W204 Wiper 'dribble'

[c43]

Got a few issues with my car, a few of which appear to be fundamental and as such not fixable (according to my dealer). I am tempted to write a letter having a moan to MB, but wanted to see if others were having similar troubles.

One of the problems is 'wiper dribble' for want of a better description.

Every time I wash/wipe some water/wash collects around the far left tip of the drivers blade - this results in, over the next mile or so if doing more then 20 mph, a stream or dribble of water/wash mix up the windscreen, which needs a few more wiper passes to clear. If you don't clear it, then it dries and just creates a mucky looking mess from top to bottom in the passengers field of view.

My view is this is a design flaw either with the wiper or maybe the airflow around the car? Or maybe I am being picky? - no other car I have ever owned has done this (single or double wiper blade versions)

Is this common on other newer MB's (thinking the newer W204 'look' cars) or even anybody elses W204.

I can't believe it isn't more widespread - my dealer reckons 3 other customers are moaning as well...

 

[st13phil]

My W204 does exactly the same, but all it needs is the odd press on the washer button to get a single wipe over the next few seconds and it's gone.

Personally I think you're being a bit picky, especially when you notice how the side windows, rear windows and mirrors stay miraculously clear of rain water and road dirt. Oh, OK, maybe on that basis I should complain about it too. After all, they got it 99% right so how come they fouled up on the last 1%

 

[Rory]

It's probably one of those things that works perfectly on the LHD cars, but isn't quite right on RHD.

I don't think I'd ever see something like that as an issue though - I think all of our family cars do the same sort of thing and getting the last bits off the screen late enough that water won't reappear but not so late as it's dried, is a bit of a skill.

 

[whitenemesis]

Just like on the 203 front wiper will always leave a dribble that splashes up the centre of the screen, until you learn how many extra wipes are required.

Also the rear wiper (mines an estate!) will clear the window wonderfully only for the curtain of dribbles to ruin it as they descend from the top edge of the cleared section...