headlamp washer without the separate button next to headlight switch?
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W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
headlamp washer without the separate button next to headlight switch?
I've noticed a couple of W211s , such as this one, that have the headlamp washers (see the front bumper), but are missing the separate button to activate them manually that is usually next to the headlight switch. Can anyone explain to me the differences?
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I've noticed a couple of W211s , such as this one, that have the headlamp washers (see the front bumper), but are missing the separate button to activate them manually that is usually next to the headlight switch. Can anyone explain to me the differences?
This may have been only on cars built for the North American market.
Cost cutting? maybe.
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From: The Great Pacific NW
2008 Mercedes Benz E63 AMG, 2017 Porsche Macan S
This was an "enhancement" made to MY 08- W211 vehicles - the headlamp wash button was removed, and the headlamps are washed when the windshield washers are used. There is some logic to prevent the headlamps from being washed too often.
This may have been only on cars built for the North American market.
Cost cutting? maybe.
This may have been only on cars built for the North American market.
Cost cutting? maybe.
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2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
sounds like the old school system with the headlight wipers where when you turn on the wipers for the windshield, the headlamp wipers come on as well.
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From: South Africa, Centurion
W211 E200 Kompressor
The wash button was indeed cut from the last model year(s) of the W211. Our 2009 model does not the button, whereas the 2004 model has this (both fitted with xenon lights). IT has to be remembered that the headlight wash system is only provided in conjuntion with the xenon lighting, and may explain why some models does not have the button apart from it being a 2009 or possibly 2008 model.
The convenient auto wash (every 3rd wash cycle of the main windscreen triggers the washing of the headlights) feature was already present in the early model years, thus in my opinion this deletion was surely a cost cutting issue. I don't see the "improvement" of removing the option of when you want to wash your headlights?
The convenient auto wash (every 3rd wash cycle of the main windscreen triggers the washing of the headlights) feature was already present in the early model years, thus in my opinion this deletion was surely a cost cutting issue. I don't see the "improvement" of removing the option of when you want to wash your headlights?
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The wash button was indeed cut from the last model year(s) of the W211. Our 2009 model does not the button, whereas the 2004 model has this (both fitted with xenon lights). IT has to be remembered that the headlight wash system is only provided in conjuntion with the xenon lighting, and may explain why some models does not have the button apart from it being a 2009 or possibly 2008 model.
The convenient auto wash (every 3rd wash cycle of the main windscreen triggers the washing of the headlights) feature was already present in the early model years, thus in my opinion this deletion was surely a cost cutting issue. I don't see the "improvement" of removing the option of when you want to wash your headlights?
The convenient auto wash (every 3rd wash cycle of the main windscreen triggers the washing of the headlights) feature was already present in the early model years, thus in my opinion this deletion was surely a cost cutting issue. I don't see the "improvement" of removing the option of when you want to wash your headlights?
i never use it. i rather have that clean bumper look. actually though, when shopping for a car (04 or 05), i really wanted the BiXenon, so it was nice knowing that if it had washers, it had the xenon (from online pics).
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Thanks for the info. I, too, have been using the presence of headlamp washers to indicate the presence of xenons in my search for a bluetech. I had been going by the general rule that if it had those washers, i could assume it also had Xenons, however after talking to a few dealers, I've found that is not always the case.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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2018 E400 4matic Wagon
Strange. I have an '08 (March 2008 build date) with Xenons, no wash button.
Also, the headlamp washers will only work when the engine is running. I think this is so that they don't splatter the inside of your garage in case you happen to use the windshield washers with the ignition in the "accessory" position while parked inside. The assumption seems to be that if the engine is running, the car's outside.
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Strange. I have an '08 (March 2008 build date) with Xenons, no wash button.
Also, the headlamp washers will only work when the engine is running. I think this is so that they don't splatter the inside of your garage in case you happen to use the windshield washers with the ignition in the "accessory" position while parked inside. The assumption seems to be that if the engine is running, the car's outside.
