wipers

[jp]

I've got a '98 C200 estate and the windscreen wiper smears terribly. I've tried a Bosch wiper which was terrible and have now got a Mercedes one bought from a main dealer which is marginally better. I've cleaned the windscreen with meths, soap and water and elbow grease but to no avail! Wet night driving is a nightmare! Is this common? Anyone got any solutions?? :?

 

[kid-jensen]

T-Cut the windscreen!

 

[salvatori]

Hi,

I to experienced the same problem as you. I've been through 2 sets of blade replacements from the stealers and they were all crap. I tried cleaning the windscreen just like you, but tried Raynex from Halfords which has sorted the problem and they now work silenty without a single smeer.

Sal

 

[Koolvin]

T-Cut the windscreen!

T-Cut contains abrasives!!!! dont do it!!

 

[Nik_Codling]

I can highly recommend Autoglym glass cleaner for getting your windows absolutely immaculate. You might find a slight drawback with the windscreen though that sometimes it leaves the screen so shiny that the wiper actually leaves a fine smear of water when it wipes, although this hasn't occured since I've had a Bosch wiper on.

It also assists in clearing water from the screen faster when driving - the water runs off in little balls.

Nik
'89 300CE in need of a damn good clean...

 

[jp]

Thanks for your replies. I really liked the idea of T Cut -it made good sense but then Koolvin put me off!! Paul - have you ever done it?? Sals solution is about to be tried - I've bought some rayn x but it has to be applied to a dry windscreen and whenever I go to put it on it rains!! I'll let you know!

 

[fuzzer]

The single wiper is famous for smearing the windscreen and is prob now why they have two blades on most models.

I to have a bosch blade as it makes better sence than the OEM blade and find no diference with it. does what it says on the tin....

Slightly watered vinegar does the trick for cleaning the crap off your windscreen as it can break up the oils etc from the road. Use small amounts on some form of cloth and do not get any on the grills at the bottom of the screen or your car will smell like a chipshop for weeks ..

One thing that happens when you use vinegar is .. the stonechips go black , it does fade , but , just to let you know ..

 

[kid-jensen]

JP,

Without wanting to **** off Koolvin, I can say that I have used T-cut on pretty well all my cars when the screen needed "really" cleaning.

If I remember correctly, the abrasives used are softer than glass anyway, but even if they're not, you need something to cut through the layer of crap bonded to the screen.

I can't see any scratches or swirls on the glass, (I've looked) so I'm happy..............was that an apology?

 

[Spike]

I agree with the T-cut idea.

You can actually polish out minor scratches on your glass using T cut.

Personally I have found that my most of my smearing problems were caused by washing he car :? Many of the car shampoo's and most of the automatic car washes have a wax polish mixed in with the shampoo.

This causes havoc with the windscreen IMO. To get rid of this wax completely I just use a damp cloth with fairy liquidon the windscreen after each wash. I guess a spirit based cleaner would also do the job as would T-Cut.

 

[Legoman]

given that glass is much harder than paint and most glass cleaners are fine abrasives anyhow using t-cut aint gonna damage your window!
unless of course you use a hammer to apply it with . . . .

 

[jp]

Well I've applied rain x and haven't driven the car in the rain yet!!! If it hasn't worked I'm going to buy some Tcut.
Paul, apologies for not trusting your idea!
Koolvin, I think Pauls right and you owe him an apolgy!
PS: this is great, I've got loads more questions to post!

 

[fuzzer]

youre braver than me to use T cut on the windscreen if there is even a remote chance of scratching it.


Try the vinegar ..... :wink:

 

[dieselman]

You wont scratch glass with ANY polish if applied by hand.
I have some professional glass polish which is fantastic on any glass, and is strangely similar to thinned brasso / T cut.

The smearing is more down to oil residues and other cr*p found on the screen than the wiper itsself.
When I bought my car the smearing was so bad I replaced the wiper, even though it was new. After that blade wore out I have refitted the original and all is good.
Moral. Clean the screen, then polish with RainX (not done) or a polymer polish like Autoglym. Dont use wax polish.

 

[paulrstaylor]

I'm not sure about T-Cut, I dont think it will scatch the glass, but it will leave a residue?? Anyhow, for the price of a bottle of T-cut why not use something designed for the job?? Vinegar is good for cleaning glass, but smells and can stain your paintwork too.

I would either use neat screenwash applied with a cloth, windowlean glass cleaner or better still a specific "Glass Cutter", which is avalible from Halfords. This should be followed by a glass wax such as Rain-X.

Dont forget to either replace you wiper blade, or at least clean the exsisting one with screenwash and a cloth.

 

[Koolvin]

You wont scratch glass with ANY polish if applied by hand.

depends how experienced you are with hand jobs - LOL :roll: