450 SE windsheild wipers - original colour & length?

[a5a1234]

Hello All,

A quick question about the original colour and length of the windsheild wiper blades on the 450SE (1973). I recently bought replacement rubbers to find that they are too long for the wiper blade. Then I measured the wiper blades on the car at less than 18 inches long, and noticed that the blades are black. According to the parts catalogue, the wiper blades should be 18 (right) and 19 (left) inches long, and (maybe) silver. I think the PO has replaced the wiper blade set. Would someone kindly confirm for me that the wiper blade assembly should be (i) silver in colour, and (ii) consist of a set - one 18" (R) and the second 19" (L) long?

Much appreciated. Thanks for your time,
Joe

 

[BAR]

I can't believe that you have all this trouble.

For peace of mind I always buy Mercedes Parts for the wipers.

They are as you have observed unequal in length.

If either blade is too long, it will clip the top of the windscreen.

Also the blades must have the rubber blade and a pair of metal reinforcing rods [one for each side].

The factory items are not too expensive and do work properly.

 

[a5a1234]

Thanks Bar, for your reply. I still don't know if I should be buying the 18" & 19" silver pair of wiper blades, or if the blades currently on the car (about 17.5" and black) are in fact correct, and I ordered the wrong rubber inserts? Anyone?

Thanks in advance,
Joe

 

[Lukas]

Hi a5a1234,

Don't know if I'm missing something or if there are differences between Canadian wiper blade refills and Australian ones, but when I recently replaced the wiper blades on the rusty 350 (before I knew it was rusty), all I did was:

1) Buy 2-pack of wiper refils from car parts store - lots of brands, lengths, sizes, colours and types available - for me:
Brand = cheapest
Length = longer than longest wiper on Merc
Size = whatever matched the end profile of the little H shaped black plastic backing of the previous / worn wiper blades
Colour = black or grey or whatever suits your mood
Type = cheapest (or get silicone or whatever suits your mood)

2) Cut each blade to length - instructions on the pack, in my case I just scored the back with a knife, then snapped the plastic backing, then cut teh bubber to the same length. when cutting to length, I left about 2cm / 1" extra on the end - can always trim later if it's too long.

3) Fit - slide plastic H backing around metal bits of wiper arm, metal clip last so that it clips on the end of the wiper arm furthest from the respective wiper motor.

4) Test - try wipers, if anything hits, slide wiper blade out, trim a little, put back in, test again.

Lukas

 

[Martin280s]

Isn't the extra length of the wiper blade rubber to be used on the headlight wipers (where fitted)? I know that's how we buy them in Brazil.

 

[a5a1234]

Thanks very much to all who have replied. My question was not meant to provoke a long discussion ,and I can certainly manage with the wipers as they are. But I was curious to learn how the wipers *should* be - that is, what was the car designed with, and shipped with - black, Bosch 17.5" L and R ( the current situation), or silver, Bosch 18" & 19"? I would like things to be close to original if possible. From the discussion so far, I am going with silver 18" and 19".

Thank you all,
Joe

 

[s class]

They certainly should be 'silver' - adonised aluminium - though very few 116's still have these. Most now have spares-shop generics.