As noted, these touring championship cars use a single-wiper system. However, does anybody know why they don't keep the wiper tucked away, but in the center of the windshield? The winner gets a jelly bean!

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1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :

I would think because the air can get to it even in the down position hence the reason it is up is so it doesn't disrupt the airflow because it is in the same direction instead of perpendicular to the airflow. hehe

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

Have you ever driven a car at high speed or in a heavy head wind, turned on the wiper, then turned it off and watched as the wind kept the wiper about 2 inches up from its resting position right in the view of the driver. This would be the main reason.

Mercedes should sue Lexus, for copying Mercedes. Even some car magazines have noted the stricking similarities between MBZ's W140 S-Class and the new LS. As a matter of fact the other day I mistaked a brand new LS 400 for a S-Class. I got closer and then noticed that its a Lexus!

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"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

I doubt that Mercedes would be able to profit from a lawsuit against Lexus, but I have noticed some striking similarities in design. I think the Lexus GS series car looks like a battered and cracked out E-class, and the LS looks very similar to the W140 S-class. I just looked at the Lexus website and much to my dismay the new SC series looks like an SLK.

It's easy to be annoyed by the styling similarities, but it's more rewarding to take the cheap rip-offs as a compliment to the design of our cars. Why rip-off anybody but the best?

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Ben

The MBs:
1976 300D (W115) - 330K and still going (sort of)
1991 300D 2.5 Turbo - Sold at 221K
1983 280SEL - Sold at 206K
1981 300SD - Sold at 232K

http://www.riceboypage.com

Some really funny cars, Make sure you read the text..

__________________
2000 Ford 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4
2006 Mazda Tribute
1983 Black 300 D (donated to charity)
1993 Teal 300 D (160K) Sold
"I love the smell of burnt diesel fuel in the morning, it smells like ....VICTORY"

Semper Fidelis
USMC 1973-1976

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

Have a great day,

Boy, that thing must be fast, did you see the paint on the rockers and rear wind spoiler,.....NOT!

I think this one of the many "Free" upgrade options these guys go for, why I haven't the slightest clue?

It looks like a moped. Also, the graphics on the top of the windshield make me shiver with fright, what man-liness!!

I think MB tried to sue Honda for copying the electric seat adjusment switches (meaning design.)

I'm not sure about this-- but I recall something about it years back (??) Maybe someone has better details on this.

Couldn't ask for a better switch layout, IMHO.



[Edited by w126 on 01-29-2001 at 04:43 PM]

Why bother to sue Lexus? Heck, at least they produce a decent quality car. I say MB should buy Toyota/Lexus since the engineers there are so fond of imitating MB, now they really have a chance to experience what making a living is all about (instead of copying other people's work, they will have to really use their brain power to produce a real product). While MB is at it, dump that piece of crap Chrylser.

95 R129
98 ML320

Outside of the obvious source of Lexus styling inspiration, how is a Lexus any more like an MB than a BMW or Jag? Or a Crown Victoria for that matter?

Compared to the W116, the 733i wasn't worth the lower price... debatable at best. Not so today. If the S430 is worth $70K, then the LS430 is definitely worth $54K. Hmm... does LS430 mean Lexus S430?

Sixto
78 450SEL ... from back when *nothing* was close
91 300SE

Did you guys see the hall of shame. That made me laugh! Its really funny, this guys who made this website should become a honorary member of mercedesshop

__________________
"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

Guys while MB does get ripped off quite a bit, T think that BMW takes the crown as the most ripped off automaker. Look at the headlights on the Lincoln LS and you will have to look for the BMW parts number to be sure that they aren't directly taken off a BMW. Pontiac has taken to using a dual kidney grill on all their pathetic cars, only about 40 years after BMW made it their look. They've been trying to nail Pontiac for years with no success. Off course Pontiac's most famous "borrowed" idea was the GTO.

Ripoff's are common now and always have been. Sure Lexus does lift the look of MB somewhat, but MB has gone out of their way to compete with other manufactures. The creation the the 190E, the creation of the Classes, and the buyout of AMG where all done on the BMW model.

Actually, Mercedes threatened to sue Infiniti for copying their power seat controls! If you ever look at the seat controls of a first generation Q45 from 1990, you'll see what I mean. In 1991 they no longer had the seat pictogram control, thanks to Mercedes' threat. Speaking of the old Q45, those were awesome cars. Much better than the Lexus of the time, in my opinion anyway.

I have seen so many Japanese cars around here that have wipers like that. I use to think that they were just broken, but then I saw one when it was raining. Personally I think it is pretty stupid looking considering the park position is halfway up the windshield right in the drivers view.

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Adam,
2003 Volkswagen Golf GL 24,000 miles. 1.9L I-4 TDI 5spd.

1986 300E. 115,000+ miles. 3.0L I-6 1st daily ride, around town only. (Gone)