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+1 for SprayWay - I use it on the ceramic tint inside when/if I get smudges. It's even rec. by name by Cardinal glass for my 2x insulated home windows with UV coating.
I don't use anything on the outside MB glass x/c Aquapel and my car soap (Adams). No issues with wipers skipping, but, they are not the best for sure. They just work acceptably. I just replaced blades with new OE rubber as the wear indicator decal said to change them out (10 months since new).
I had a Lexus back in '07 that had the best wipers I ever used on a vehicle.... wish they all could be that smooth. My GLE is def. better than my SuperDuty LOL..... but yeah, they could be better when you look at other makes.
I was talking to one of my salespeople today and in the background I heard terrible wiper chatter. I made a comment about it, and her response was "the wipers on this car are terrible". Guess what she drives? A Mercedes CLS.
These are a couple pictures of water beading on a completely clean windshield with no treatments whatsoever
I would not use ANY coating, and this is the glass cleaner I found that works well:
To those using abrasives like Bon-Ami (?) or Barkeeper's, they are pretty aggressive and irreversible, so I'd recommend Glass Cleaning Clay as a first step.
Those cleaners will not hurt the glass. You can clean glass with steel wool actuallty.
I can't explain why there are reports of skipping from some, and reports of no skipping from others.
Why some and not others? What's the difference?
Its alignment of the blades, and the blades even when aligned are very particular to what is on the windshield, so its what people are using on their windshields, or what their carwashes etc are using.
Using Bon-Ami, Barkeeper's or other abrasive polish or steel wool is a gamble IMO. Stacked against your windshield.
I certainly wouldn't use any of those on my cell phone glass, and Gorilla Glass is twice the hardness of a windshield.
Yes, steel wool is softer than glass, but did you ever get a paper cut? And yes, you can scratch your windshield with a plastic razor blade.
If you're considering using abrasives or steel wool on a $2,000 windshield, you might experiment on your $1,000 phone.
I think you'll wish you hadn't.
If you think you need more than a good cleaning, start with glass clay.
Always start with the least aggressive solution so you don't make it worse. Glass or paint.
Detailers have been using all of those things on glass for decades, myself included. Why do you think you can scrape glass with a razor blade? Its very hard. Of course you can scratch it, you just have to use common sense. You don't use Steel Wool or an abrasive cleaner dry, you use lots of water, etc. I've cleaned dozens of windshields with bon ami and steel wool and have never scratched a single one. If you want to feel better about it, use a glass polish with cerum oxide, but its essentially the same thing, an abrasive cleanser that removes impurities from the glass.
In fact, BMW directs the use of Bon Ami in a TSB for chattering wipers:
SUBJECT:
Windshield Wipers Are Noisy Or Do Not Clean Properly
MODELS:
All
Situation:
Windshield wiper blades may start to make noise, or fail to clean the windshield properly, even though the blades are not worn and are properly adjusted.
This can be caused by contaminants on the glass, such as oily road deposits or wax residues from car washes. These contaminants can cause the blades to chatter across the glass or fail to wipe cleanly.
Correction:
Common contaminants that are not removed by conventional glass cleaner can be cleaned with Bon Ami(R), a household cleaning product.
The cleaner should be applied on a wet cloth or sponge and the windshield must be thoroughly and evenly scrubbed. Wipe off residue with a clean,dry cloth before the product dries on the glass.
Warranty Status:
Information only.
If you want a good glass polish, this one is very good:
Detailers have been using all of those things on glass for decades, myself included. Why do you think you can scrape glass with a razor blade? Its very hard. Of course you can scratch it, you just have to use common sense. You don't use Steel Wool or an abrasive cleaner dry, you use lots of water, etc. I've cleaned dozens of windshields with bon ami and steel wool and have never scratched a single one. If you want to feel better about it, use a glass polish with cerum oxide, but its essentially the same thing, an abrasive cleanser that removes impurities from the glass.
In fact, BMW directs the use of Bon Ami in a TSB for chattering wipers:
That TSB is from 1990. That was also when they provided a wiper optimizer (cleaner) through parts departments - lots of complaints about wipers 33 years ago. I still have some of those wipes.
