Poor wiper blade design: Broke my windshield!!!

[08w204]

So I had a dumb-dumb today... I was washing my windshield at the gas station was pulling up the wipers when the passenger side wiper blade rotated in my hand and disconnected from the metal arm. The arm smashed into the windshield and caused about 2-3" of spider webbing. Within the next 4 hours, the crack had spread another 5" up the windshield, which means it's going to have to be replaced.... Argh! I realize this is a poor design from MB because there is no secondary locking mechanism on the wiper blade like most cars have. Before I call MB and complain (to which I'm not really expecting a positive response even though I have an extended MB warranty), I would like to know if anyone else has had the same problem. Strength is in numbers, after all. In addition, I would like to point out that I have had two small nicks in the windshield from pebbles while driving. I know other people have posted about the abundance of windshield nicks on this model, so I can't help but think that there is something inherently wrong with the glass. I have only had one other vehicle with a nick in the windshield and it was a huge rock that caused it. (I know people will ask: The car is a March, 2008, South Africa build and the glass says it was made by Pilkington. There are currently 30,000 miles on the odometer and I have never used any products on the glass other than glass cleaner and wiper solution.) Long post, I know, but I have some serious concerns and would like to know what other peoples' experiences have been.

To remove this ad, register today or login if you already are registered!

[vic viper]

This isnt poor design, its pure clumsiness.

[08w204]

I would expect that response from an MB tech.

[vic viper]

So if you were to replace a light bulb it is the cars fault that the bulb broke if you accidentally dropped it?

[spoolIT85]

You should rename this thread to:

So I had a dumb-dumb today: Broke my windshield!!!

[RLE]

Originally Posted by 08w204

So I had a dumb-dumb today... I was washing my windshield at the gas station was pulling up the wipers when the passenger side wiper blade rotated in my hand and disconnected from the metal arm. The arm smashed into the windshield and caused about 2-3" of spider webbing. Within the next 4 hours, the crack had spread another 5" up the windshield, which means it's going to have to be replaced.... Argh!

I realize this is a poor design from MB because there is no secondary locking mechanism on the wiper blade like most cars have. Before I call MB and complain (to which I'm not really expecting a positive response even though I have an extended MB warranty), I would like to know if anyone else has had the same problem. Strength is in numbers, after all.

In addition, I would like to point out that I have had two small nicks in the windshield from pebbles while driving. I know other people have posted about the abundance of windshield nicks on this model, so I can't help but think that there is something inherently wrong with the glass. I have only had one other vehicle with a nick in the windshield and it was a huge rock that caused it.

(I know people will ask: The car is a March, 2008, South Africa build and the glass says it was made by Pilkington. There are currently 30,000 miles on the odometer and I have never used any products on the glass other than glass cleaner and wiper solution.)

Long post, I know, but I have some serious concerns and would like to know what other peoples' experiences have been.

How you can think that somehow this is someone's fault other than your own is quite amusing.

But, you may have some insurance coverage for this. Here is the US, comprehensive might pick this up. It's worth a call to your insurer.

[08w204]

All right, I give... Just having a bad day!

[Glyn M Ruck]

Pilkington's make some of the best glass around. You got unlucky.

[CEB]

...new car designs are required to comply with European pedestrian safety laws. These laws have led to several design changes the we in the US consider foolish - flatter, larger mirrors, more upright grills, higher hoods and hidden wipers and what appears to be slightly softer glass. A few years ago, Audi owners started to complain about windshields pitting. Then it was VW and BMW and now it is MB owners - soon it'll be other companies as well that sell models in Europe (Acura TL and RL - sold as the Honda Accord and Legend in Europe)...

[cjh.]

I got a rock chip on my windshield that turned to a crack that caused the whole thing to eventually be replaced.

[whiteongrey]

Oh man that sucks. I have always grabbed the wiper by the arm on all my cars forever out of fear of that exact thing happening.

[i_am_amused]

it's too bad you broke your windshield

[GMW]

Sorry about your 'incident'. However, As I drove to work last Saturday, I had a huge rock (or something the size of a golf ball) hit my windscreen from opposing traffic (2 way road), with such an impact that it left my ears ringing! I only saw the vague object just as it was about to impact and thought to myself "OH SH*T"...then I heard a very loud impact and my ears were ringing. I knew the windscreen was smashed.

