I have 30K on my 2011 E550.

Lately, I am seeing the wear, its leaving a streak and now really causing an embarrassing sound while wiping. Thinking of replacing them.

Question: Get MB OEM wipers ($$$$) or after market? If later, which ones are recommended?

Thanks!

 

I have tried several aftermarket and MB wipers on my E550.

The MB wipers are definitely the best I have used in 48k miles. They have the most consistent wipe and last at least 6 mos. Others made uneven contact with the windshield and did not give a clear view. Go to the dealer and buy the MB wipers. Seem to be more expensive online.

Just be sure you get the correct part number (put them on in the dealer parking lot - mine has given me the wrong ones on two different occasions)!

 

I'd vote for OEM too, they are pretty darn good, only have replaced mine once is 30K miles.......well, 29,9XX LOL........

I clean my windshield a lot too, and give the blades a wipe every other time or so.....

good luck

 

Yeah, that is a good idea, I need to remember to do that myself.

 

I would stick to OEM as well. I wish R231's power wash wipers could fit in these cars lol

 

OEM please! I just replaced mine with aftermarket from Advance Auto Parts. They sux! Spend the $60 at the dealer. It's worth it.

 

+1 for OEM (or Bosch in an OEM box lol). Future part number reference: 212-820-17-45.

 

Well,
That makes it very clear. OEM it is then. Thanks everyone that guided me on this. Your opinion means a lot.

 

stupid question , are both driver's and passenger's the same 24" or one is 26" ? reason why i'm asking is some sites said 24" but some said 26" and even some said both fit. i'm confused .

 

I am going for my 30K and that is why I popped the original question. I am just going to tell my adviser to add wiper blades replacement to my job. Don't want to fool with the guesswork. Thanks everyone for the advise.

 

hmmm, I wonder if our cars we're built on the same time table....
I have just made it to 30 too, well, 29,xxx.......
it's been a fun journey......and now my car is orange lol

 

it's included in the 30k service. but doesn't hurt to tell them. we all know they are not the smartest people in the world .

 

Regarding the life of OEM wiper blades as cited from my dealer. Keep in mind I live in a southern state...

Dealer says, don't use commercial windshield washer fluid as it contains alcohol and that will damage the rubber compounds in the wiper blades. The fluid dispenser system in our W212's are heated so we don't need the alcohol.

Now that being said, I don't know what would keep the washer fluid bottle from freezing solid over night for those owners in say Green Bay, Minneapolis or Boston. I did not inquire about that detail since I won't see those temps.

I have not had to replace the wiper blades in the first 30k miles of ownership. Perhaps it is the lack of alcohol in my washer fluid that contributes to the life span of these wiper blades. I will replace the blades with the OEM since their life and performance seems the best I have experienced.

 

MB has a winter blend washer fluid concentrate.
Mike T.

 

There you go. I bet if I lived in those climes, I would always be forgetting to get the washer fluid changed in time.

 

Both driver and passenger are same length = 24 inches. The MB part comes as a set (about $49 from my dealer), so you do not have to worry about separate sizes. If you buy aftermarket, get 2 of the 24 inch blades.

 

Wonder what the MB washer fluid contains to keep it from freezing? I would bet alcohol.

To my understanding only the water spray nozzles are heated. This is necessary because the alcohol in the fluid can evaporate at the open end of the nozzle and so allow the fluid to freeze in the nozzle. I don't think the tank and certainly not the plastic tubin from the pump is heated. At winter time fluid with chemistry to prevent freezing is necessary and that chemistry just happens to be alcohol in most cases.

If MB wiper blades get damaged by the alcohol then it is better to change them to another brand that does not.

 

thanks for the verification !