BMW has learned not to use abrasives since then. Even than, BonAmi was only a Last Resort, as the (outdated) TSB says. And they say to do the entire windshield, since the abraded parts will be apparent.
Regarding Detailers using Bon Ami and steel wool on glass, not on MY glass.
They use shortcuts like you mention to Get It Out The Door and move on. Get another Detailer.
You cannot manage the cutting edges of steel wool whether it's 0 or 0000 cut. They CAN and DO scratch your windshield. Eventually you'll see the swirl marks, especially at night with oncoming glare.
I ask again - would you try those abrasives on your (harder than windshield glass) phone screen?
Another comment: You said your Tech said "They're all like that." That's a completely unacceptable response. It's just saying "I don't want to spend the time," or "You haven't convinced me there's a problem." Try a more responsive shop.
Maybe you could learn from the folks who don't have problems instead of dismissing them as idiots of Fanboys.
That TSB is from 1990. That was also when they provided a wiper optimizer (cleaner) through parts departments - lots of complaints about wipers 33 years ago. I still have some of those wipes.
BMW has learned not to use abrasives since then. Even than, BonAmi was only a Last Resort, as the (outdated) TSB says. And they say to do the entire windshield, since the abraded parts will be apparent.
1994, glass is glass. Bon Ami works fine.
Regarding Detailers using Bon Ami and steel wool on glass, not on MY glass.
They use shortcuts like you mention to Get It Out The Door and move on. Get another Detailer.
I was a detailer lol. Many quality detailers use Bon Ami and steel wool on windshields. We didnt use to have the kinds of glass polishes we have today so that was all there was to use.
You cannot manage the cutting edges of steel wool whether it's 0 or 0000 cut. They CAN and DO scratch your windshield. Eventually you'll see the swirl marks, especially at night with oncoming glare.
You dont do any of this on a regular basis, there is no eventually". This is to be used when you have an issue with contaminated glass, not a regular cleaning regimen.
I ask again - would you try those abrasives on your (harder than windshield glass) phone screen?
No but only because phone glass has a coating on it that is oleophobic and anti-fingerprint, which harsh cleaners like that will remove or degrade. If it was just bare glass, yes I would.
Another comment: You said your Tech said "They're all like that." That's a completely unacceptable response. It's just saying "I don't want to spend the time," or "You haven't convinced me there's a problem." Try a more responsive shop.
When did I say my tech said "they are all like that"? This is what I said:
Originally Posted by SW20S
Was chatting with my MB mechanic about this. Its the way the wipers are adjusted. They are VERY sensitive to adjustment and the process to adjust them is almost comical, requiring dedicated tools etc. Some come adjusted properly, some don't. Some dealers can adjust them, many can't.
Maybe you could learn from the folks who don't have problems instead of dismissing them as idiots of Fanboys.
Im not dismissing people who dont have problems as fanboys, I am dismissing you as a fanboy because you try and gaslight everybody into believing things that are clearly widespread issues aren't. I have outlined extensively here how I overcame my skipping issues including providing links to the products that I used. People who just dont have the issue have properly adjusted blades and they dont have products used on the windshield that create this issue. What is there to be learned? Sadly, people have tried to get this issue addressed and the dealer is unable to solve it because adjusting the blades properly is difficult and even when adjusted they are unusually sensitive to products used on the windshield.
Mercedes wipers are sensitive and finicky and are too prone to skipping, other manufacturers dont have this issue to this level. Bottom line. Why does this trigger you so? Mercedes does some things incredibly well, others not so...wipers they don't do very well.
While I try and say I’ve seen it all—especially on car forums—this place brought something new to me. I’ve never seen someone so blindly defensive about negative comments towards a manufacturer. Defensive in the sense that they’re outright hostile like I’ve just insulted their mothers. It’s mind to boggling to me unless they’re getting paid by said company or are outright trolls.
1994, glass is glass. Bon Ami works fine.
I was a detailer lol. Many quality detailers use Bon Ami and steel wool on windshields. We didnt use to have the kinds of glass polishes we have today so that was all there was to use.
Bottom line. Why does this trigger you so? Mercedes does some things incredibly well, others not so...wipers they don't do very well.
I don't argue with people's actual presented problems.
But I DO take exception to products and procedures that might do harm.