I looked around for the huge impact area and only saw some residue and no crack? I couldn't believe that such a loud impact that made my ears ring didn't smash the whole windscreen!

After reaching the office I checked from the outside and wiped off the weird residue and I could see that the object that hit my windscreen had shaved some tenth or hundredth of a millimeter off the top glass on the middle of the windscreen.

I have never experienced or seen anything like this before. My impression is that this glass is very very strong, even though small dust stones etch their way into it if following another car at speed (legal of course). That said I was probably very lucky that the object hit at such an angle as to ricochet off the windscreen and above the car without completely smashing it.

[i_am_amused]

Originally Posted by GMW

Sorry about your 'incident'. However, As I drove to work last Saturday, I had a huge rock (or something the size of a golf ball) hit my windscreen from opposing traffic (2 way road), with such an impact that it left my ears ringing! I only saw the vague object just as it was about to impact and thought to myself "OH SH*T"...then I heard a very loud impact and my ears were ringing. I knew the windscreen was smashed.

I looked around for the huge impact area and only saw some residue and no crack? I couldn't believe that such a loud impact that made my ears ring didn't smash the whole windscreen!

After reaching the office I checked from the outside and wiped off the weird residue and I could see that the object that hit my windscreen had shaved some tenth or hundredth of a millimeter off the top glass on the middle of the windscreen.

I have never experienced or seen anything like this before. My impression is that this glass is very very strong, even though small dust stones etch their way into it if following another car at speed (legal of course). That said I was probably very lucky that the object hit at such an angle as to ricochet off the windscreen and above the car without completely smashing it.

is your last name "Massa"? Felipe, it's good to see that you are ok.

[Jen_Kenne]

Unfortunate accident. Good thing you have comprehensive insurance on the car.

Originally Posted by 08w204

So I had a dumb-dumb today... I was washing my windshield at the gas station was pulling up the wipers when the passenger side wiper blade rotated in my hand and disconnected from the metal arm. The arm smashed into the windshield and caused about 2-3" of spider webbing. Within the next 4 hours, the crack had spread another 5" up the windshield, which means it's going to have to be replaced.... Argh!

I realize this is a poor design from MB because there is no secondary locking mechanism on the wiper blade like most cars have. Before I call MB and complain (to which I'm not really expecting a positive response even though I have an extended MB warranty), I would like to know if anyone else has had the same problem. Strength is in numbers, after all.

In addition, I would like to point out that I have had two small nicks in the windshield from pebbles while driving. I know other people have posted about the abundance of windshield nicks on this model, so I can't help but think that there is something inherently wrong with the glass. I have only had one other vehicle with a nick in the windshield and it was a huge rock that caused it.

(I know people will ask: The car is a March, 2008, South Africa build and the glass says it was made by Pilkington. There are currently 30,000 miles on the odometer and I have never used any products on the glass other than glass cleaner and wiper solution.)

Long post, I know, but I have some serious concerns and would like to know what other peoples' experiences have been.

[NJBNZ]

I've raised and lowered my windshield wipers a ton of times...usually when washing to car...and have never had a problem. Next time be more careful

[RedG]

Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck

Pilkington's make some of the best glass around. You got unlucky.

On this topic we can actually agree.

[WWMIndy]

Originally Posted by 08w204

I would expect that response from an MB tech.

Yeah - well I would expect the above response from an MB customer such as yourself.

It certainly isn't his fault that he pointed out the obvious, which is that YOU broke your windshield - not the mechanism that holds the blade on the arm, nor the engineer that came up with the system and certainly not MB.

If they had put a worthwhile locking mechanism on there you would be on the forum whining about how complicated it is to get the damn thing off and that in NONE of your past cars has it been so hard to replace something so simple...

The grass is always greener.

But in this case, you need to man-up and assume responsibility for treating Vic like an ass for no reason.

Nobody rained on your party for whatever it is that you do in life.

End of transmission.

