Didn't read all of the posts...

But I'm pretty sure the wipers on the headlights of my 300E worked when the regular wiper was engaged...

I've heard that in Europe the roads can be a mess and many cars of the time had wipers on the lights as a safety issue...I'm sure muddy headlights create a safety hazard...

In America...I'd assume most of the roads MBs travel on are well paved and not exactly wrought with soil and such...so they might seem unnecessary...

But during the winter they seemed to come in handy to keep the ice and snow from adhering to the lights while I drove...the boxy and slightly inset seeming nature of the lights on the 300E really facilitated snow/ice build-up

I always thought the wipers were cool...but I really liked the heated fluid reservoir...

__________________
1985 MB 380SL
2003 Jaguar X-Type