wiper blade replacement - metal tensioner strips..
 

Picked up a pair of bosch wipers for our 300E's from the Fastlane shop. I believe they're the kind that require the two small metal strips that put a little tensioned flex into the wiper blade. The problem is, they didn't come in the blade package, and the dealer-installed blade on my car doesn't have the metal strips in them.

Has anyone tried using the refill blade without the strips, and if I do need to get them, can I just steal them out of a non-OEM bosch refill, or must I find a way to procure them from a MB parts store?

thanks,
anthony

1987 300E 221k mi

IF you had the W/S wiper insert replaced at the dealer then they THROW away the metal strips!! USA dealers use a insert(cheap) made in Mexico by Trico. THEY have a plastic guide built into them.
YOU can't buy the metal strips. SO either buy a new complete blade OR go back to dealer & ask for the metal strips back from one of the service people OR buy one of their inserts again!!

Well that's great. Anyone know where I can get a full blade insert?

thanks for the reply,
anthony

Another thing about the cheap Mexican junk is on my 140 series, they don't cover the whole windshield like the original Mercedes ones do. They leave a very small section unwiped where the two blades come together.

Anthony,

I think FastLane or PartsShop has the Bosch inserts (what you bought) as well as the complete blade. Simply detach from the wiper arm and replace the whole unit. Save the inserts you have and next time you need to change you should have the tensioner strips.

Thanks for the reply. There's a local salvage shop that I'm going to visit and see if I can get what I need from them; if not, then I'll probably just go ahead and get the new blade assembly.

anthony

p.s. changed the insert on our other 300E, and all I have to say is that whoever came up with that procedure never had to field-test it...