[Jen_Kenne]

Tempered, laminated glass is usually very strong on side impacts. Rocks, golf balls, wiper arms, etc. It's the edge impacts that generally break it into crumbs. Glass is a super-cooled liquid, but it does not like to bend, but I doubt there was much pressure on your windshield. Seems like you just were lucky enough to hit a sweet-spot - or the glass was defective.

[Glyn M Ruck]

Originally Posted by CEB

...new car designs are required to comply with European pedestrian safety laws. These laws have led to several design changes the we in the US consider foolish - flatter, larger mirrors, more upright grills, higher hoods and hidden wipers and what appears to be slightly softer glass. A few years ago, Audi owners started to complain about windshields pitting. Then it was VW and BMW and now it is MB owners - soon it'll be other companies as well that sell models in Europe (Acura TL and RL - sold as the Honda Accord and Legend in Europe)...

Out of interest - the higher than Benz wanted W204 nose was to meet US pedestrian safety laws according to the pre launch garb out of Stuttgart.

[RLE]

Originally Posted by Jen_Kenne

Tempered, laminated glass is usually very strong on side impacts. Rocks, golf balls, wiper arms, etc. It's the edge impacts that generally break it into crumbs. Glass is a super-cooled liquid, but it does not like to bend, but I doubt there was much pressure on your windshield. Seems like you just were lucky enough to hit a sweet-spot - or the glass was defective.

Tempered and laminated are two different things. The windshield is laminated and all the rest is tempered.

[Chaz00Blue]

This is a great thred, so I just had to jump in. I had a small rock thrown up from the back of a semi plunk my windshield right after I got the car. It spidered a short distance to what I thought was the edge of the glass. About a year later it went from one side of the car to the other over night. This led me to replace the entire windshield. So, I'm not sure what I think. I was very happy with the job that the contracter did in replacing it, and the dealership did give me a loaner even though they didn't do the repair. I guess if this is the only frustration with owning this car, I'm happy.

As far as the wipers go, I love the design. My only frustration is that these wipers are only available from the dealer, and they charge $70 to replace them. I still haven't changed them, but I guess I will buy them from the parts department. It seems rediculous to charge $30 to put wiperblades on.

[RLE]

Originally Posted by Chaz00Blue

This is a great thred, so I just had to jump in. I had a small rock thrown up from the back of a semi plunk my windshield right after I got the car. It spidered a short distance to what I thought was the edge of the glass. About a year later it went from one side of the car to the other over night. This led me to replace the entire windshield. So, I'm not sure what I think. I was very happy with the job that the contracter did in replacing it, and the dealership did give me a loaner even though they didn't do the repair. I guess if this is the only frustration with owning this car, I'm happy.

As far as the wipers go, I love the design. My only frustration is that these wipers are only available from the dealer, and they charge $70 to replace them. I still haven't changed them, but I guess I will buy them from the parts department. It seems rediculous to charge $30 to put wiperblades on.

You mean to say you can't change your own wiperblades? And why don't you buy them from one of the many online MB parts suppliers?

[Jen_Kenne]

Originally Posted by RLE

Tempered and laminated are two different things. The windshield is laminated and all the rest is tempered.

Tempered glass is heated and cooled so that when it breaks, it does not form shards. Car windows, including the windshield, are tempered. Laminated means there are two pieces of glass with (typically) a plastic between the two. It holds the two sheets together and makes the unit stronger, and prevents your head going through it in an accident. The windshield is laminated.

[i_am_amused]

Originally Posted by Jen_Kenne

Tempered glass is heated and cooled so that when it breaks, it does not form shards. Car windows, including the windshield, are tempered. Laminated means there are two pieces of glass with (typically) a plastic between the two. It holds the two sheets together and makes the unit stronger, and prevents your head going through it in an accident. The windshield is laminated.

windshield glass, if not laminated, would form shards. That's why you get "stars" when your head hits it at 40 mph. If its glass was manufactured the same way as tempered side- and rear-window glass you would not get stars, you would get a grid-like pattern. In other words, windshield glass is not tempered, but it is laminated. A little googling reveals that windshield glass is annealed (apparently there are some countries that use tempered non-laminated glass for windshields)

the internet is our friend. I found the following links in under 5 minutes

link for the curious
another link for the curious
link that mentions the use is tempered non-laminated glass in Japan some European countries.