Also, the headlamp washers will only work when the engine is running. I think this is so that they don't splatter the inside of your garage in case you happen to use the windshield washers with the ignition in the "accessory" position while parked inside. The assumption seems to be that if the engine is running, the car's outside.
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W221 S600, W220 S55 AMG Kompressor, W124 300E, W140 S320, W210 E3204M W164 ML320 Bluetec
Thanks for the info. I, too, have been using the presence of headlamp washers to indicate the presence of xenons in my search for a bluetech. I had been going by the general rule that if it had those washers, i could assume it also had Xenons, however after talking to a few dealers, I've found that is not always the case.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
yes, even with 06, if you have "sport" package, you get washer but no BiXenon. I don't understand what the h*ll is the point of this. I liked it before when if it had washers, it had HIDs (made it easier to find the car you want). Other european cars were the same: BMW, Porsche, Audi.
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From: VA
W212 E-class, W211 E-class, F10 5-Series
Hey guys I stumbled upon this thread searching for an answer. I am currently in the market for an '08-'09 E550 and wanted to the headlight washer feature. But the inclusion/non-inclusion of the switch is confusing. I know for MY09 it was completely eliminated, but it seems that for MY03-08 it was hit or miss as far as being standard/included, depending on the package or stand-alone option on your vehicle.
I have seen W211's without xenon, with the washing system; I have seen W211's with xenon with the separate button; and I have seen W211's with xenon without the button. Up until now, like many of you, it was my assumption that if it had the washer system/cutouts, then it has xenon lights---which made car shopping much easier and quicker (all you had to do was glance at the front bumper).
Then, when I found out that wasn't the case, I then used the "it-must have-P2-package test", as bi-xenon is included in Premium II package. So when I would look at interior pics of cars online, if I saw the headlight washer button, it meant that the car had xenon, which meant that it also had P2 and Keyless Go. For MY09 cars I was looking at, I had to do a lot more scrutinizing of pics of the vehicle because I knew the switch wasn't an indicator. So I either had to look for the Keyless Go on the shifter (which most dealers don't include close-up shots of) or either look for the little black buttons on the door handles (almost impossible to see from the angle of the pics, especially if the car was black or grey or blue).
I test drove a fully loaded 2008 E550 (with AMG sport pkg and Parktronic and Panoramic roof and Premium 2 package) last week with the washer button. But this morning I came across something weird and perplexing; it was pretty much the same exact car...BUT it did not have the washer button next to the headlight switch!! Now I knew this was true of the 09's, but an '08?? My first thought was that it was special ordered with headlight washer "delete". Then I looked at the front and it had xenon AND the cutouts. So my assumption was that Mercedes decided to omit the switch in '07 (which would affect the 2008 production dates, but was too late for the MY07 & MY08 vehicles already produced in 2007)...and since the '09s use the same layout, they probably just went ahead and begun implementing the design change halfway thru MY08 since they already had the parts fabricated.
This is a bummer because I really like the color of the new one I saw this morning white on beige/black leather, plus it has ALL of the options...but I wanted the independence of being able to initiate the headlight washers at my convenience, not on a scheduled cycle :-(
What I do know is (thanks to my friend who was born and raised in Germany): any and all cars manufactured there (or imported there) that have xenon headlights must have headlight washers and some type of auto-leaving system. This is part of the German DOT law or whatever, so that the headlights are properly cleaned (dirt/snow particles on the lens can scatter the xenon beam and unleveled xenon lights are improperly aimed, which would blind oncoming drivers). That explains why most Cadillac, Lincoln, Chrysler, Acura, Lexus, Infiniti xenon lights look so much more intense and brighter and blinding sometimes; is because American and Japanese law doesn't require leveling systems or washers. And that would explain why you see American or Japanese cars to be imported to Germany retrofitted with headlamp washers and leveling systems.
I have seen W211's without xenon, with the washing system; I have seen W211's with xenon with the separate button; and I have seen W211's with xenon without the button. Up until now, like many of you, it was my assumption that if it had the washer system/cutouts, then it has xenon lights---which made car shopping much easier and quicker (all you had to do was glance at the front bumper).
