Wipers that work - is there such a thing?

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: svhanc
Try Rain-X windshield washer fluid.
At highway speeds I usually don't even use the windshield wipers.


I use regular Rain-X as much as possible, and you're right, when I have a good coat applied I don't need the wipers, but that stuff is a bear to apply in the winter...

 

[typ901]

Originally Posted By: rjacket
Always been impressed with Mercedes ability at speed.


How is that A7 at speed? And I agree, I really enjoy my M-B on the highway in particular. Couple that with a 21 gallon fuel tank and you have a great highway cruiser

 

[Nick R]

For those who don't know what the spoilers we are talking about look like.

 

[hattaresguy]

Nah those are little ones, you should see them on the W140.

The wipers will work as fast as you dear drive in the rain. Knowing Mercedes OCD engineering I bet they would work to the S600's 180mph unrestricted top speed if anyone dared try it.

If your having lift at only 75...well its just a low speed car, drive slower.

 

[dparm]

Wiper systems are rarely designed by the manufacturer. Bosch, Valeo, Nippon Wiper Blade, etc typically handle the arms and motors.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: typ901
Funny thing though my '01 M-B works better with traditional wiper style versus beam blades, some people say it is also the shape of the windshield.


Agreed. The old Audi had to have the traditional wiper style, or I'd have problems. My old F-150 and my G - you can throw anything on them and there aren't any issues. It just seems to depend on the car - springs can be worn or not strong enough to begin with, bad angles, bad windshield shape, you name it.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Nah those are little ones, you should see them on the W140.

The wipers will work as fast as you dear drive in the rain. Knowing Mercedes OCD engineering I bet they would work to the S600's 180mph unrestricted top speed if anyone dared try it.

If your having lift at only 75...well its just a low speed car, drive slower.


So my only options are either buy a Mecedes or slow down? I knew I could count on you guys for a solution....

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: dparm
RainX and similar treatments will ruin your night visibility. It turns water droplets into mini-prisms that will blind you.


I have used it for years (whomever came up with their de-icer washer fluid should get a Nobel Prie) and this is most emphatically NOT true!

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Originally Posted By: dparm
RainX and similar treatments will ruin your night visibility. It turns water droplets into mini-prisms that will blind you.


I have used it for years (whomever came up with their de-icer washer fluid should get a Nobel Prie) and this is most emphatically NOT true!


I haven't had any issues either.

Then again, I've never had wipers lift off the glass.

 

[Kestas]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Wiper systems are rarely designed by the manufacturer. Bosch, Valeo, Nippon Wiper Blade, etc typically handle the arms and motors.

But they're still made to manufacturer's specs, performance, and quality requirements.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Nah those are little ones, you should see them on the W140.

The wipers will work as fast as you dear drive in the rain. Knowing Mercedes OCD engineering I bet they would work to the S600's 180mph unrestricted top speed if anyone dared try it.

If your having lift at only 75...well its just a low speed car, drive slower.


So my only options are either buy a Mecedes or slow down? I knew I could count on you guys for a solution....


You could buy a BMW or a Audi too, you HAVE options

LOL!!

 

[nleksan]

I just replaced the wipers on my 325i, and I ordered the Bosch Icons because they perform as well as stock but look cleaner.

Man, was I Shocked when they showed up and they had the same spoiler that the "traditional" OEM blades did!

There is nothing brand-specific about the spoiler, just order some BMW/Benz wipers and you are set.

Thsy are good for at least 125mph. Or, uh, so I hear...

 

[hardcore302]

Use rain x

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: dparm
Wiper systems are rarely designed by the manufacturer. Bosch, Valeo, Nippon Wiper Blade, etc typically handle the arms and motors.

But they're still made to manufacturer's specs, performance, and quality requirements.



Yes, to some degree. If the arms are lifting from the windshield, it's likely a combination of two things: a lack of proper downforce on the arms (spoilers can help, different arm design, etc) and probably an aesthetic/styling decision by the car company for a certain windshield and hood shape (bad aerodynamics).

Either way, stuff like that shouldn't really happen.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Nah those are little ones, you should see them on the W140.

The wipers will work as fast as you dear drive in the rain. Knowing Mercedes OCD engineering I bet they would work to the S600's 180mph unrestricted top speed if anyone dared try it.

If your having lift at only 75...well its just a low speed car, drive slower.


So my only options are either buy a Mecedes or slow down? I knew I could count on you guys for a solution....


Well I guess you could buy a BMW or Audi...

How about a small V6 Mercedes, you really don't have to get the V12!

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: grampi
So my only options are either buy a Mecedes or slow down? I knew I could count on you guys for a solution....


Well, those are two options, but there are others. Rain-X has been suggested. Some hate it, some love it. I love it, but that's just me. You won't know into which camp you fall until you try it.

The other option is to keep experimenting with blades. I did have that issue with my old LTD (although it couldn't reach 75 mph with the 2.3L), and had to experiment with blades. For it, I had the best success with the Motorcraft ones, but even they were far from perfect.

Like I said, some cars don't work well with the new beam style. My Audi had issues with every single brand of them that I tried.

Unfortunately, wiper blades, for the most part, are a very universal part, needing to do the same type of job under wildly varying circumstances of windshield size and shape and wiper arm geometry and strength, not to mention driving conditions.

 

[nleksan]

Rain-X worked like magic for me, I did not even have to use my wipers above 45mph! And then I tried driving at night...it was not raining but visibility was destroyed. Any light, no matter how big or small, "bloomed" and made it impossible to see a single thing.

I removed it the next day, IPA and then Griot's glass cleaner, and I have never touched the stuff since.

Bosch Icon are the lowest profile, most aerodynamic option under $100/blade... For $30-40 you can get a pair for your car online. They also don't streak, even after tens of thousands of miles.
What a lot of people do not realize is that wiper blades need to be cleaned and conditioned, just like door seals.
I personally use a rubber and silicone cleaner on the blades every time I wash (detail... I never just "wash") a car, and 4-6x/yr I use a silicone and rubber conditioner letting it soak in for an hour then wipe off any excess. I also keep the arms lubricated, and WD40 on springs and metal to prevent rust, and I do that once a season.

The stuff I use is designed for wipers and door seals, but I have used Meg's Rubber&Vinyl Protectant as well as their Rubber Conditioner on the blades, and they work and don't streak the windshield but idk how they hold up longterm.
As for RainX Wipers, I may have just had a bad pair, but they were shot within 7.5k miles... Not a fan.

 

[grampi]

Garak

If you're talking about Rain-X washer fluid, that's not gonna do anything for wipers that don't stay in contact with the windshield, if you're talking about the wipe-on stuff, I already use it.

nleksan

I have absolutely love the wipe on Rain-x, but I have no use for the washer fluid...

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: grampi
If you're talking about Rain-X washer fluid, that's not gonna do anything for wipers that don't stay in contact with the windshield, if you're talking about the wipe-on stuff, I already use it.


No, I'm talking about the stuff you already use. So, that point is already moot.

The washer fluid would actually do something - just make a bigger mess.

If the springs on the arms are weak, one could either replace the arms or try helper springs. In my experience, the arms from the OEM, if available, are superior to most jobber ones you'll find and may be worse that what you already have.

 

[rjacket]

Originally Posted By: typ901
Originally Posted By: rjacket
Always been impressed with Mercedes ability at speed.


How is that A7 at speed? And I agree, I really enjoy my M-B on the highway in particular. Couple that with a 21 gallon fuel tank and you have a great highway cruiser


Almost as quiet as the LS but not as good a ride for long highway trips. A7 is for the scenic and more challenging routes. LS for the long and straight interstates.