Windshield washer fluid question
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 394
From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
I think you can use any fluid. However, I have read issues with rainx fluid throwing off the empty sensors (but that may be on my Honda).
You could go buy your local dealer and have them fill it up as a courtesy if you have a relationship with them. One near me gives free car washes (for what they're worth) and fluid top offs for those who are in their system for services. Didn't purchase from them either.
You could go buy your local dealer and have them fill it up as a courtesy if you have a relationship with them. One near me gives free car washes (for what they're worth) and fluid top offs for those who are in their system for services. Didn't purchase from them either.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 76
From: Nyack, NY
C300 Sport 4Matic
I think you can use any fluid. However, I have read issues with rainx fluid throwing off the empty sensors (but that may be on my Honda).
You could go buy your local dealer and have them fill it up as a courtesy if you have a relationship with them. One near me gives free car washes (for what they're worth) and fluid top offs for those who are in their system for services. Didn't purchase from them either.
You could go buy your local dealer and have them fill it up as a courtesy if you have a relationship with them. One near me gives free car washes (for what they're worth) and fluid top offs for those who are in their system for services. Didn't purchase from them either.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 394
From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
The one MB dealer that is farther away from me only does washes for folks who purchase from them. But this other MB dealer opened up a couple of years ago and they are matching the benefits in order to get people loyal to that other dealer to come to them. I wouldn't say that's the norm.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 40
E 350
I have been using rainX (orange color) fluid for the last two and half years and never had a problem with them.
Yes my dealer does complimentary car wash for every service. Don't know about fluid top ups though.
Yes my dealer does complimentary car wash for every service. Don't know about fluid top ups though.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 293
2019 E300
My MB tech told me they had a lot of issues with windshield fluids damaging the washer fluid level sensor on certain model year of MB and it is not covered by warranty. He told me to use MB washer fluid or plain blue fluid with no additives.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 126
From: Central Coast, CA
2020 X7 xDrive40i, 2016 X3 sDrive28i
I've been filling with plan blue stuff from any car parts store or gas station. Never had any issue. I usually mix it 50/50 with water during the spring/summer/fall, and do pure blue stuff in the winter if I'm heading up north where it goes below freezing.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 2
2011 E350, 2007 CLK350
The one MB dealer that is farther away from me only does washes for folks who purchase from them. But this other MB dealer opened up a couple of years ago and they are matching the benefits in order to get people loyal to that other dealer to come to them. I wouldn't say that's the norm.
That's a smart dealership.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 216
Likes: 11
E350 Sport
Reply
I just picked up the rain x orange bottle today. Gonna see how that goes.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 507
Likes: 16
'11 E350BTC P2 Leather
It worked fine for a couple years, then I started getting a LOW FLUID warning even when the tank was full. I siphoned it out, use it in the other cars, and went back to the cheap blue stuff.
Thankfully, it did not damage the sensor inside the fluid reservoir.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 40
E 350
I am one who suffered from the orange Rain-X, which is the greatest washer fluid on earth. I loved it so much, I took a sharpie and wrote RAIN X ONLY on the blue filler cap, so the dealer would not fill with their regular blue stuff.
It worked fine for a couple years, then I started getting a LOW FLUID warning even when the tank was full. I siphoned it out, use it in the other cars, and went back to the cheap blue stuff.
Thankfully, it did not damage the sensor inside the fluid reservoir.
It worked fine for a couple years, then I started getting a LOW FLUID warning even when the tank was full. I siphoned it out, use it in the other cars, and went back to the cheap blue stuff.
Thankfully, it did not damage the sensor inside the fluid reservoir.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
Likes: 800
2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
I have used a variety in my Benz cars over the years and now stick to basic blue stuff or the concentrate.
Do not use bug wash. This will kill the pump. Been there, done that.
Do not use bug wash. This will kill the pump. Been there, done that.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 515
Likes: 99
From: Hudson Valley, NY
2012 E350
Am i the only one who thinks that we have to even ask a question about washer fluid is just a bit silly? I am not criticizing the OP or anyone else, but the owner's manual, or at least my owner's manual, doesn't make it any easier. I've been driving now for 40 years and I've been buying washed fluid for 40 years and until I bought a Benz and read the manual, I always simply bought whatever blue fluid was available and hopefully on sale, and I have never had a single failure of a washer pump in 40 years. I've had domestic, Japanese, and european cars before, but washer fluid issues?
