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Wiper Blade Gap solution?

Started by Diesel 617, 04 May 2017, 09:42 AM

Diesel 617

Has anyone come up with a way to eliminate the gap on the (us) passenger side wiper blade? The upper half of the blade makes no contact with the glass. I have tried the OEM blades and bosch; also tried bending the arm to allow for more pressure, it helped a little but still persist.

Any solutions out there? The oem blades look beautiful on the car, but driving viability is more important when those country down pours happen.
X3 1980 300SD Blown Heads, trans -Retired
1980 450SEL Parted out/Scrap
1980 450SEL to Diesel Parted Out/Scrap
1979 280SE Euro Spec Cloth Seats Sold
1979 300CD Daily Driver - Sold


Inventory of w116 Parts
[url="https://www.ebay.com/usr/vintagepartsandstuff"]https://www.ebay.com/usr/vintagepartsandstuff[/url]

UTn_boy

Are you certain that your windshield isn't concave in this area?  Some windshields weren't completely flat from new.
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

ptashek

Quote from: UTn_boy on 05 May 2017, 10:12 AM
Are you certain that your windshield isn't concave in this area?  Some windshields weren't completely flat from new.

I have the same problem. OEM blades, Bosch blades, any blade really.
One simply doesn't lay flat against the surface at the top ~40mm of the blade.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

floyd111

Lack of visibility freaks me out, especially in our type of traffic.
Would surely welcome anyone offering a solution.

UTn_boy

This is very baffling to me, as I've not ever had this problem on any W116 I've ever had or currently own, and none of my customers' cars have this issue, either.  I can't find any service bulletins about the problem, either.  Then again, neither myself or my customer drive their W116 in the rain anymore due to how rust prone the W116 chassis is.  I suppose the problem could be there and we just don't know about it. 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

w116john


i have seen w116 wipers for sale 2 x 18 inch and also 1x 18 and 1 x 16 inch. maybe 16 inch is a better fit on the passenger side?
on mine when in the resting position the passenger side 18 inch,  is off the glass about an inch but its not a problem at the top when in use.


ptashek

Quote from: w116john on 06 May 2017, 06:46 AM

i have seen w116 wipers for sale 2 x 18 inch and also 1x 18 and 1 x 16 inch. maybe 16 inch is a better fit on the passenger side?
on mine when in the resting position the passenger side 18 inch,  is off the glass about an inch but its not a problem at the top when in use.

I currently have a Bosch set installed, with the blades each of different length (and identical to OEM). Same thing.

One variable that's different for my car is the new OEM windshield. Bought at a dealership and branded with a Benz logo, but made by Pilkington. As a side note, they're no longer branded "Sekurit", even though​ Pilkington owns that name.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

floyd111

Maybe we should compare windscreen brands vs wiper kits, and see if the solution lies there?

johnnyw116

#8
Maybe we should compare windscreen brands vs wiper kits, and see if the solution lies there?
[/quote]

I know this is an older topic ,  i have the same wiper blade gap too with Bosch wipers and an pilkinton screen , but i saw on an german webshop this NOS SWF wiper blades , and  i noticed the shape of the short 450mm blade is a litlle bended and my Bosch blades are both straight , should this set eliminate the passenger side gap (LHD) ?



https://roland-merz-katalog.de/wischblaetter-satz-swf-117302,-mercedes
JohnnyW116

ptashek

That could very well be the reason why the Bosch units stick out. Nice find, too!
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

johnnyw116

#10
Quote from: ptashek on 28 January 2022, 11:55 AMThat could very well be the reason why the Bosch units stick out. Nice find, too!


I need a new set of wipers anyway so i ordered at Roland Merz a set of this SWF wipers so we shall see if its makes much difference 



a friend of mine had the same gap and he ordered this much cheaper aftermarket wipers : 
https://oldtimer-ersatzteile24.de/2-Silver-wiper-blades-for-Mercedes-W116-windscreen-wiper#tab-votes
they are not as goodlooking as the original wipers they have more an galvanized look but they cost only €20.- euro , but they wipe good and there is no gap anymore
JohnnyW116

Type17

Quote from: ptashek on 28 January 2022, 11:55 AMThat could very well be the reason why the Bosch units stick out. Nice find, too!
If you take apart the blade and take out the two metal strips from their slot in the rubber, you can re-shape them to have a gentle curve like the one in the pic above - drag them over a hard edge with a little pressure from a (gloved, to protect from friction) finger. Maybe practice on a spare wiper blade-strip to get the feel of it first.
'76 350SE in Silver-Green

johnnyw116

The SWF wipers i ordered and installed are an big improvement toward the old bosch wipers , the old wipers i also tried to bend them but they were also damaged someone did an terible job putting new inserts in the old wipers in the past (not me) so i am also certain that someone switched them with wipers with an even bigger gap   
JohnnyW116

Jan S

Thanks for bringing this subject up!

I checked my Bosch-wiper, it has a huge gap  :'(

Guess what I will be doing - SWF wipers for me  :)
1975-mod W116 450 SE with 6.9 engine