Headlight wiper system question...
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 435
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From: Mizzou
1998 C43 AMG
Headlight wiper system question...
...Namely, how do you make those damn things work?!?! Is it in the turn signal stalk? I do not have the owner's manual for my '98 C43 but just saw something listed on autohausaz's website on a part listed as the directional stalk?
Also, is there a direct replacement wiper blade for them or do I have to fab my own?
Also, is there a direct replacement wiper blade for them or do I have to fab my own?
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
...Namely, how do you make those damn things work?!?! Is it in the turn signal stalk? I do not have the owner's manual for my '98 C43 but just saw something listed on autohausaz's website on a part listed as the directional stalk?
Also, is there a direct replacement wiper blade for them or do I have to fab my own?
Also, is there a direct replacement wiper blade for them or do I have to fab my own?
1.) Push the switch up (towards the roof) or down (towards the floor) to activate the turn signal like all other cars
2.) push the switch forward (towards the speedometer) to activate the brights, pull back (towards you) to flash the brights
3.) turn the switch (like all other wipers) to activate the wipers, there are 3 speed settings. If you have the rain sensing wipers (you will have a blue dot in the top/middle of your windshield) you can turn the switch once and it will activate the wipers automatically when it senses rain.
You can get OEM wiper blades but I use the rain X blades, just match the length and you should be fine.
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From: Chapel Hill, NC/Montreal, QC
1995 C36 AMG, 1998 C43 AMG
The switch is called the multifunction switch and is the same switch as the turn signal.
1.) Push the switch up (towards the roof) or down (towards the floor) to activate the turn signal like all other cars
2.) push the switch forward (towards the speedometer) to activate the brights, pull back (towards you) to flash the brights
3.) turn the switch (like all other wipers) to activate the wipers, there are 3 speed settings. If you have the rain sensing wipers (you will have a blue dot in the top/middle of your windshield) you can turn the switch once and it will activate the wipers automatically when it senses rain.
You can get OEM wiper blades but I use the rain X blades, just match the length and you should be fine.
1.) Push the switch up (towards the roof) or down (towards the floor) to activate the turn signal like all other cars
2.) push the switch forward (towards the speedometer) to activate the brights, pull back (towards you) to flash the brights
3.) turn the switch (like all other wipers) to activate the wipers, there are 3 speed settings. If you have the rain sensing wipers (you will have a blue dot in the top/middle of your windshield) you can turn the switch once and it will activate the wipers automatically when it senses rain.
You can get OEM wiper blades but I use the rain X blades, just match the length and you should be fine.
I will be VERY surprised if everything actually functions with them though... neither system on my 202s has worked properly
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From: South Florida
1998 C43, 2017 Honda Accord Sport
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
HAHAHAHA didn't see that this was about the headlight wipers, I thought it was an unusual question 
I don't have the head light wipers (nor do I want them) so I couldn't tell you how they work
sorry for the confusion.
I don't have the head light wipers (nor do I want them) so I couldn't tell you how they work
sorry for the confusion.
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From: Chapel Hill, NC/Montreal, QC
1995 C36 AMG, 1998 C43 AMG
right, they don't activate with the rain sensors, they only come on as a wash function when you activate the windshield washers. They do have wash nozzles though. The silver rod that the wiper blades are bolted onto are hollow and carry the fluid out to nozzles on the inside end of the arms
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
"T Rex" has them fitted and they work perfectly. They are mandatory here when you have Xenon lights and also the headlights self levelling system. That's why when you turn on the headlights you can clearly see them wink up and down (I call that "doing a curtsy") doing a self level check. They work (spray and wipe) when the headlights are on and the washers pressed to clean the screen and the lenses.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 435
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From: Mizzou
1998 C43 AMG
"T Rex" has them fitted and they work perfectly. They are mandatory here when you have Xenon lights and also the headlights self levelling system. That's why when you turn on the headlights you can clearly see them wink up and down (I call that "doing a curtsy") doing a self level check. They work (spray and wipe) when the headlights are on and the washers pressed to clean the screen and the lenses.
Yes, my car has the headlight washer/wiper system and it has self-leveling Xenon lights. I could not figure out how to work the headlight wipers until now!
Thanks for all the info, guys. Now I just have to go see if they work! 
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Hudson Valley, NY
2005 E55 Black, 2007 GL450 Carneol Red
Option Package C1 included: Xenon Headlights, Headlamp Wipers/Washers, and Rain Sensor; so the three options were usually together.
w202 Owner's Manual is available here:
http://kropf.net/w202/w202owners_manual.pdf
w202 Owner's Manual is available here:
http://kropf.net/w202/w202owners_manual.pdf
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 8
From: Mizzou
1998 C43 AMG
Kropf, thanks for the pdf manual, you da man! BTW, that's the exact option level I have. Like I said, I consider myself lucky since I didn't even know what was available for this car when it was produced. 
BTW, that's the exact option level I have. Like I said, I consider myself lucky since I didn't even know what was available for this car when it was produced.
