E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

Headlamp washers?

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Old Feb 14, 2011 | 08:00 AM
  #1  
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Headlamp washers?

I am new to the W211 forum. I just traded in my 2008 C300 for a 2008 E350, so I have some questions, but I will start with this one.

I want to know if I have the headlamp washing system. I have the little triangular cutouts on the front bumper, but I do not have the seperate wash button that is next to the headlight control switch.

I went to the dealership yesterday (while they were closed) to look at some other E350's and there was one exactly like mine, 2008 E350, same color exterior and same color interior and it had the separate button to push for the headlamp washers. The build date on that car was 8/07 and my build date is 4/08.

I opened the hood (on my car) and looked down where the triangular cutouts are and I saw a hose connected to something down there on both sides, so I am ASSUMING that I have them. I was reading though that they were part of the P2 package which I do not have. I have the P1 package.

I know if I really wanted to know for sure if I had them that I could go out and turn the lights on and press the windshield washer 5 times like it says in my manual, but I just had the car washed and waxed and I dont want to get all that spray all over everything

I will test it the next time that it rains for sure, but just wanted to know if anyone else had a 2008 E350 that does not have the P2 package and does not have the seperate button to push, but actually does have the headlamp washers. Plus why would you have the triangular cutouts on the front bumper if you did not have the wash system? I have seen some E350's without the triangular cutouts, so they definitely would not have the system.
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Old Feb 14, 2011 | 04:42 PM
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If you have the system installed you would have a button below your headlight switch on your dash!
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Old Feb 14, 2011 | 05:30 PM
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2008 E350 4matic; 1986 500SL
I have the washer system but don't have the switch by the lights...build date 11/08. It came as part of P2. I think MB eliminated the switch at the lights in MY2007. One way to check is it should squirt the headlights on your fifth attempt at cleaning the windsheild. You can see the spray from dirvers seat.
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Old Feb 14, 2011 | 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by BlueOpal
I have the washer system but don't have the switch by the lights...build date 11/08. It came as part of P2. I think MB eliminated the switch at the lights in MY2007. One way to check is it should squirt the headlights on your fifth attempt at cleaning the windsheild. You can see the spray from dirvers seat.
I'm gonna test it out as soon as it rains which isnt supposed to be until Sunday I think. I just dont want to get my clean car all wet with that windshield washer spray. I'll let you know what happens.
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Old Feb 14, 2011 | 07:11 PM
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for 07+ cars, washers come with the free sport package. before they would only come with BiXenons which actually was a nice way of seeing if a car had BiXenons.

With MY2008, the button was removed. i believe ever 5 swipes of the wipers, the washers shoot on the headlights.

Last edited by gaazmon; Feb 14, 2011 at 07:15 PM.
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Old Feb 14, 2011 | 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by gaazmon
for 07+ cars, washers come with the free sport package. before they would only come with BiXenons which actually was a nice way of seeing if a car had BiXenons.

With MY2008, the button was removed. i believe ever 5 swipes of the wipers, the washers shoot on the headlights.
Ok, now you've got me excited. I do have the sport package. Its gonna be hard to wait until it rains to test this. Doesn't take much to amuse me
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Old Feb 15, 2011 | 04:11 AM
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Originally Posted by johnlk25
Ok, now you've got me excited. I do have the sport package. Its gonna be hard to wait until it rains to test this. Doesn't take much to amuse me
lol, ya the button was funny. used to mess with my friends sometimes with it lol

the way you know you have P2 is if you BiXenon and KeylessGo
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Old Feb 15, 2011 | 09:32 AM
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headlight washer doesn't come default. u need to get it installed first.
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Old Feb 15, 2011 | 07:32 PM
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on mine, 2009 e550, the headlight washers are activated every third or fourth time the windshield washer is activated
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Old Feb 15, 2011 | 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by DrDrilZ
on mine, 2009 e550, the headlight washers are activated every third or fourth time the windshield washer is activated
Question is: Is this really necessary or does it make more sense to have the button and you can control the amount of cleanings?
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Old Feb 15, 2011 | 07:36 PM
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Has someone retrofitted the OEM system?
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Old Feb 15, 2011 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Mackhack
Question is: Is this really necessary or does it make more sense to have the button and you can control the amount of cleanings?
i would rather have a separate button to wash the headlights. the headlight washers spray everywhere getting more than just the headlights. i forgot to add that the headlight washers only activate when the headlights are on.
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Old Feb 15, 2011 | 09:41 PM
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Originally Posted by DrDrilZ
i would rather have a separate button to wash the headlights. the headlight washers spray everywhere getting more than just the headlights. i forgot to add that the headlight washers only activate when the headlights are on.
I would rather have the button too. It doesnt make much sense to have to spray your windshield 4 or 5 times just to get your headlamps sprayed once. But hey, I'm not even sure if I even have the headlamp sprayers yet because I have not tested it. I will find out this weekend though.
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Old Feb 15, 2011 | 11:45 PM
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saves money on having 2 different molds for headlight switch and saves money a extra part for a button. doesn't seem like much, but just think how many cars they produce around the world

