One bellcrank, one motor, one transmission, ... the most common failure parts are still single and show-stoppers. The monowiper is a simpler design really, all internal without the push-pull stampings, no side-loads on the wiper bases, and it works so well. Pull it apart and lube it every 15-20 years and it will work dependably.
The reason it was discontinued? The same as many 201-124-140 innovations (like the double-pane glass in the 140): cost. The have to compete with the Lexus and other cheap knock-offs, have to thrift the engineering masterpieces.
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Originally Posted by bustedbenz
I like the ones on my w126, personally. I don't like the idea of a monowiper for the very simple reason that if one piece fails, you're completely wiper-less.
With two arms and two blades, if one breaks even catastrophically, you can probably see enough (hopefully) out the other side that's still working to at least get slowed down and off the road.
Also, I've been known to have wiper blades that were at the end of their life and had to swap left side for right side to get the better vision where I needed it in order to get to the parts store for new blades. No matter how much good safety advice a person hears, for most people, wipers aren't one of those things you "remember" like oil changes. You know you need them when you can't see in the rain.
Having two just feels like extra safety to me.
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