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There are some comment/opinions about Rain X in this thread.
Rain-X is THE superior product for wind shield for fast highway speeds. It DOES NOT WORH BELOW 50 mph speed.
BUT, At speeds above 50 mph it is better than any wipers you can have. The problem is if you need to use wipers with Rain-X on your glass it will wear it off very quickly and cause streaks to the glass.
Yes, Rain X will wear out, just like wax on your paint job, but still it improves visibility a lot. How well air speed will move the water is combination of speed, windshield angle and car aerodynamics.
I have another products that acts the same. On boat I used Formula 303 on everything and it did repel water on windshield. Could not tell much difference from Rain-X
Lately I bought ceramic coating for paint job on my MB and it does windshield as well.
Does the 2016 W212 not have some sort of proprietary connection that makes sourcing aftermarket blades difficult? My 2014 W204 blades always chattered. I tried everything. The dealer also tried everything. As I get ready to take delivery of a 2016 E350 this is the part I am dreading... the first rain. I really hope it's not like the W204, but to me the wipers look the same.
No worries. The OEM blades work without chattering on my 2016 W212.
Does the 2016 W212 not have some sort of proprietary connection that makes sourcing aftermarket blades difficult?
The 2019 does a proprietary connector. It looks like Bosch makes something compatible. I want to upgrade because the stock wipers are awful in wet snow, but from experience not sure the Bosch is any better.
Updating this - as I anticipated, the wipers on my 2016 suck as they do on all modern Benz cars. I use only summerfit OEM washer fluid, my windshield has been stripped/clayed/polished - you name it. OEM wipers just suck. Bosch Icons don't seem any better. But I have found some that seem promising so far:
And they're just $20 shipped. They look pretty close to the OEM blades, so it maintains the factory appearance as well. These are quieter and smoother so far than the 5 month old OEM blades my car has on (the wear indicator is still green) that have chattered and squeaked since the day they were put on. These are not completely silent but I don't think silent is possible with modern Mercedes. It must be the windshields.
Funny, I never had any issues with the Bosch (OEM) blades. They work great, no squeak or chatter. I live in FL, so it rains A LOT many months of the year, typically during the afternoon rush hour drive throughout the summer.
I can't imagine trying to clean a windshield with a razor blade... But I don't think it would help. My recent loaners - a 2019 GLC300 and 2019 E450 wagon - both had the same chatter. As did my 2014 C350 and a new S550 on the lot, as was demonstrated to me to prove that there was nothing they can do.
Funny, I never had any issues with the Bosch (OEM) blades. They work great, no squeak or chatter. I live in FL, so it rains A LOT many months of the year, typically during the afternoon rush hour drive throughout the summer.
My W212 was a Florida car as well. After moving to N. Texas, two years later I have ZERO issues with wiper blade squeak or chatter. Hmmmmm...
It's weird how some members report no issues, but it is widespread across the brand. I have yet to have a loaner that doesn't do it in the past 8 years or so and no suggested blade or remedy has ever worked on my cars. I've tried them all. Stripped windshields, silicone blades, sealed windshields, clay bar, arm angle adjustments, random aftermarket blades, nothing has ever worked. This is Mercedes #3 with these terrible wipers. Only my W203 and W211 had good ones. I would think it was somehow my fault if every loaner (and there have been many) didn't do it as well.
Recently during the ceramic coat process on my W212, we sealed the windshield with griot's garage glass sealant and the car has the aeroblade AEM wipers. No rain yet but fingers crossed this is at least acceptable and passengers stop saying "why are the wipers so noisy?"
Only my W203 and W211 had good ones. I would think it was somehow my fault if every loaner (and there have been many) didn't do it as well.
Your W203 wipers worked so well because -- like my W203 -- they use the traditional, old school metal sprung wiper arms. None of this plastic "aero" crap. I have considerable experience working with plastics from an earlier hobby. I've never had any confidence that the plastic arms could create the even pressure needed to yield a decent wipe.
