I have never owned a vehicle with headlight wipers myself, but I am sure at least some of you have.

I have long wondered... do they actually serve any purpose?

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I removed them from my wagon...

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Drive on a sloppy winter evening on slush and road salt-covered roads and the answer will become very evident.

Volvo seems to make pretty good money selling replacement parts for them. Other than that, I don't see much purpose behind those headlight wipers.

In states where salt is used liberally on the roads, it can help keep the lenses clean, and therefore light up the road up ahead nicely. Also, during those not so sunny daylight hours, other cars can spot your headlights easier when they are clean, vs. something that looks like a 25W lightbulb behind a window that hasn't been cleaned in 10 years.

Having said that, I am glad I don't live up there anymore.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I have driven on such roads my entire life and never felt anything lacking in my life, but then again I never had them so I guess I don't know what I am missing.

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Both of my S-Classes have had them. I just turn them on occasionally to impress friends lol...never been in an environment where I needed them.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Ditto.

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

My '90 Jaguar Vanden Plas has the old motorized seat belts. They are interconnected to the shifter and doors so they sort of work with mind of their own. The first time my dad rode in it, he almost strangled himself.

He was so impressed that he refuses to ride in it.

Just the thrill of having to wipe a filthy headlight lens clean after a few miles of winter interstate travel.

Everything Mercedes designed has a purpose...

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

If I could just find an owner's manual for mine, I would know what purpose all of these strange things DO serve.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Several years ago, I purchased new owner's manuals for a 1999 W140 and a 1991 W126 sedan from www.books4cars.com

They might have what you want.

Thanks, Paul. I'll check them out.
Hey, I looked and they had all sorts of manuals. No owner's manual, but technical service manuals and things. Thanks.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I had a Mazda MX-6 with the motorized shoulder harnesses that rode on a track along the door window perimeters.

I once pulled up to a parking garage and couldn't reach the ticket being dispensed. So I had extended my arm further out of the window, but still couldn't get to it. So I slid half of my body out the window, then pulled the door release to open the door and reach the ticket...the shoulder harness disengaged and travelled to it's resting position...you can get a mental picture of what that looked like!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car