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#1
08-17-2003, 03:15 PM
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Anyone permanently removed their headlight wipers? Or want to?
Hi all,
I was looking at a 2000 SL500 front, and it seemed to have a very clean look about it. Didn't realise until I made comparisons with mine and similar models that it has no headlight wipers. One of my wipers is playing up - doesn't park properly and maybe needs a new motor - and I wondered what would happen if I took them both off for good? My MB shop says they're pretty much useless anyway, so I gather they don't get rave reviews for performance, and they certainly mess the front up designwise. My lights are xenon and probably need a good clean headlight glass, but will I really suffer if they were both removed? And what is left - just the shafts and washer hose? How would these be concealed? Ken Silver -------------- ~1993 SL500, glistening black/grey on black leather, now in the shop for facelift painting lower body. 3 days to go, maybe! ~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country! ~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's - (and my polishing) ~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice) Last edited by KenSilver; 08-18-2003 at 05:40 AM. 
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#2
08-18-2003, 05:30 PM
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With the SL in the paint shop I can't figure out what to do about these - not being able to see them is annoying.
Is the strip at the bottom of the headlights a separate piece, and removable? If so, I could get a new pair once the wiper motors were removed. That would cover everything up nicely. I'm really working towards getting these out now... I think it spoils the front of the SL by giving it a cluttered look. Ken Silver -------------- ~1993 SL500, glistening black/grey on black leather, now in the shop for facelift painting lower body. Getting withdrawal symptoms. ~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country! ~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's - (and my polishing) ~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice)
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#3
08-18-2003, 05:43 PM
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The small strip of bodywork underneath the headlamp is a separate section; I assume it is available without the hole for the wiper shaft, because the 300SL up to 1994 and the SL280 up to 1995 did without headlamp wash/wipe as standard. I would have thought that removing the motors and shafts is fairly easy, simply blank off the end of the wiring loom; as for the water supply, trace it back to the washer bottle and remove that feed. If necessary you can always fit components from a 300SL or SL280.
Some of the 500E guys in the hot rod forum have removed their headlamp wash/wipe and replaced it with cooling ducts, so they must know how to do it; the principles are surely the same. I remember a long post on the subject some time ago. You may find it is a legal requirement to have some headlamp cleaning mechanism with xenons, I'm fairly sure it is in Europe.
__________________
JJ Rodger 2013 G350 Bluetec 1999 SL 500 1993 E300 diesel T 1990 190
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#4
08-19-2003, 08:34 AM
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Thanks jjrodger - just the answer I needed! What would I do without yours and other's help on this forum!
Ken Silver -------------- ~1993 SL500, glistening black/grey on black leather, now in the shop for facelift painting lower body. ~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country! ~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's - (and my polishing) ~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice)
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#5
09-09-2003, 06:39 PM
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Today's the day - just taken the SL to the shop to get the headlight wiper motors taken out, and the wiring loom and washer sealed up. They have to remove the lights to get at them.
Then I'll take off the trim under the headlights and send them into the paint shop where they'll fill in the two small holes each part and paint. Whew! What a palaver for just getting rid of these wipers. It almost didn't seem worth the effort, but the more I looked at them, the less I liked them... seemed to detract from the sleek lines of the front. I also thought of buying new trim without holes so that the next owners could reinstall the old ones without too much fuss, but the cost would be over the top (trims NZ$120 + paint $60), and once it got to that stage I would have stuck with the wipers. After all, as my wife said, it's really just vanity - just like cosmetic surgery! I agree. Surgeons are making a fortune with Botox, just like my MB shops  Ken Silver -------------- ~1993 SL500, glistening blue-black on black leather, xenons. ~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country! ~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's (but my polishing) ~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice)
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#6
09-18-2003, 02:21 AM
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The headlight wipers are off, the trim under the lights is on and holeless - and painted nicely - and all is over in this little saga.
I collected the SL this afternoon and have to admit it was worth all the fuss and bother... it looks sleek and clean - though who will notice except me and a handful of entusiasts is debatable. Will post photos when our winds drop and I can detail the car in comfort. (We had a 179 km/hr gust recorded at the bottom of one of our islands. My sympathies go to those of you in the States - I hope no-one or their SL gets damaged by hurricane Isabel). Ken Silver -------------- ~1993 SL500, glistening blue-black on black leather, xenons. ~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country! ~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's (but my polishing) ~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice)
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