www.samsteffansson.se/products/images/Ovriga bilar/Mercedes/MBEtakspoiler.jpg Have I missed anything? and do roof spoilers work in the same way?

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210 (Or it was the last time I looked under the mud)

 

[television]

Clive, I cant answer that question, Volvo say it helps to keep window clean, but on my car there is a gap between the roof and the spoiler allowing air to pass under and break up what ever kind of turbubolence takes place at the back of a 90degree back, cant you borrow someones wind tunnel for a couple of hours, The Swedish one sits flat to the roof, cant see it working that well.
My recolection of looking at cars in windtunnels is that the air flows over the roof and drops down a little and then goes straight again, but I have not seen a estate car or van in one, the info must be around somewhere.

Malcolm

I see now that wind tunnels are going obsolete, you can do it on a computer

 

[clive williams]

Clive, I cant answer that question, Volvo say it helps to keep window clean, but on my car there is a gap between the roof and the spoiler allowing air to pass under and break up what ever kind of turbubolence takes place at the back of a 90degree back, cant you borrow someones wind tunnel for a couple of hours, The Swedish one sits flat to the roof, cant see it working that well.
My recolection of looking at cars in windtunnels is that the air flows over the roof and drops down a little and then goes straight again, but I have not seen a estate car or van in one, the info must be around somewhere.

Malcolm

I see now that wind tunnels are going obsolete, you can do it on a computer

Malcolm,

Of course I can! MIRA's just down the road and as Rover aren't using it any more I bet thy have some spare tunnel time on they're hands.

Seriously, what I might try is some beads of oil at strategic points on the paint work, which will give some indication of the wind flow. I knew your conversation would stimulate me.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210