marlinspike

The rear washer in my 2007 E350 4matic wagon takes a while to prime before it sprays if it hasn't been used in a while. It can take so long that the rear wiper does a full single wipe before fluid comes out. This would indicate a line leak to me, but 1) I can't find one and 2) a friend's does the same. Is this the norm, or do we both just have leaks?

purplegrog

08 E350 wagon here. Takes 3-4 seconds (counting in my head, so take with a grain of salt) if I haven't used it in a while. After that it is immediate.

marlinspike

So I guess it's normal then. Pretty crappy that they couldn't be bothered to put a check valve in the system.

marc hanna

That's normal. It's been the same for every other Benz I've owned also.

It's actually probably a good idea, in case you still have some summer fluid in the line when the first frost of the year comes. I've never had a rear washer line freeze up on a Benz, but I have on the makes.

marlinspike

W126 times it so fluid hits the glass before the wiper wipes, same with BMW even still. That way you aren't wiping dry dirt. Also does anybody actually run different fluid at different times of year?

marc hanna

I don't anymore, but I used to run cheap 99-cent wash in the summer. Now I use the yellow Rain-X year-round.