If you said the solution to oil leaks was to drain the oil, you'd be correct, but I'd post my thoughts.
Your glass procedures? I commented.
You've backpedaled on many of your statements when presented with facts. As above.
You wouldn't be my detailer. I vet the products they use.
Nobody in my former shop would use those things without full disclosure and signed release.
Bottom line - We disagree on glass care. You call me names.
Anybody without a wiper problem is a Fanboy.
You treat actual knowledge as a threat to something.
You should stop.
SUBJECT:
Windshield Wipers Are Noisy Or Do Not Clean Properly
MODELS:
All
Situation:
Windshield wiper blades may start to make noise, or fail to clean the windshield properly, even though the blades are not worn and are properly adjusted.
This can be caused by contaminants on the glass, such as oily road deposits or wax residues from car washes. These contaminants can cause the blades to chatter across the glass or fail to wipe cleanly.
Correction:
Common contaminants that are not removed by conventional glass cleaner can be cleaned with Bon Ami(R), a household cleaning product.
The cleaner should be applied on a wet cloth or sponge and the windshield must be thoroughly and evenly scrubbed. Wipe off residue with a clean,dry cloth before the product dries on the glass.
Warranty Status:
Information only.
You aren't worth this amount of energy, onto my ignore list you go where I have a feeling you exist already for most posters...
You aren't worth this amount of energy, onto my ignore list you go where I have a feeling you exist already for most posters...
You are correct about the one you posted.
There was an earlier one in 1990, and I think one in 87 or so. I remember it because Dealers wouldn't perform the BonAmi trick without the signed release I mentioned above.
Thanks for your ignore.
I would not use steel wool to clean windshields. As you use steel wool, tiny bits of the steel break off. If you don't get it all properly rinsed off, those bits of steel will rust and stain surfaces. Maybe bronze wool would be better?
8706937]I would not use steel wool to clean windshields. As you use steel wool, tiny bits of the steel break off. If you don't get it all properly rinsed off, those bits of steel will rust and stain surfaces. Maybe bronze wool would be better?
0000 Steel wool has been used to clean heavily contaminated windshields for a very long time. You just obviously make sure you rinse it off extremely well. Glass is not abrasive either, so you’re not scrubbing hard and spreading a lot of metal particles everywhere.
To be clear that’s not a regular cleaning protocol. That’s for heavily contaminated glass.
One good thing you can do is clay bar the windscreen using car wash. This will remove any ingrained grit and make the sweep of your wiper blades much smoother and they will last much longer. I've added probably 50% or more time I get out of my blades by doing this every few months. Takes 3 minutes.
Last edited by BlackML550; Apr 10, 2023 at 05:39 PM.
So I gave Bosch wiper a try (only one from this brand that fit GLE), and it looks almost identical with the Mercedes one, but without the noise (from the few rainy days I have in the past week). The part number from Bosch is 3397014832 for the front pair.
So I gave Bosch wiper a try (only one from this brand that fit GLE), and it looks almost identical with the Mercedes one, but without the noise (from the few rainy days I have in the past week). The part number from Bosch is 3397014832 for the front pair.
Mine chatter on the downward motion. Did yours do the same?
Mine chatter on the downward motion. Did yours do the same?
It does on the Mercedes wiper. On the Bosch one, so far, it is quiet. But its only been a few rainy days on it, so will probably need more time to test it.
It does on the Mercedes wiper. On the Bosch one, so far, it is quiet. But its only been a few rainy days on it, so will probably need more time to test it.
So I gave Bosch wiper a try (only one from this brand that fit GLE), and it looks almost identical with the Mercedes one, but without the noise (from the few rainy days I have in the past week). The part number from Bosch is 3397014832 for the front pair.
I don't believe so. The magic vision, as far as I am aware, has special arm which contains tubes for the fluid, so I don't believe you can purchase it outside of Mercedes.
Sadly I replaced my magic vision wipers on my S560 which I had gotten to stop chattering, and the new ones chatter. I drove our Pacifica on a trip this weekend and driving back in the heavy rain today I commented to my wife how FAR superior the lowly Chrysler's wipers are to Mercedes.
I kept the old worn set in case this happened and I'm about to put them back on. $250 for such garbage is offensive, IMO.
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