Wiper Identification

[perry113]

These are the wipers off of my 1965 230SL. I was under the impression they were original to one or of the 3 W113 models. Can anyone identify and verify if they are 230SL 250SL or 280SL OEM?

[perry113]

I am certain these wipers are original equipment on 250SL and  280SL. Does anyone have pictures of the earlier 230SL versions?
 

[mbzse]

Does anyone have pictures of the earlier 230SL versions

Certainly. This "sturdier" type was seen intermittent with the "skinnier" skeleton type illustrated in Perry´s posting on late 250 and all 280SL´s.
They were chromed on the 230SL; and later they were semi-matte on the 280SL. There were basically two manufacturers, Bosch and SWF.
/Hans in Sweden

[Tyler S]

The OE matte finish blades on w113's started after vin 2980 on 250sl's. The blades in the photo are not OE blades. The OE blades have the Bosch TM stamp but not the word "BOSCH" on them. The OE blades are also thinner on top then these. Here is a set of these pictured in this thread from Bud's on e-bay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-230SL-250SL-280SL-Wiper-Blade-Assembly-Brushed-aluminum-pair-/261189276224?hash=item3cd0181240:g:0eYAAMXQfFJRS6hU&vxp=mtr

[cabrioletturbo]

Hans

Thanks for posting. I have these rounder style ones on my 230. I do prefer them over the 'skeleton' type on the later cars.

Has anyone sourced the rounder wipers from any of the parts suppliers?

[mbzse]

.../...Here is a set of these pictured in this thread from Bud's on e-bay.../...

Those blade holders illustrated in your url link are not period correct for W113. Certainly they are Bosch, but a much later design.
/Hans in Sweden

[Tyler S]

Yes Hans, Noted that in my post. The ones pictured at the top of this thread are the same ones Bud' sells. They are not the correct ones but are very similar.

The blades in the photo are not OE blades

[mbzse]

Yes Hans, Noted that in my post.../...

I'm sorry, I guess I got confused there. I interpreted your writing: "The OE blades have.../..  The OE blades are.../...   Here is a set of these [Bud's eBay url]"
/Hans in Sweden

[Tyler S]

No worries! Sorry about my wording.

[mnahon]

The ones pictured at the top of this thread are the same ones Bud' sells.

I disagree with this---the ones at the top of this thread are pretty clearly different from Bud's. The Bud's blades have those oblong holes along the upper edge of the blade that are non-existent in perry113's blades. They also look 'thicker' to me, though only a side-by-side comparison would confirm that.

I think that perry113's blades are original 280SL blades. They look identical to a blade I have in an unopened box, with a 113 820 05 45 part number---see below. This blade, that I think is original has the word Bosch printed on one side, and the word Bosch and the Bosch logo on the other side.

Can you show some pictures of a a blade you believe is original, so we can see the difference ?

[Tyler S]

Meyer, I do agree with you that the OP's blades are not like Bud's. However I still think his and your blades were not OE on these cars. Original part number is 113-820-0045. These blades are NLA.
Part number 113-820-0545 which is what you have is used to replace the NLA blades. They are still available from mercedes. The part numbers being only 1 digit different but a change in appearance and addition of the "BOSCH" stamp and TM on the side instead of the TM alone on the top. OE blade pictured below and I am 100% sure it was on the car from the factory.
On another of Buds e-bay listings, he sells just the refills for the OE blades and explains you must have the original blades on the car. The photos in the listing are clearly what I have pictured below.. Here is the listing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-230SL-250SL-280SL-Wiper-Blade-Refills-/260711590942?vxp=mtr&hash=item3cb39f2c1e

[Mike K]

A few months ago I replaced my wiper blades and found Bosch replacements for about €11- a pair as opposed to the Mercedes ones for about €50- a pair.....

They are identical to the Mercedes Benz refills.

Have a look at this thread:
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=23299.msg166722#msg166722

[mnahon]

Hi Tyler,

The difference in part number and logo location is definitely interesting. The appearance is close to identical to perry113's blade though it's not clear from his pictures. I show a couple of pictures below of a '05 45' blade taken from the same vantage point as your pictures of the '00 45' blade. The shape is the same. The differences seem to me:
- location of the Bosch logo/name
- the black plastic inserts that were added where the upper part of the blade joins the crow's foot

Mike,

I agree that was a great find on your part for the inserts.