i think the old benzes with the wipers on the headlights were like this too. every so many windshield wiper swipes and it would swipe the headlights
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 08:32 PM
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Ok, I still have not tested it for sure (still waiting for this weekend to test it) but I just looked at the data sheet for my car (also known as the build sheet) from the factory and it has an SA code of 600 and the description of the code is "headlamps-cleaning equipment".

I also have the original window sticker and nowhere does it say headlamp washers on it, either as part of a package or a stand alone option.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 10:37 AM
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I have the washers(with the push button) and never use them. They completely trash the front half of the vehicle and I think are one of the poorest designs MB has ever come up with.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:55 AM
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For what it is worth, I have a MY2008 E350 with P2 and the sport package and I have the washers with the separate button on the lower left of the steering column.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill RHIT
For what it is worth, I have a MY2008 E350 with P2 and the sport package and I have the washers with the separate button on the lower left of the steering column.
May I ask what your cars build date is? I'm guessing that it is an earlier build date (prior to 4/08 anyway). My build date is 4/08 and I dont have the button.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 07:05 PM
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Car was built 7/07.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:25 PM
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08 on comes w/ sport package, no button. if headlamps on and you WASH windshield 5x, headlights will be washed on 5th time...not just wiping, only comes on if washing.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by srosenman
08 on comes w/ sport package, no button. if headlamps on and you WASH windshield 5x, headlights will be washed on 5th time...not just wiping, only comes on if washing.
k i wasn't sure if it was wipe or wash
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Old Feb 19, 2011 | 01:44 PM
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Just wanted to let eveyone know that I just tested it and I do have the headlamp washers even though I do not have the button or even though I do not have the P2 package.

So those who say that you have to have the button or that you have to have the P2 package or Bi-Xenon headlights are incorrect.

All I have is the P1 package and the sport package. Mine in a MY08, so thats all that I can speak for. Maybe it was different in anything prior to MY08 or after MY08.

I figured that I had to have them since I have the triangular cutouts on the front bumper........why else would the cutouts be there.

I had to push the windshield wash button 5 times and then the headlamp washers came on. Not only could I see the spray come from the front of the car, but I could hear them opening up and closing too.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 12:47 AM
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Originally Posted by johnlk25
Just wanted to let eveyone know that I just tested it and I do have the headlamp washers even though I do not have the button or even though I do not have the P2 package.

So those who say that you have to have the button or that you have to have the P2 package or Bi-Xenon headlights are incorrect.

All I have is the P1 package and the sport package. Mine in a MY08, so thats all that I can speak for. Maybe it was different in anything prior to MY08 or after MY08.

I figured that I had to have them since I have the triangular cutouts on the front bumper........why else would the cutouts be there.

I had to push the windshield wash button 5 times and then the headlamp washers came on. Not only could I see the spray come from the front of the car, but I could hear them opening up and closing too.
It was an individual option on 2007+ cars. It is usually listed on the window sticker as an option but I can't recall the price for it. If you had P2, it would be bundled in with that. Since you don't, you should see a price for it.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Polar Bear
It was an individual option on 2007+ cars. It is usually listed on the window sticker as an option but I can't recall the price for it. If you had P2, it would be bundled in with that. Since you don't, you should see a price for it.
I have the original window sticker and it is not listed as an option. It must have been included as part of a package and the only packages that I have are the P1 and the sport package, but even under the description of those 2 packages, it does not specifically say that headlamp washers are included.
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Old Feb 25, 2011 | 07:55 PM
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They do look like crap after using them at speed. It looks like your car has been crying and has makeup running back onto the hood.
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