BEWARE: I broke the windscreen with the wipers when cleaning the car!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne, Australia
'24 GLB250. Previously '23 GLB250 '17 GLS500 '14 C250 '13 ML500 '12 C250 '08 ML500 '07 E500 '03 A160
BEWARE: I broke the windscreen with the wipers when cleaning the car!
Yes you read it right. I'm a nimwit and we've already had the windscreen replaced on our new C250 because I broke it while washing the car.
But it wasn't totally my fault. Read on and I'll explain why ....
Not sure if you've noticed but when the wipers on the W205 are in parked (off) position they slide right down to the bottom of the windscreen and hide under the bonnet which prevents you from lifting them up, and leaving them up while you clean the windscreen. However, I discovered you can grab the wiper arms while everything is turned off (wiper switch on stalk in OFF position, and engine/ignition off too) and gently slide them back up the windscreen to a position where you're able to lift them up and leave them up unaided so you can clean the lower part of the windscreen properly. Little did I know the other half decides to start cleaning the interior of the car, and of course wants to listen to the awesome Burmester surround sound while inside so on goes the ignition and "snap, bang, crack" was all we heard. The wipers tried to return themselves to the parked position at the bottom of the windscreen tucked away under the bonnet, but on the way down they got caught on the edge of the bonnet, which flipped the wiper blade assembly upside down and the metal section struck the windscreen quite hard and a small chip and a crack about an inch long appeared, which grew very rapidly as soon as we drove the car, and all the way to the top after a very short time!
Certainly won't do that again. Fortunately no damage to the bonnet, or wipers, but we did require a new windscreen, and fortunately again our insurance covered the $1,800 cost!
Figured I should share this so nobody else makes the same silly mistake!
But it wasn't totally my fault. Read on and I'll explain why ....
Not sure if you've noticed but when the wipers on the W205 are in parked (off) position they slide right down to the bottom of the windscreen and hide under the bonnet which prevents you from lifting them up, and leaving them up while you clean the windscreen. However, I discovered you can grab the wiper arms while everything is turned off (wiper switch on stalk in OFF position, and engine/ignition off too) and gently slide them back up the windscreen to a position where you're able to lift them up and leave them up unaided so you can clean the lower part of the windscreen properly. Little did I know the other half decides to start cleaning the interior of the car, and of course wants to listen to the awesome Burmester surround sound while inside so on goes the ignition and "snap, bang, crack" was all we heard. The wipers tried to return themselves to the parked position at the bottom of the windscreen tucked away under the bonnet, but on the way down they got caught on the edge of the bonnet, which flipped the wiper blade assembly upside down and the metal section struck the windscreen quite hard and a small chip and a crack about an inch long appeared, which grew very rapidly as soon as we drove the car, and all the way to the top after a very short time!
Certainly won't do that again. Fortunately no damage to the bonnet, or wipers, but we did require a new windscreen, and fortunately again our insurance covered the $1,800 cost!
Figured I should share this so nobody else makes the same silly mistake!
Last edited by Benz Werd; Nov 25, 2014 at 10:34 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 911
Likes: 22
From: Ottawa, Canada
2014 C63 507, 2012 R350
Yes you read it right. I'm a nimwit and we've already had the windscreen replaced on our new C250 because I broke it while washing the car.
But it wasn't totally my fault. Read on and I'll explain why ....
Not sure if you've noticed but when the wipers on the W205 are in parked (off) position they slide right down to the bottom of the windscreen and hide under the bonnet which prevents you from lifting them up, and leaving them up while you clean the windscreen. However, I discovered you can grab the wiper arms while everything is turned off (wiper switch on stalk in OFF position, and engine/ignition off too) and gently slide them back up the windscreen to a position where you're able to lift them up and leave them up unaided so you can clean the lower part of the windscreen properly. Little did I know the other half decides to start cleaning the interior of the car, and of course wants to listen to the awesome Burmester surround sound while inside so on goes the ignition and "snap, bang, crack" was all we heard. The wipers tried to return themselves to the parked position at the bottom of the windscreen tucked away under the bonnet, but on the way down they got caught on the edge of the bonnet, which flipped the wiper blade assembly upside down and the metal section struck the windscreen quite hard and a small chip and a crack about an inch long appeared, which grew very rapidly as soon as we drove the car, and all the way to the top after a very short time!