Meyer

[Tyler S]

Meyer, Yes there is no plastic part on the upper area. There is a small plastic wedge on the lower part where the tangs are bent over. Small design change.

[mnahon]

I was looking through one of these contraband parts catalogs---the one at http://www.iauto.lt/mercedes-benz/Car/280_SL_94 --- because I don't have access to the EPC, to figure out when the part numbers were changed.

In this catalog, it lists the following part numbers for wiper blades:
1138200145
superseded by
1138200345
superseded by
1138200545

It doesn't show when these changes were made. It also shows that same sequence for the 230SL and 250SL, so I'm guessing some of these were the earlier 'closed style' blades.

I was wondering if someone who has access to the EPC (or an old dealer parts catalog) could check to see if there is any more detail when these changes occurred.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

I like to just add..

If you want to be sure to get the right part like windshield wipers your best bet is to contact Tom at the Classic Center. I have been burned ordering small items like this. Received used and pitted items for four times the price ... Tom only needs your VIN number and will quote you a price for it.

Case in point: I needed a new chrome ring for my ignition barrel. I ordered one and paid $50.00 plus shipping and duty. When I got it it was all pitted and used. I mentioned this to Tom at the Classic Center when I ordered new control arm bushings. He shipped me a new one with my order of bushings and the new one was only $16.00

If any of you fellows need Tom's e-mail address I will find it fir you.

Dieter

[mnahon]

I've contacted the Classic Center, and they tell me they haven't had the wipers available for 9-10 years.

I guess this is why Buds is selling those sort-of-look-alikes.

Meyer

[w113abudhabi]

Can we just clarify something please. Were 113-8200-045 original equipment on all 280sl cars? I want to ensure that I use the closest possible available wiper to the original spec on my vehicle which is a 1970 280SL.

[Tyler S]

Anyone out there with A 1970 Body and Chassis spare parts catalogue?
Closest I have are a 1967 250SL and a 1968 280SL book. Both list wiper blades part #1138200045

[bogeyman]

My parts book is dated 1972 and lists part #113 820 04 45.

[Tyler S]

Thanks Rick, so we now know part number changes occurred in 69, 70, or 71. Question now is were there 3 changes in that time frame or just 1.

[mbzse]

The part numbers for the wiper blades as per the printed factory parts books:

Book 10126 "ed.C" printed Jan 1967  Type 230SL

A110 820 0145   (i.e. a Sedan number series item)
replaced with
A113 820 0045

Book 10202 "ed.C" printed Jan 1972  Type 250SL - 280SL

A113 820 0145
replaced at serial No 02790 with
A113 820 0345

/Hans in Sweden
.

[Tyler S]

Interresting. So it appears they borrowed the sedan part for a brief time when things changed to the matte finish. Then changed to its own new 113 designation part. Then changed back to sedan part but with a 113 header. Then changed again sometime before 1972. 4 changes in a 4 year period. No wonder we pull our hair out trying to make these original!

[perry113]

For reference The new number is 000-824-47-26.

I should be able to post photos of the latest versions early next week for the forum's review.

[mnahon]

The other thing that we don't really know is what each of these wipers looked like. We know that Tyler has one with logo-only on the top (are we certain that this is 113-820-00-45?) and we have the one that perry113 and I have, which is for sure a 113-820-05-45. I do think that these only differ from each other only slightly.

We don't really know what the 113-820-01-45 and 113-820-03-45 and possibly 113-820-04-45 looked like.

Since 113-820-05-45 was not mentioned in the 1972 catalog, it likely became the replacement part after end of production of the car.

I've received 2 answers from the classic center. One says that no replacement has been available for 9-10 years, and Tom said since more than 20 years.

I looked online for a picture of 000-824-47-26, and below is what I found. They look black.

I'm starting to think that this should just be left as one of the mysteries of the universe.