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#1
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Monoblade and/or washer fluid performance problems, '03 W210
I've had this 2003 W210 wagon for nearly a year and in most ways it's perfect. The worst thing about it is its seeming inability to clean the windshield. I live in Portland, so this is a big deal
The problem is streaking, and it's usually worse on the forward stroke than the back. It seems like there are areas where the blade touches the windshield going one way but not the other. Driving at night in the rain is a little terrifying. The blade was new when I got the car, and I got another new blade a few months ago, to no effect. The windshield itself is in perfect condition. I've been using Wurth "Rapid Windshield Cleaner" concentrate that MBI gives me. I've used RainX washer fluid before with excellent results. From what I've read here, the alcohol in RainX gets rapidly evaporated by the washer fluid heater in this car, so I've not tried it. I've not tried what might seem obvious: RainX the windshield directly. It grates on my nerves to even think about it: the wipers on the SDL were magical, even with cheap-ass fluid. Any advice?
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2003 E320 wagon, ~80k, "Sputnik" 1987 300 SDL, ~160k, "The Pimp Daddy" (sold April 2010) 1984 300 TD, ~200k, "Das Boot" (Demised March 2008) |
#2
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How is it in just rain (not using the washer?), the same or better?
What are you using with the Wurth concentrate, in other words what are you adding the concentrate to?
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Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold) |
#3
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In the rain it's sometimes terrifying; very hard to see. I'm adding the Wurth to a gallon of water, per the instructions.
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2003 E320 wagon, ~80k, "Sputnik" 1987 300 SDL, ~160k, "The Pimp Daddy" (sold April 2010) 1984 300 TD, ~200k, "Das Boot" (Demised March 2008) |
#4
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Since it's bad in the rain as well (which I later noticed you mentioned), then I doubt it's the washer fluid.
I'd be more suspect now that there is something on the glass that you can't see or feel, so I'd recommend trying a cleaning of the glass. A couple things to try would be rubbing alcohol with some 0000 steel wool, or try using some Bon Ami to clean the glass. Then either clean the wiper blade with rubbing alcohol or another new blade. Only other thing I can think of is that the wiper arm is twisted and now the angle is all wrong. Gilly
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Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold) |
#5
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Randall, apply a coat of Meguiar's Cleaner Wax to the windshield and see if that helps. After applying, rain should blow off the windshield while driving lessening the need for the wipers.
I've read several posts where owners experienced smearing with Rain-X so I would avoid anything associated with that name. What brand wiper blade are you using? The older MB automobiles used Bosch wiper blades, not sure what MB specifies for the newer models.
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Fred Hoelzle |
#6
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Thanks for the replies, folks. I'll try cleaning first, then the wax. I'm pretty sure the blades are Bosch. I'll post back here in a week or two with results.
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2003 E320 wagon, ~80k, "Sputnik" 1987 300 SDL, ~160k, "The Pimp Daddy" (sold April 2010) 1984 300 TD, ~200k, "Das Boot" (Demised March 2008) |
#7
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my old car the wiper arms and springs would eventually bend/warp and the springs would get stretched out..simply replacing the whole wiper arm solved alot of problems.
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1993 e300 1995 e320 1994 e320 2006 s500 4matic 2004 Jeep wj overland 2001 Ducati 748 2004 Honda shadow aero |
#8
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I'm in the "clean, no wax or any other thing" camp. I would recommend just cleaning the windshield, to the point that you know any type of coating has been removed, then trying it. If I am wrong you can try coating it with wax or whatever. NOTHING I have ever coated a windshield with has ever improved anything, always the opposite, smears and streaks.
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Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold) |
#9
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I had similar streaking problems on my 1998 210 sedan. Very thorough cleaning of the windshield is the key fix. I used Bon Ami scrubbing powder and one of those coarse "scrunge" things. Don't use any other cleaning powder, all but Bon Ami contain abrasives which will scratch the glass. Give the glass a good scouring, then see where you are at.
I too am not a fan of wax/RainX/etc. coatings on the windshield. I have found that when the glass is completely clean, the water beads up and rolls off quite well, and the wiper blade can come by and cleanly move the remaining water off the glass. |
#10
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is the W211 windshield coated with anything other then glass or does the windshield use a laminate on the outer surface.
I was just reading at the BonAmi web site that the powder cleanser is a newer formula and they say to be very careful on auto glass due to automakers using types of plastics and coating that can scratch. The Mercedes Blades are expensive for the newer car cause the dealerships don't just sell insert refills - at least for my car - but complete blades and the complete blade when mounted properly has that tension and curve for an nice sweep. |
#11
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If you're afraid of Bon Ami, you can try rubbing alcohol or anything that would strip wax off the surface (paint thinner, etc, on a RAG though, don't dump it on the windshield!).
I don't think there is any outer coating, maybe the Bon Ami website is worried about some of these cars where they tried an inner plastic coating to avoid face lacerations, I remember Buick was doing that experimentally in the 80s. OR maybe aftermarket tint film?? I wouldn't sweat it.
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Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold) |
#12
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It's weird that BonAmi has the warning about auto-glass.
1) Because BonAmi is known as a great glass cleaner 2) Griots Garage sells glass polish kits that use liquid polish that is to be used by a machine polisher and clay bar for glass. Maybe the warning really isn't for windshield but for some plastic side glass that is really bonded plastic - that's what my old Nissan 240SX had aft of the B-pillar. |
#13
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Answer
These links may help you.
MONO BLADE VERTICAL parked windshield wiper http://members.lycos.nl/mbenz/windshield_wiper.htm Hesitating Wiper Repair http://202tech.mkosonen.com/howto/wiper.html How to grease 300E wiper gearbox How to grease 300E wiper gearbox Can you lube a single wiper mechanism?? http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/28245-can-you-lube-single-wiper-mechanism.html#post150630 .
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ASE Master Mechanic asemastermechanic@juno.com Prototype R&D/testing: Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician. Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH). Dynamometer. Heat exchanger durability. HV-A/C Climate Control. Vehicle build. Fleet Durability Technical Quality Auditor. Automotive Technical Writer 1985 300SD 1983 300D 1984 190D 2003 Volvo V70 2002 Honda Civic https://www.boldegoist.com/ |
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