Certainly won't do that again. Fortunately no damage to the bonnet, or wipers, but we did require a new windscreen, and fortunately again our insurance covered the $1,800 cost!
Figured I should share this so nobody else makes the same silly mistake!
But it wasn't totally my fault. Read on and I'll explain why ....
Not sure if you've noticed but when the wipers on the W205 are in parked (off) position they slide right down to the bottom of the windscreen and hide under the bonnet which prevents you from lifting them up, and leaving them up while you clean the windscreen. However, I discovered you can grab the wiper arms while everything is turned off (wiper switch on stalk in OFF position, and engine/ignition off too) and gently slide them back up the windscreen to a position where you're able to lift them up and leave them up unaided so you can clean the lower part of the windscreen properly. Little did I know the other half decides to start cleaning the interior of the car, and of course wants to listen to the awesome Burmester surround sound while inside so on goes the ignition and "snap, bang, crack" was all we heard. The wipers tried to return themselves to the parked position at the bottom of the windscreen tucked away under the bonnet, but on the way down they got caught on the edge of the bonnet, which flipped the wiper blade assembly upside down and the metal section struck the windscreen quite hard and a small chip and a crack about an inch long appeared, which grew very rapidly as soon as we drove the car, and all the way to the top after a very short time!
Certainly won't do that again. Fortunately no damage to the bonnet, or wipers, but we did require a new windscreen, and fortunately again our insurance covered the $1,800 cost!
Figured I should share this so nobody else makes the same silly mistake!
Wow, tough luck, but I have to be honest...I laughed
as I could just picture it in a sitcom sort of way, not at the obvious expense it has caused. Thanks for the heads up!
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 789
Likes: 47
From: Eastern Massachusetts
2021 E450, 2020 C43, 2015 C300, 2007 C280
Only an intermittent fault
Has your "other half" recently required expensive repairs? Even so, be advised that the expense of replacing an only occasionally malfunctioning "other half" is not likely to be cost effective. Swapping out your "other half" for the "other half" of another owner is certain to lead to even more trouble. This is true even if the swap is temporary and the previous owner assists you in the swap. This is because each "other half" adapts itself to the vehicle and owner in which it is installed. Newer "other half" models can indeed display an impressive ability to adjust to multiple new owners. However, the long-term adjustment to the present owner required of older models tends to make them self-repairing in ordinary use. So if you avoid heavy-duty use and stresses which exceed the design limits of your "other half", you will be rewarded with many miles of faithful service.
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 116
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
2015 C400 4Matic
I totally know what you are talking about!. at least glad that you didnt get hurt.
I was trying to read the manual for instructions about lifting the wiper blade so that i doesnt catch snow. but the last time i did that it auto retracts when i power the car on again. I did put them down before powering so nothing bad happened.
Does anyone have any smart way of lifting up the blades? following the manual is too tedious.
edit: according to the manual, I thnk i need to roll the stalk to solid dash, which is position 4, and press the power on and off repeatedly to catch the wiper standing up.
Am i understanding it wrong? or did i read the wrong section of manual/.
I was trying to read the manual for instructions about lifting the wiper blade so that i doesnt catch snow. but the last time i did that it auto retracts when i power the car on again. I did put them down before powering so nothing bad happened.
Does anyone have any smart way of lifting up the blades? following the manual is too tedious.
edit: according to the manual, I thnk i need to roll the stalk to solid dash, which is position 4, and press the power on and off repeatedly to catch the wiper standing up.
Am i understanding it wrong? or did i read the wrong section of manual/.
Last edited by utsenmo; Nov 25, 2014 at 08:15 PM.
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