I have a set of the old arms from my W203 sitting around here. I saved them because of that nifty aero wing attached to the driver's side arm, Next time I change the blades on the W212, if they start to chatter, I will buy some replacement rubber inserts for the old blades and go that route. Problem solved. (Future problem, that is)
Your W203 wipers worked so well because -- like my W203 -- they use the traditional, old school metal sprung wiper arms. None of this plastic "aero" crap. I have considerable experience working with plastics from an earlier hobby. I've never had any confidence that the plastic arms could create the even pressure needed to yield a decent wipe.
I have a set of the old arms from my W203 sitting around here. I saved them because of that nifty aero wing attached to the driver's side arm, Next time I change the blades on the W212, if they start to chatter, I will buy some replacement rubber inserts for the old blades and go that route. Problem solved. (Future problem, that is)
Actually no, my W203 was a 2005 and it had aeroblades from the factory. All later W203s did - I think starting with the "2004.5" model. The W211 did as well as a 2009. For whatever reason back then, these worked. The W203 and W211 I believe had Solextra glass. I know the W203 did. Maybe that was the difference?
Going to borrow someone else's photo - but this is what my W203's wiper setup looked like.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; May 16, 2020 at 05:04 PM.
Actually no, my W203 was a 2005 and it had aeroblades from the factory. All later W203s did - I think starting with the "2004.5" model. The W211 did as well as a 2009. For whatever reason back then, these worked. The W203 and W211 I believe had Solextra glass. I know the W203 did. Maybe that was the difference?
Going to borrow someone else's photo - but this is what my W203's wiper setup looked like.
Yes my C240 was a 2001 and the wipers and arms were the older style, they did not look like those, you said you did the wiper arm angle adjustment on your 212 and it didn't help?
I did my wife's car with an angle gauge, vice grip with rag and a torpedo level and it got much better, they don't chatter anymore. I do have to fill almost empty washer fluid tanks every other Saturday especially in the winter, I go through eight gallons per car per year about.
Last edited by pierrejoliat; May 17, 2020 at 06:00 PM.
Yes my C240 was a 2001 and the wipers and arms were the older style, they did not look like those, you said you did the wiper arm angle adjustment on your 212 and it didn't help?
I did my wife's car with an angle gauge, vice grip with rag and a torpedo level and it got much better, they don't chatter anymore. I do have to fill almost empty washer fluid tanks every other Saturday especially in the winter, I go through eight gallons per car per year about.
The arm adjustment was done by the dealer and nope, no help. Maybe I need to play around with it like you did?
The glass sealant has made it worse. Stripping that off tomorrow.
Funny you mention that about the washer fluid - the 212 seems to have the smallest reservoir of any of my previous cars. From completely empty it won’t hold even 1 full gallon. The older ones did.
The arm adjustment was done by the dealer and nope, no help. Maybe I need to play around with it like you did?
The glass sealant has made it worse. Stripping that off tomorrow.
Funny you mention that about the washer fluid - the 212 seems to have the smallest reservoir of any of my previous cars. From completely empty it won’t hold even 1 full gallon. The older ones did.
Yes, all three of my S classes had 2 gallon tanks with two washer pumps, they all had headlight washers so did the SL500, the 93 had wipers too. I remember the C240 and E320 having big tanks too, but it's been awhile.
I wax usually once a month, I use Meguiars Ultimate liquid on the gray car and Meguiars Ultimate paste on the blue car because the liquid is super fast and easy, but leaves streaks on dark colors, I don't actually wax the glass but wipe it all down with the wax removal towel as I'm removing it so it does bead up, but I found waxing it seems to make the wipers "stutter" more.
My grey car had the squeaky wipers from the beginning,The blue car was fine since new so I thought it had to be possible to fix even though the dealer tried three times to no avail. So after I saw Konigstiger's post, I tried to adjust them without the actual Mercedes jig, I found when I got the top position into spec, the rest position was off, so I adjusted that then moved back to the raised position and it was off again, I went back and forth on the driver's side like 5-6 times until I finally got both positions in spec, the passenger side took almost as many tries. They are way better, but it took like three or four hours and patience is not one of my strengths.
