Distorted Defective Windshields on W221's
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Boston, MA
My ex-cars: 03 E55,04 C32, 05 C55 ,03 E320
Distorted Defective Windshields on W221's
Hello all,
I test drove a couple W221 S550s and I noticed that one of them has a weird distorted windshield.
When you are in the driver seat looking straight ahead, you will notice a very slight distorted image. Its almost like the glass is crooked....but when you inspect the windshield, it looks perfectly fine. Its like wearing glasses out of focus..
I told the sales guy but he said nothing is wrong and he couldnt see anything distorted. He said that it might be the design of the car to "deflect" sunlight...but I call BS...
I was wondering if anyone with W221s have had the same problems with their windshield glass.
I test drove a couple W221 S550s and I noticed that one of them has a weird distorted windshield.
When you are in the driver seat looking straight ahead, you will notice a very slight distorted image. Its almost like the glass is crooked....but when you inspect the windshield, it looks perfectly fine. Its like wearing glasses out of focus..
I told the sales guy but he said nothing is wrong and he couldnt see anything distorted. He said that it might be the design of the car to "deflect" sunlight...but I call BS...
I was wondering if anyone with W221s have had the same problems with their windshield glass.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: US-Philadelphia
SL600
Saw the same issue when test driving one last weekend. I have also seen this in some American cars. For an American car I suppose a defective windshield is par for the course, but on a Benz?!?!? Very strange.
I do not believe it has anything to do with deflection or glare reduction, I believe they had to shape the glass to fit the shape of the winshield frame. It appears that there is a slight "bend" in the glass.
The salesperson tried to tell me it was the infra-red glass, but I have a GL450 with that feature and see no such distortion.
I do not believe it has anything to do with deflection or glare reduction, I believe they had to shape the glass to fit the shape of the winshield frame. It appears that there is a slight "bend" in the glass.
The salesperson tried to tell me it was the infra-red glass, but I have a GL450 with that feature and see no such distortion.
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223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
I have not noticed this on my car (it has the IR reflecting windshield). Is it something really minor that you do no notice if not specifically looking at?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Boston, MA
My ex-cars: 03 E55,04 C32, 05 C55 ,03 E320
Well I see the distortion looking straight ahead eye level, so yeah you couldnt miss it. I got dizzy after the test drive, it was like "wearing glasses with the wrong perscription"
I did some googling and found that some other car manufacturers had this defect, but found nothing on a benz.
I did some googling and found that some other car manufacturers had this defect, but found nothing on a benz.
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2007 S600
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From: CA
2010 CL65
Driving my fourth new-gen CL and had S550 at its launch...never noticed a problem w/windshield of any of my copies...in fact, have been impressed by how well these windshields sustain impacts from rock chips, etc w/minimal damage....
Given how many OCD S-Class owners are on this Board would think more would have noticed/commented if these defects are indeed a prevalent issue....
Suspect any complex, high-tech glass has some finite defect rate......from what I understand, what makes new cars w/windshield defects essentially lemons is that it's impossible to replicate the robotic installation of a windshield in any post-factory replacement...sort of like how any paintwork/nanotech clearcoat work in any post-factory setting cannot duplicate the quality/precision of factory automation/robotics/advcd mfg tech....
Given how many OCD S-Class owners are on this Board would think more would have noticed/commented if these defects are indeed a prevalent issue....
Suspect any complex, high-tech glass has some finite defect rate......from what I understand, what makes new cars w/windshield defects essentially lemons is that it's impossible to replicate the robotic installation of a windshield in any post-factory replacement...sort of like how any paintwork/nanotech clearcoat work in any post-factory setting cannot duplicate the quality/precision of factory automation/robotics/advcd mfg tech....
