Windshield wipers
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
15 E350 4Matic
Windshield wipers
It is finally raining in Virginia and finally have a chance to use the wipers. However, I notice that my wipers are not running smoothly across my windshield when they are turned on. The initial wipe is smooth(when there is a good amount of rain on the windshield) but it sticks afterwards and kind of hops across the windshield during light rain like there is not enough rain to wipe off.
In my old CLK, that would be an indication that I need to change my wipers but these are brand new.
Any suggestion or is it just that the new wipers needs to be broken in? It is driving me nuts!
In my old CLK, that would be an indication that I need to change my wipers but these are brand new.
Any suggestion or is it just that the new wipers needs to be broken in? It is driving me nuts!
#2
Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2008 C-350 Palladium Silver and MM.
I have had this problem recently on my XG350. I have new wipers as well. I put it down to the tree sap on the windshield due to the fact that we haven't had much in the way of rain for quite some time. When we get a nice long hard rain it stops.
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
c300
Same here. Had to a do a 3.5hr freeway drive in pouring rain; by the end of the trip they weren't skipping as much on the back stroke, but it was still there.
I also notice that they don't wipe as clearly as my old BMWs or my wife's Audi wipers.
Right now I'm just putting it down to cost cutting design like the lack of memory for the seats. But maybe they'll wear in and work better?
I also notice that they don't wipe as clearly as my old BMWs or my wife's Audi wipers.
Right now I'm just putting it down to cost cutting design like the lack of memory for the seats. But maybe they'll wear in and work better?
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: bay area, CA
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
'06 E350 Iridium Silver with pano
Substances such as tree sap and some hot wax treatments used by commercial car washes reduce the effectiveness of wiper blades. If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean both the windshield and wiper blades using undiluted windshield wiper solution or a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Putting RAIN-X is an excellent product for the rain.
Putting RAIN-X is an excellent product for the rain.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
15 E350 4Matic
Substances such as tree sap and some hot wax treatments used by commercial car washes reduce the effectiveness of wiper blades. If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean both the windshield and wiper blades using undiluted windshield wiper solution or a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Putting RAIN-X is an excellent product for the rain.
Putting RAIN-X is an excellent product for the rain.
Last edited by who8888; 10-24-2007 at 02:28 PM.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
15 E350 4Matic
Same here. Had to a do a 3.5hr freeway drive in pouring rain; by the end of the trip they weren't skipping as much on the back stroke, but it was still there.
I also notice that they don't wipe as clearly as my old BMWs or my wife's Audi wipers.
Right now I'm just putting it down to cost cutting design like the lack of memory for the seats. But maybe they'll wear in and work better?
I also notice that they don't wipe as clearly as my old BMWs or my wife's Audi wipers.
Right now I'm just putting it down to cost cutting design like the lack of memory for the seats. But maybe they'll wear in and work better?
Last edited by who8888; 10-24-2007 at 02:30 PM.
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
My Touareg with the aero wipers had the same problem. Apparently the wiper arm is bent at too much of an angle that it pushes the wiper against the window harder then it should. I wouldn’t attempt to fix it myself if that looks to be the problem because you can break either the arm or motor. Warranty FTW.
Trending Topics
#9
Super Member
Noticed the same thing when I did the C-Drive event down in NJ a few months ago. It was raining pretty good when I went, and when it came time for the road course, it was only misting a bit. But EVERY C that was set up to do the road course (2 or 3 groups of 5 cars) was doing the same thing with the wipers.
Cintoman
Cintoman
#11
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
E550 4MATIC
I had a similar problem AFTER I used RainX. My wipers have been skipping ever since then. It is driving me nuts. I think I'm going to take off the Rain X with rubbing alcohol or some other glass polish.
#12
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Southeast
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
Thought I remembered something about using alcohol to remove car wash wax from the windshield and wipers.
If you will, try that without glass polish to see if that's enough.
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
15 E350 4Matic
After the 4 days of non-stop rain in Virginia, I am hoping not to have any for a while
#16
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
E550 4MATIC
If that is the case then it really STINKS! Let me know if you do take the RAIN-X off and it stop skipping. Anyone else use RAIN-X and have the same problem? Although I would like to say I recall having the skipping problem before the RAIN-X treatment.
After the 4 days of non-stop rain in Virginia, I am hoping not to have any for a while
After the 4 days of non-stop rain in Virginia, I am hoping not to have any for a while
Btw, does anyone know of a way to drain the contents of the windshield washer fluid resivoir other than to just keep holding the button to use the fluid.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon, 2013 C350 4Matic Sedan
I tried putting in the RainX windshield washer fluid last night to see if that works any better. So far I'm not impressed. RainX products suck imo.
Btw, does anyone know of a way to drain the contents of the windshield washer fluid resivoir other than to just keep holding the button to use the fluid.
Btw, does anyone know of a way to drain the contents of the windshield washer fluid resivoir other than to just keep holding the button to use the fluid.
I'm with pmb600. I know that a couple of poster have raved about the product. But I used it on a car I had about 11 years ago and it sucked.
There's probably a drain plug as the bottom of the reservoir. Or you can pump it out from the top.
#18
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
E550 4MATIC
By the way what is the capacity of the tank? I put in so much and it said low washer fluid almost right away.
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon, 2013 C350 4Matic Sedan
Maybe call them and find out what would wash it away.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New York Area
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
'14 E350 wagon; BMW G12 (2020) G01 (2019)
My experience with Rain-X has been uneven. The Rain-X you apply directly to the windshield has been awful; streaky, wiper chatter. Needed to be removed with glass stripper and I'd never use it again. The Rain-X added to windshield washer fluid has been less problematic, but I just don't use it any more as any advantage over straight washer fluid is slight, and I am concerned that enough of it will cause the same problems as the stuff you apply directly.
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Essex County, NJ
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
2011 E350 Sport 4Matic - P2 & Drivers Assist / 2010 C300 Sport 4Matic - P2 / 2013 Porsche Cayenne S
It is finally raining in Virginia and finally have a chance to use the wipers. However, I notice that my wipers are not running smoothly across my windshield when they are turned on. The initial wipe is smooth(when there is a good amount of rain on the windshield) but it sticks afterwards and kind of hops across the windshield during light rain like there is not enough rain to wipe off.
In my old CLK, that would be an indication that I need to change my wipers but these are brand new.
Any suggestion or is it just that the new wipers needs to be broken in? It is driving me nuts!
In my old CLK, that would be an indication that I need to change my wipers but these are brand new.
Any suggestion or is it just that the new wipers needs to be broken in? It is driving me nuts!
#23
Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C350 4matic Obsidian Black
Hi guys
Can anyone reconfirm that the wiper blades need a time period in order to break in? Cause I just started using my wiper blades and it is skipping alot on the first and second settings. Please reconfirm anyone?
#25
Almost a Member!
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2008 C300-Sport/Palladium Silver/PII/Panaroma
I had the windshield wiper chatter on the driver side when I first got the car. During my 1st 3000 mile checkup, I complained to the service adviser and she tried to convince me it was normal. She even tried to wipe down the blade with some cleaner but it didn't help. Again, she tried to tell me it was normal. I asked "If that's normal, why wouldn't both sides chatter?" She had no answer so she finally replaced it under warranty. Haven't had any problems since.
Maybe it's an MB issue (crappy batch of blades?). Bring it up with your service adviser. BTW, I use Rain-X on my windshield too.
Maybe it's an MB issue (crappy batch of blades?). Bring it up with your service adviser. BTW, I use Rain-X on my windshield too.