Also I think it was my 2002 E320 that had the single wiper system, It was designed by an engineer from Saudi Arabia or Palm Springs CA. somewhere it never rained. it wiped in a "W' pattern and was a disaster, new blade every 3-4 months. I would rather forget that nightmare. I think my daughter's/Mom's 1991 190E had that setup as well.
Last edited by pierrejoliat; May 19, 2020 at 08:28 AM.
Yes, all three of my S classes had 2 gallon tanks with two washer pumps, they all had headlight washers so did the SL500, the 93 had wipers too. I remember the C240 and E320 having big tanks too, but it's been awhile.
I wax usually once a month, I use Meguiars Ultimate liquid on the gray car and Meguiars Ultimate paste on the blue car because the liquid is super fast and easy, but leaves streaks on dark colors, I don't actually wax the glass but wipe it all down with the wax removal towel as I'm removing it so it does bead up, but I found waxing it seems to make the wipers "stutter" more.
My grey car had the squeaky wipers from the beginning,The blue car was fine since new so I thought it had to be possible to fix even though the dealer tried three times to no avail. So after I saw Konigstiger's post, I tried to adjust them without the actual Mercedes jig, I found when I got the top position into spec, the rest position was off, so I adjusted that then moved back to the raised position and it was off again, I went back and forth on the driver's side like 5-6 times until I finally got both positions in spec, the passenger side took almost as many tries. They are way better, but it took like three or four hours and patience is not one of my strengths.
Also I think it was my 2002 E320 that had the single wiper system, It was designed by an engineer from Saudi Arabia or Palm Springs CA. somewhere it never rained. it wiped in a "W' pattern and was a disaster, new blade every 3-4 months. I would rather forget that nightmare. I think my daughter's/Mom's 1991 190E had that setup as well.
My E350 is now ceramic coated, but not the glass. I decided to use griots garage glass sealant on the windshield and that has been a huge mistake.
Do you happen to remember where Konigstiger’s post was? Searching for wiper issues on MBWorld is overwhelming with all the problems the cars have now with wipers.
I will be happy to try the patience and hours of labor to get better results. It’s unacceptable that Mercedes - known for over engineering to the point of absurdity - somehow cannot engineer a wiper system that will work smoothly.
Well my windshield got cracked today.. so I guess we will see how a new windshield works. My insurance company wants me to use Safelite and I am terrified.
Well my windshield got cracked today.. so I guess we will see how a new windshield works. My insurance company wants me to use Safelite and I am terrified.
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Damn... Sorry to hear that, sometimes life is two steps forward, one step back. I had to lease a Lexus '13 RX350 because my Father-in-law could not get in and out of my wife's S500, He came to a nursing home to live a few miles from our house so my wife could take care of him. he was wheelchair bound and we needed a way to get him to dinner ,doctors appointments Etc. We put two windshields in it and a third when the second cracked by itself after two weeks, what a battle. You can specify a manufacturer, but may have to pay the difference between Safellite generic and OEM. I didn't care about the Lexus so whatever was good.Surprisingly it's the only windshield I ever had to replace.
I haven't tried it yet, but NU-Finish is supposed to work well on the squeeks. It's not a wax or contains no wax, it's a polish, so it doesn't get all sticky and crappy. Cleaning the glass with alcohol can help. BonAmi was a product created for GM to clean the windshield by removing all the oils and grime. All these products are non abrasive and will not harm the windshield, but the windshield has to be cleaned or eventually whatever wiper you install will squeak.
LILBENZ, I'm sorry to hear the Griot's Garage glass sealant didn't work for you which is what I use now. Try getting PIAA silicone blades and if these doesn't work for you I really don't know what will. I've had mostly Honda/Acura cars which never had this problem before getting my first Benz which was a 2001 SLK 320 which I got brand new! I couldn't believe this was happening! CLK 500, C350 and E350 after that were all doing this. The PIAA silicone blades solved this problem for me. Good luck!
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