when did MB start adjustable intermittent wipers?

[zebellis]

Can anyone tell me the model or chassis when Mercedes started making the intermittent wiper timing adjustable?

[compu_85]

I believe the W210 could get automatic wipers.

-J

[tyl604]

My 81 300SD has it.

[zebellis]

by "automatic wipers" do you mean that you had control over the time delay between wiper swipes?

I'm trying to get my hands on a part MB used to control this feature. On my 124, the intermittent wiper delay is controlled by the N10 relay (for the wipers, rear defog, and turn signals), but there isn't control over the time delay. It's just set to about 6-7 seconds. If I can get a relay that has the circuitry for an adjustable delay, I could create an easy mod.

[zebellis]

Originally Posted by tyl604

My 81 300SD has it.

Wow, they had it in an earlier car but didn't include it in future models? Go figure. That's a 126 right? Where is the delay adjustment knob? On the combination switch?

[tyl604]

I will look when I get back in town. Think the delay adjustment has only two clicks and is not infinitely adjustable time delay like the cars now. Do not quite rememberr.

[compu_85]

Originally Posted by tyl604

My 81 300SD has it.

That's because someone added an aftermarket control unit

By automatic I mean there is a rain sensor and the wipers come on and vary their speed automatically.

If your car is a 1985 or older someone on the forums sells a programmable delay relay which fits. Once I get my SDL back I'll write a How-To on installing a programmable wiper relay from a 90s VW Passat

-J

[mbzman]

I have a single intermittent setting on my W124 and would love to add a variable setting. I remember hearing about a Volvo relay that might work?

[mpolli]

Not adjustable on mine. That always baffled me. I figured it was a patent issue. The other mystery is why would they put a cassette into a 1998 Mercedes???? Things that can never be explained...

[zebellis]

My 87 300TD has three settings:

• intermittent (6 second delay between wipes)
• steady on - slow
• steady on - fast

It looks like the 126 combination switch has the same settings.

Originally Posted by compu_85

By automatic I mean there is a rain sensor and the wipers come on and vary their speed automatically.

I'm not interested in an automatic wiper, or the programmable aftermarket relay that "learns" how long to delay by turning the intermittent on and off and on again (which I think is what both compu_85 and mbzman are referring to). What I'm really interested in at this point is knowing if MB had a model that had an adjustable intermittent setting with either a smooth dial (or a notched dial with 6 or so settings) to adjust the time between wiper swipes.

I've actually figured out how to "insert" a timer adjustment into the stock w124 circuitry. An adjustable timer circuit isn't too hard to create, I just thought I'd try to find an existing MB circuit that does the same thing to see if I can create an easy mod for folks to do. Finding an existing MB part could also make it easy to make the whole mod look original, otherwise I've gotta come up with a classy solution for a knob placement.

[mbzman]

As far as I know, Mercedes only used the single one speed delay intermittent wiper until they went to rain sensing in the mid to late 1990s.

[zebellis]

Wow. Well, that certainly rains on my parade!

[rayhennig]

Originally Posted by zebellis

Can anyone tell me the model or chassis when Mercedes started making the intermittent wiper timing adjustable?

I've always wondered why my 1991 300CE doesn't have that feature when my 1967 Rover 2000 TC did!

The 2000TC also went down very well in Germany due to its high quality. British Leyland certainly effed up all that!

Ray

[tyl604]

Looks like I was wrong about the 81 300SD. It has three settings: 1) intermittent, 2) low and 3) high. No adjustment for the intermittent. Guess all that came along later.

[d.delano]

Originally Posted by rayhennig

I've always wondered why my 1991 300CE doesn't have that feature when my 1967 Rover 2000 TC did!

The 2000TC also went down very well in Germany due to its high quality. British Leyland certainly effed up all that!

Ray

I used to have an '89 Camaro RS with infinitely adjustable wipers. That car and quality were a contradiction in terms. Climate control and electricals all worked flawlessly however, go figure. I don't think I've ever seen a domestic car with electrical problems, but I've only owned one. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough!

I like the one-setting intermittency, and I've found that it suits my needs. I don't think quality is dependent on things like variable intermittent wipers. Like Einstein said keep everything as simple as possible but no simpler.