Vive le difference!?

[mdsalemi]

Hello All,

Yesterday afternoon in Blacklick, I stole away with Paul Hackman to his warehouse of old OEM, NOS Mercedes Parts.  Wow.  Just indescribable, so I won't try.  Two interesting things however, were the ride over there in his new 1963 220SEb Cabriolet with the rare bucket seats in back--very sweet--and the return in the Gelandewagen AMG G55!  Fastest "box on wheels" I've ever been in.  I think it is only a $30K upgrade over the standard G-Wagen.

Anyway, one thing Paul discovered was that nearly all of us had the incorrect (if we are being absolutely picky) windshield wiper blades!  The only car we found correct was Pete Leslers!

230/250 with chromed arms get a "closed" chrome blade.
280 with satin arms get a "closed" satin blade.
Black blades are incorrect Bosch.
"Open" satin arms are what MB sells today.

I purchased the correct satin arms from him.  David Pease bought the correct chrome arms from him, and might be looking to sell his incorrect satin blades.

Paul Hackman had an astounding collection of manuals, and all manner of trim and related non-mechanical parts.  If you are looking for that obscure missing piece, he very well might have it.  Perhaps JA17 (Joe) will post his contact info.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Douglas]

Michael,

Not correct. There's an article on this in a previous Mercedes Enthusiast. The late-model 280SLs took a skeletal style with a satin finish, so many 280SLs are correct out there. I'll dig up the article.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by Douglas

Michael,

Not correct. There's an article on this in a previous Mercedes Enthusiast. The late-model 280SLs took a skeletal style with a satin finish, so many 280SLs are correct out there. I'll dig up the article.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

...that will be enlightening, I'd appreciate a copy of the article.    Was it in that Mercedes Enthusiast of last year or an earlier one then that?  Interestingly however we had few later model 280's and many 230/250's in Blacklick.  What we found yesterday, however was mostly the earlier chrome-armed 230/250's with open satin or even black blades.  Chrome goes to chrome, no?


Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Douglas]

Yes, chrome to chrome. Matte to matte. And yes, there were a couple of different matte varieties. I recall that you can distinguish the original skeletal style because there's a small Bosch logo on it.

(I meant to say "Mercedes Collector" and not "Mercedes Enthusiast.")

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[bpossel]

Hi Michael,

While my car is still a work-'n-progress...  I thought that mine were correct?  I hope that some day...  my car will look as nice as yours and some of the others....  I really like your car!
Bob

bpossel
Memphis, TN.
1971 280SL
1997 E320

[Douglas]

Here's how the late Frank Mallory summed it up in his article in the 12/92 "Mercedes Collector" in his article on p.5-22 entitled "W 113 Wiper Woes -- and how to Prevent Them":

"Correct wiper blades for the W 113 series are 12.1" (305 mm) in length . . . 230 SL and '67 250 SL (polished); '68 250 SL and early 280 SL (painted); and late 280 SL (skeletonized)."

He shows a photo of each and shows the "painted" blade as a silver "closed" satin blade. So for an early 280 SL like Michael's, the one from Paul Hackman appears to be correct. My car, on the other hand, takes the skeletonized blade.

I should also note that I've seen different skeletonized blades too. They can have varying degrees of plastic throughout their construction depending on when they were made. I think the originals have less plastic and, as I noted earlier, have a tiny Bosch symbol stamped into them.

Vive la différence.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[hands_aus]

I think you are referring to the carriers of the rubber wipers as the 'blades'. Is that correct?

My early 250SL has chrome arms and wiper carriers.

Understanding the terminology is very important to me I like to know what you are referring to.

Download Attachment: WiperChrome.jpg
68.87 KB

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[mdsalemi]

Bob in Australia--yes, I am referring to the rubber carriers as the blades. You appear to have the correct "closed" variety.  Few of our 230/250 visitors did.

Doug, if you could email me a copy of that article, I'd appreciate it.  If I understand correctly from your condensation, it seems that Frank called the satin variety "painted"?  Remember we had shiny chrome plated, closed; satin chrome, closed; satin chrome, open (the current variety from Mercedes) or skeletonized, and then painted black versions which are what you can get or order from any Bosch dealer, but not from Mercedes.

Early skeletonized blades had a metal insert where the arm clips on; current versions have a black plastic insert.

Bob Possel, post a photo of your wipers, and we'll check them!

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[TA250SL]

Does anyone have a source for the early 250SL polished chrome closed blade style?

Thanks

Tom
1967 250SL
Los Angeles

[Douglas]

If Gernold at SL Tech doesn't have it, it probably doesn't exist.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[hands_aus]

Tom,

Similar closed chromed arms and blades were used on the sedans of the same era.



Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by Douglas

If Gernold at SL Tech doesn't have it, it probably doesn't exist.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

Note that Paul Hackman brought several sets of chrome blades back to the show on Sunday (trying to sell them to all the 230 owners who didn't have them!); at least one set went to David Pease, and I think the other set he still had, as I don't think Roman chose to buy them.  Joe Alexander can put you in touch with Paul.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[enochbell]

Michael, can you please give me contact info for Paul, I am interested in the blades, thank you,

Greg
gbellware@yahoo.com
678 522-8955

'64 230sl, fully sorted out...ooops, spoke too soon

[J. Huber]

Right or wrong? 230SL



Download Attachment: wipers.jpg
37.5 KB

James
63 230SL

[Douglas]

Those are the skeletonized version appropriate for a later 280 SL.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[mulrik]

I managed to find and buy the original Bosch blades on Ebay in the original plastic cover, never used. The original Bosch partnumber for the early blades is 3 398 110 466
I don't know if you can still order them from Bosch, anyway this should make it easier to try. It also says "Mercedes-Benz 190c, 190Dc, 200, 200D, 230, 230SL, 250SL, 280SL (->7.67)" on the package.
Best wishes
Ulrik


'67 250 SL Papyrus White 113043-10-000023

[66andBlue]

To all the experts:
Are these wipers correct for a late 230SL with chromed arms?
Thanks!
Download Attachment: BoschWipers.jpg
40.6 KB

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

[mulrik]

Just bought a new set of early bright wipers, however, the rubber on one of them quickly disrupted. Does anyone know where I can get a new set of replacement rubbers???
BR,
Ulrik


'67 250 SL Papyrus White 113043-10-000023

[mdsalemi]

Mulrik,

You have to keep looking!  The older style wiper blades and their refills are fast disappearing!  I had a hard time finding refills in the 12" size for mine; only ONE of the dozens of auto parts stores I checked around here had them.

Look around, if you can't find them contact me off line.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[mulrik]

Well, to answer my own question. It's actually pretty simple to get new wiperblades for the old style "thick" wipers. I just called Mercedes here in Denmark with the partnumber 000 824 08 27. Next day I had new rubbers on my wipers (they arrived from Germany). Impressive. You just receive the rubber, and you have to take the old aluminum "rails" and put in the the new blades. A little tricky to fit, but with a little patience I managed.
BR,
Ulrik


'67 250 SL Papyrus White 113043-10-000023