Wiper blades

[craigb]

My experience on W108's is that the original wiper blades with the stainless strips work better than aftermarket ones grafted on. Having just driven home in the rain for the first time after a night meeting, my W116 blades are pretty average. Did these originally have the stainless strips (1980)? The wrecks I have seen none of them have had it. What about the Bosch ones at Autohaus? Anyone used them? The photos show it like the whole wiper assembly but they look dark and not like the brushed or anodised finish on my original ones.

[Big_Richard]

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[MB_Mike]

My euro 280SE came to me with the strips in the wiper blade insert (read: one wiper insert had the strip, as I purchased quite the jalopy).

I ordered the inserts from Autohaus and it was just the rubber, no stainless strip. The wiper blade assembly from Bosch are just your typical auto part store replacements which I think are much too common for our 116s.

I was able to find the proper metal wiper blade assembly parts (blade, rubber, strips) through a foreign auto parts/service shop here in the U.S. for $75 USD 

[craigb]

thanks Patrick, that was my intention to use the whole assembly, because I think that is the main problem with using normal ones in the benz ones because not supported.

It probably shouldn't matter but I agree with Mike that if these Bosch ones are black they will look a bit 'substandard' but any other comments or suppliers appreciated. Anyone have a set of the strips on a wreck and want to sell them? I can get the rubbers from the stealership no probs.

[koan]

The Bosch wipe blade replacements I've bought from local suppliers had the pair of metal strips.

koan

[craigb]

Thanks Koan, which suppliers are local to you? Postage can't be much on such an item. The stealership told me that they had only ever sold the strips as part of the whole assembly head, but even these were no longer available. But if you have suppliers that have other old stock or suppliers to them that would be great.

[koan]

Thanks Koan, which suppliers are local to you? Postage can't be much on such an item. The stealership told me that they had only ever sold the strips as part of the whole assembly head, but even these were no longer available. But if you have suppliers that have other old stock or suppliers to them that would be great.

I think my last set came from Bursons, I'll check them out, I'll find a set somewhere.

Just measured them, one is around 470 mm, the other around 440 mm, that's the metal carrier, it's not just a bit of excess rubber sticking out.

Is that what you are after?

Read a post on the different lengths recently, is it normal or has some one done a "job" on them?

If it is correct which side should the long one be?

koan

[koan]

I've checked out the local suppliers for wiper blades with metal strips, no good.

Also spoke to someone in the know, he supplies the plain rubber rubbers as opposed to the current Bosch type which have the metal strip molded in.. I must have bought plain rubber and used my original metal strips.

He confirmed 116 have different length blades, the long one on the drivers side.

koan

[craigb]

Thanks for the update Koan. I have since learnt that the drivers one is 19 inch and passenger 18. At about $80 a pair locally, i was happy to pay $12 to autohaus and got them to chuck a few pairs in with my last order. Those little bits aren't worth the freight, but if you are getting other things or putting together an order with mates, it quickly becomes worth it. But the metal strips are a bit of a problem. I saw some trico blades for about $10 with metal strips in them but I haven't been back to compare them with the 108 metal strips I have (which I assume are the same size as the 116 I have never seen but shorter) The trico strips are long enough, just a matter if the metal is the same sort of size. Thanks for the reminder, will go and put them in the car now and try tomorrow and report back.

[craigb]

Once I got my 108 strips out, I knew these trico ones would be too narrow - assume 108 and 116 same material but shorter. I measure the strips to be 4mm wide by .07mm thick and they appear to be stainless. So coming from rebuilding a rare vintage car, if you can't find one, make it!

I rang around and found a place that will produce me 18 and 19 inch strips in hard stainless for about $1.50 each for an order of 100. So I am thinking that is only 25 sets. I can't imagine postage would be that much if anyone wants some.

Also, obviously the price is cheaper if you order more. I can source a set on long term loan from Andreas until i find some on a wreck, so I am not personally desperate for them right now. But if the stealership and every other part supplier I have asked doesnt have them, maybe there are more of you that want them? In the past I have done this sort of thing when having Amilcar parts made and have had others willing to 'invest' and share the cost. If there was say 5 other people who wanted to chuck $25 at a few sets, I will get them made and can always pass my spare sets on later if others are looking for them. The demand might be way higher, and I can order appropriately, but it is not really a consumable so you probably only want one spare set sitting in the shed just in case (unless like me you have 7 Benzes sitting in the shed!).

I suppose I could contact parts suppliers to see if they want them, but I don't really want to get into the 'little thin strips of metal distribution business'!!  Also, there might be enough interest locally in your area to put together an order and I imagine most manufacturers will be about the same. I used a spring manufacturer for the quote. Thinking about it, if I mention it at the SA MB club, there may be enough for an order there alone.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.