Not thrilled with aero wipers
#1
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2006 CLK350 Cabriolet Previous: W203,W202,W201, 2 Porsche 914s, 1965 Jaguar XKE Roadster
Not thrilled with aero wipers
I've searched the forum, and the only thing I can find on Aero wipers are how great they are and how to retrofit them onto your car.
I have had them on my C230 Kompressor sedan since new, and have yet to see them wipe every part of the windshield they touch. The pair I have on the car currently are new, so wear is not the problem. They will bend/adjust slightly under hand pressure to get spots that are being missed, but then the adjustment creates an even larger area that is staying dry and dirty somewhere else. Honestly, I'm giving up on these wipers.
Is there any way to adjust them so they wipe the entire windshield, or shall I switch tactics altogether and look to see what it will take to get rid of them by switching the wiper arms to non-aero originals and just purchase cheap wipers every 3 months like my kids do? Theirs clean a thousand times better at about a tenth of the cost.
I have had them on my C230 Kompressor sedan since new, and have yet to see them wipe every part of the windshield they touch. The pair I have on the car currently are new, so wear is not the problem. They will bend/adjust slightly under hand pressure to get spots that are being missed, but then the adjustment creates an even larger area that is staying dry and dirty somewhere else. Honestly, I'm giving up on these wipers.
Is there any way to adjust them so they wipe the entire windshield, or shall I switch tactics altogether and look to see what it will take to get rid of them by switching the wiper arms to non-aero originals and just purchase cheap wipers every 3 months like my kids do? Theirs clean a thousand times better at about a tenth of the cost.
#2
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2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
I've had the same problem with mine and found the culprit is in the arm itself at the end that connects to the blade. It is a round cylinder with a flat end
Take the blade off, get a pair of vice grips and clamp the round cylinder that bridges the arm that is cross riveted. Spray with some Liquid Wrench or penetrating oil and work that cylinder until it turns freely. It will be very stiff at first but with time and careful rotating back and forth will eventually free it.
If this cylinder is not free to rotate you will get missed spots when wiping usually most noticed in the drivers field of view. This tends to happen to cars in snow areas and the salt seizes it.
After it is free, use some spray silicon or teflon and liberally coat the area. I use a dry teflon spray that I use on my sailboat called Sail-Kote
Take the blade off, get a pair of vice grips and clamp the round cylinder that bridges the arm that is cross riveted. Spray with some Liquid Wrench or penetrating oil and work that cylinder until it turns freely. It will be very stiff at first but with time and careful rotating back and forth will eventually free it.
If this cylinder is not free to rotate you will get missed spots when wiping usually most noticed in the drivers field of view. This tends to happen to cars in snow areas and the salt seizes it.
After it is free, use some spray silicon or teflon and liberally coat the area. I use a dry teflon spray that I use on my sailboat called Sail-Kote
#4
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My Aero wipers are perfect. Different models had different length blades. My car is RHD & both blades are the same length & wipe 100% of their area properly. Do not try & fit oversize blades especially on the cam activated blade.
Don't remember the length but will go and measure if you like.
Don't remember the length but will go and measure if you like.
#6
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Yep! In early production some cars had one blade longer than the other. In SA production at least, they soon settled to same size - and yes it's 22" - Just measured mine.
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2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
Some blades are made by Bosch it depends on the year.
For 2004 it is made by that infamous company Valeo, better known for their "high" quality rads and alternators and other suspect parts. Valeo is identified as having metal strips exposed on either side of the blade
The wipers will never give problems for those that live in a warm climate, for us that live in the rust belt read my post above for maintenance
For 2004 it is made by that infamous company Valeo, better known for their "high" quality rads and alternators and other suspect parts. Valeo is identified as having metal strips exposed on either side of the blade
The wipers will never give problems for those that live in a warm climate, for us that live in the rust belt read my post above for maintenance
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#8
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I have taken note of your post. I'm in a warm climate but it's also a coastal rust belt & you have to watch things for corrosion. My car is garaged but the hood star collected a stone a while back & is now corroding where it broke through the chrome. Probably saved my screen but I have a new one ready to fit.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; 02-15-2011 at 09:17 AM.
#9
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Sounds like a good thing that we early W203 owners didn't get them. I do use appropriately sized and curved Bosch Icons on my car, and they work out great.
I'm curious - once you have aero wipers, are you stuck with them, or can you just go aftermarket like I do?
I'm curious - once you have aero wipers, are you stuck with them, or can you just go aftermarket like I do?
#10
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I have genuine MB/Bosch blades on my car but Bosch aftermarket blades are available to fit in SA. Replaced under the Service Plan so I did not worry about cost.
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2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
Retrofitted the (real deal) aero arms on mine. They make the car look a lot more expensive, just like bi-xenons. ![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
The driver's side still squeaks, but it's 60% less than before the retrofit. It used to drive me nuts.
![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
The driver's side still squeaks, but it's 60% less than before the retrofit. It used to drive me nuts.
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2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
My old Acura I could buy refills and slide on the rubber blade for $5 ea from the dealer, so cheap that I would change them often
So now when I am in the US I drop by a MB dealer and buy extra blades as they are $45 for the pair. Like everything we get burned for the cost of things compared to those that live south of the border.
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2006 CLK350 Cabriolet Previous: W203,W202,W201, 2 Porsche 914s, 1965 Jaguar XKE Roadster
Thanks for the info on the corrosion/seizing Boom Vang. I'll check tonight and see if that's the problem. Living in Chicago, we really get our share of salt in the Winter, so it would make sense that the arm end is locked up.
#19
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I replace my Aero wipers with SWF brand (says OEM?) from RMEuropean.com. They are identical to OEM part, work excellent, and are $18 each.