I have a 94 E320 Wagon and both of the wipers (windshield and rear window) intermittent delay times are too short for my taste. On a wagon, you only need to wipe every minute or so on the rear window. On the front, the delay time is too short to be useful in a light rain. Has anyone here changed these delay times by adding a capacitor in the right place? Or is there some other way to do this?

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Chip Johnson

The time delays are controlled by the multi-function relay located under the hood just aft of the fuse panel (LH side of the car) for my 95 E320. The relay is a closed unit.

Also controls delays associated with rear window defroster, fresh air bi-pass at least.

Good luck and let me know if you make any progress when you crack open that relay.

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Tom Latos
2002 E320
1995 E320 Sold at 288kmiles

Ve engenrs did much rsearch on this. Ve askd our muthers. Ve decided vats best for u dumkoffs that drives our fine cars. Vwy u think u got smarts nuf to make better our fine design--u dummbkoff. Bah

Seriously, when I once asked senior product designers why MBZ did not have adjustable steering wheels like GM, Citroen, Ford, Lexus, Infiniti--I was lectured on how MBZ had scientifically determined the optimum position for the steering wheel and mirrors--and the driver is supposed to adjust the seat (we have fully adjustable seats yes?) to the 'correct' height and distance from the steering wheel so all the sight lines and pedal application angles are optimized. So there! Vat u want --a kiddielac or a drivers car?

I vant mein verdammtes steering veel to go up und down, und in und out.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

Kebowers,


Ditto on your excellent response
If it ain't broke don't fix it..and if it is put back exactly as it was!!

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Donwo
1999 SL 500 Sport (30K miles)
1998 E320 (SOLD)
1989 560SL (SOLD)
1987 300E (TOTALED)
1986 300E (SOLD)
1984 300SD (SOLD)

I love it !!!

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

Great fun these responses, but has anyone found a way to do what was asked?

Mark

Again, it's controlled via a combination relay...a big sucker I might add.

Unless one feels that his/her electronic engineering skills are up to par and have the unflailing desire to crack open the relay to twiddle with the micro-relay that controls this function, I'd leave it alone. But I'll bet it controls more that just the wiper delay, or MB wouldn't have integrated several functions in al all-in-one relay.

I had replaced my combo relay this summer at a part cost of $124, which is not cheap. And I'm sure it's more at the dealer. Do you want to risk ruining such an expensive component?

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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

Chip,
You brought up a question that has been bugging me for a long time. How can a Ford Escort (one of the cheapest cars in the world) have a far superior and more reliable cruise control, intermittent wiper, and HVAC system than Mercedes (one of the most expensive cars in the world)? I'll take my answer off the air. Thanks.

Peter

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Auto Zentral Ltd.

Cause it's simple...something that MB is incapable of doing...designing something without inherent complexity!

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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

Naturally, I do not want to ruin any expensive parts to change the intermittent wiper delay time. I just thought the factory times (and the fact that they are not adjustable) are really stupidly quick, and since I was sure others felt the same way I thought it possible someone had a solution - like maybe a later year or other car relay that worked better. For example, on my 1987 Saab 900t I changed the wiper relay for a VW's, which was a direct plug in, very sophisticated, adjustable up to 40 seconds, and about $30. I DID enjoy the more playful responses here, which may turn out to be the most accurate as well.

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Chip Johnson

The wiper thing has bugged me occasionally, but I keep thinking what the Germans would say, " You WILL enjoy our automobiles !!!", and shut up and keep driving. The good points far outnumber the bad.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K