Then, when I found out that wasn't the case, I then used the "it-must have-P2-package test", as bi-xenon is included in Premium II package. So when I would look at interior pics of cars online, if I saw the headlight washer button, it meant that the car had xenon, which meant that it also had P2 and Keyless Go. For MY09 cars I was looking at, I had to do a lot more scrutinizing of pics of the vehicle because I knew the switch wasn't an indicator. So I either had to look for the Keyless Go on the shifter (which most dealers don't include close-up shots of) or either look for the little black buttons on the door handles (almost impossible to see from the angle of the pics, especially if the car was black or grey or blue).
I test drove a fully loaded 2008 E550 (with AMG sport pkg and Parktronic and Panoramic roof and Premium 2 package) last week with the washer button. But this morning I came across something weird and perplexing; it was pretty much the same exact car...BUT it did not have the washer button next to the headlight switch!! Now I knew this was true of the 09's, but an '08?? My first thought was that it was special ordered with headlight washer "delete". Then I looked at the front and it had xenon AND the cutouts. So my assumption was that Mercedes decided to omit the switch in '07 (which would affect the 2008 production dates, but was too late for the MY07 & MY08 vehicles already produced in 2007)...and since the '09s use the same layout, they probably just went ahead and begun implementing the design change halfway thru MY08 since they already had the parts fabricated.
This is a bummer because I really like the color of the new one I saw this morning white on beige/black leather, plus it has ALL of the options...but I wanted the independence of being able to initiate the headlight washers at my convenience, not on a scheduled cycle :-(
What I do know is (thanks to my friend who was born and raised in Germany): any and all cars manufactured there (or imported there) that have xenon headlights must have headlight washers and some type of auto-leaving system. This is part of the German DOT law or whatever, so that the headlights are properly cleaned (dirt/snow particles on the lens can scatter the xenon beam and unleveled xenon lights are improperly aimed, which would blind oncoming drivers). That explains why most Cadillac, Lincoln, Chrysler, Acura, Lexus, Infiniti xenon lights look so much more intense and brighter and blinding sometimes; is because American and Japanese law doesn't require leveling systems or washers. And that would explain why you see American or Japanese cars to be imported to Germany retrofitted with headlamp washers and leveling systems.
Last edited by tresean1; Jun 28, 2012 at 10:07 AM.
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I am also looking at W211 models, but in diesel configuration. I found a few 2008 models with xenon lights and headlight washers, but no "sneeze button."
I found this thread to answer my question about what happened to the button. It appears as if Mercedes went back to their roots when they got rid of the button.
On W140, W126, and W124 models with headlight wipers, they would only activate if you used the windshield washer while the headlights were on.
On the W211 without the sneeze button, I'd imagine that the headlight washers are activated when the headlights are on and the windshield washer is summoned. But I could be wrong.
It looks like that button was on the earlier models to convince people that they do in fact work... just press the button. It may have been a marketing/focus group thing. I'm glad Mercedes did away with the button on the later models.
I found this thread to answer my question about what happened to the button. It appears as if Mercedes went back to their roots when they got rid of the button.
On W140, W126, and W124 models with headlight wipers, they would only activate if you used the windshield washer while the headlights were on.
On the W211 without the sneeze button, I'd imagine that the headlight washers are activated when the headlights are on and the windshield washer is summoned. But I could be wrong.
It looks like that button was on the earlier models to convince people that they do in fact work... just press the button. It may have been a marketing/focus group thing. I'm glad Mercedes did away with the button on the later models.
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From: Long Island, New York
2018 E400 4matic Wagon
Yes, either every 5th or 7th time. I thought there was something wrong with mine when I tried testing it. BTW, mine is a 2008 US-spec and no button. Also, I think when the car is in park, they won't spray regardless of what the count is. I guess they don't want you to make a mess in your garage.
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From: Austin, TX
2016 E400, 2015 GLK 350
Yes, either every 5th or 7th time. I thought there was something wrong with mine when I tried testing it. BTW, mine is a 2008 US-spec and no button. Also, I think when the car is in park, they won't spray regardless of what the count is. I guess they don't want you to make a mess in your garage.
