Windshield Wiper Chatter
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
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2017 E-Class
Windshield Wiper Chatter
Anyone had an issue with the Windshield Wiper chattering on the e300?
When driving in the rain, with wipers on, the windshield wiper makes unbearable chattering noise. Using the windshield washer fluid it makes it better for a minute or so but then it comes back in full force. I cleaned the Windshield and wipers, no difference.
Also, I did mention this to the Service Advisory and they told me they changed the wiper blade and adjusted/checked the angles of the blade and both are fine. It actual seemed to have made it worse, not better. I brought the car in again and mentioned it again to the Service Adviser and he told me that this is normal with the new wiper blades and I should clean the windshield with fine steel wool..... Really? That seems just wrong on multiple levels.
For a Mercedes Benz this is _very_ disappointing. My FIAT 500 that costs not even a fraction, does wipe the Windshield smooth and clean......
When driving in the rain, with wipers on, the windshield wiper makes unbearable chattering noise. Using the windshield washer fluid it makes it better for a minute or so but then it comes back in full force. I cleaned the Windshield and wipers, no difference.
Also, I did mention this to the Service Advisory and they told me they changed the wiper blade and adjusted/checked the angles of the blade and both are fine. It actual seemed to have made it worse, not better. I brought the car in again and mentioned it again to the Service Adviser and he told me that this is normal with the new wiper blades and I should clean the windshield with fine steel wool..... Really? That seems just wrong on multiple levels.
For a Mercedes Benz this is _very_ disappointing. My FIAT 500 that costs not even a fraction, does wipe the Windshield smooth and clean......
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From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
Anyone had an issue with the Windshield Wiper chattering on the e300?
When driving in the rain, with wipers on, the windshield wiper makes unbearable chattering noise. Using the windshield washer fluid it makes it better for a minute or so but then it comes back in full force. I cleaned the Windshield and wipers, no difference.
Also, I did mention this to the Service Advisory and they told me they changed the wiper blade and adjusted/checked the angles of the blade and both are fine. It actual seemed to have made it worse, not better. I brought the car in again and mentioned it again to the Service Adviser and he told me that this is normal with the new wiper blades and I should clean the windshield with fine steel wool..... Really? That seems just wrong on multiple levels.
For a Mercedes Benz this is _very_ disappointing. My FIAT 500 that costs not even a fraction, does wipe the Windshield smooth and clean......
When driving in the rain, with wipers on, the windshield wiper makes unbearable chattering noise. Using the windshield washer fluid it makes it better for a minute or so but then it comes back in full force. I cleaned the Windshield and wipers, no difference.
Also, I did mention this to the Service Advisory and they told me they changed the wiper blade and adjusted/checked the angles of the blade and both are fine. It actual seemed to have made it worse, not better. I brought the car in again and mentioned it again to the Service Adviser and he told me that this is normal with the new wiper blades and I should clean the windshield with fine steel wool..... Really? That seems just wrong on multiple levels.
For a Mercedes Benz this is _very_ disappointing. My FIAT 500 that costs not even a fraction, does wipe the Windshield smooth and clean......
I've used Girot's Garage Glass Polish with much success on past cars. This will remove surface deposits and make the glass incredibly smooth. The chatter will stop.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
This issue is widespread across many model lines and several years. My W204 has this issue, as did a loaner 2016 W212 and a loaner 2016 W205 (with 100 miles on the odometer). My service advisor showed me that even new W222s have the problem. If you search "mercedes wiper chatter" you'll get a ton of hits.
My dealer has tried everything. New blades, adjusting angles repeatedly, cleaning and using clay bar on the glass.. nothing works.
I personally believe it is the glass itself. If you get a cloth and wipe across the windshield in my car, there are spots of resistance even after the windshield was clayed.
My dealer has tried everything. New blades, adjusting angles repeatedly, cleaning and using clay bar on the glass.. nothing works.
I personally believe it is the glass itself. If you get a cloth and wipe across the windshield in my car, there are spots of resistance even after the windshield was clayed.
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Joined: Sep 2016
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2017 Mercedes E300 Luxury model
Windshield wiper blade chatter
In general the older type of blade frames with multiple attachments tend to have less chatter or no chatter at all. The newer blade frames with one attachement in the center tend to chatter. I tried the newer blade frames on one of my vehicles recently and it chattered so much I switched back the the old traditional style.
See attached photo of the older style.
My new 2017 E300 with the newer style blade frame does not chatter at all and works great.
See attached photo of the older style.
My new 2017 E300 with the newer style blade frame does not chatter at all and works great.
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Junior Member
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2017 Mercedes E300 Luxury model
Mercedes says don't use Rain X washer fluid if I recall reading somewhere. Theoretically, the original Rain X makes the glass smoother and logically less likely to make wipers chatter.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Mercedes recently issued a note saying not to use Rain-X or any sort of wax on the windshields. This came from my service advisor and she said the directive was recent and related to tons of complaints of chattering wipers. I think it is just a way to try to make excuses.. wax or no wax, my wipers suck.
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From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
My C 400's wipers chattered terribly after I applied Aquapel which is a semipermanent polymer similar to rain X. Think of it as rain X on steroids. It had never caused any problems with any of my previous vehicles. But it is simply completely incompatible with MB wipers/ glass. To remove it I had to buff it off with glass polish and a mechanical buffer. After buffing it off it still took about 6mths for it to completely weather away. My wipers are now back to normal. The moral of the story is simple, MB wipers are meant to work on plain glass, any sort of wax, hydrophobic polymer, etc., will make them chatter. Simply use soap and water. Don't forget, most automatic washers will spray some sort of wax as part of the washing process, avoid that too or make sure you use only the "base" program which doesn't include waxing. Is till use Aquapel on every other glass surface of the car it keeps them clean and beading for years. 
Member
Joined: Jul 2016
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From: CA, USA
E300 P03
I have no treatment on the windshield, the skipping and chattering was very pronounced. I brought the car in and asked for a new blade, the issue remains the same. I thought it was just my luck (MB has changed the center console, window trims, clock face, trunk closing button, repaired the light...) until now.
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From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
Mercedes benz uses the cheapest rubber they can buy for there wiper blades. Crap on crap out. Replace the rubber on your MB blades with Bosch icon blades. The chatter will stop. The MB wiper arms are fine it is just the cheap rubber they use.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Tried this, it did not work for my car. Not only that, but I can put the whole Icon assembly on my car and it has the same result.
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From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
Wow sorry You are the first I heard that it did not work. I will stop recommending it. Sorry thanks
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From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
I think its the glass itself, after my glass treatment issue all wiper blades I tried chattered.. Mine chattered so bad they on some sweeps they wouldn't sweep the entire windshield!
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Sometimes if the glass is actually too clean (all oils stripped away) this occurs...after several washes with a shampoo that contains wax may be enough to lubricate the glass enough to diminish the chatter by allowing the blades to glide across the glass vs grabbing against it. The constant use of wiper/washer fluid which has detergents can exacerbate this problem. There is also some glass wax/polish you can try but make sure it is not abrasive as MB glass is rather soft.
Last edited by RJC; Dec 20, 2016 at 12:46 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Dealership blamed wax for the chatter and stripped it to bare glass. This helped.. for a day. So far, no wax, wax, new wipers, Icons, adjusted blade angles.. still no luck.
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From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
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From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
Yup, something about a chemical in it that coats the sensor so it can't get a reading. Obviously rain X wiper blades (as I think you were suggesting) would not cause an issue with wiper fluid sensor.
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
I doubt there was any wax left on your windshield after the repeated windshield washer fluid usage.
