Help: Benz Wiper Motor

terrymats

Hi,

Seems like the motor on my 52 reg C320 has busted. Benz are asking for £450 to replace it, whereas the motor costs merely £120. Rest is the labour cost which I cannot afford to pay as my car is now out of warranty.

Could someone please let me know if this is a DIY job? I read on a website saying that it's simple to change the motor if you can reach it. The problem is, I don't even know how to get off the cover (plastic-black) on top of the engine thru which the motor is accessible.

Or should I simply buy the motor and get a local mechanic to fix it?

Thanks
Terry

scheming_gypsy

Have you taken it into them to be looked at or just phoned them?

few months back my front wiper packed up and i had to call the RAC out (stuck on the motorway and it was stinking it down). I could hear the motor trying whirring when the wipers were on but no movement on the wipers. The wiper itself had just become loose and was too slack for the wiper to move it.

Also a girl i work with had a similar problem which turn out to be the fuse blown but not noticeably.

Best taking it to a local mechanic to check over first. Also a 'back street' mechanic will charge around £30 an hour and i doubt it's a 10 hour job. Even cheaper way would be to go to a local scrap yard and ask for a motor from them. Definately won't cost you £120.

terrymats

I did take the car to them and they said they would check it in 10 minutes and lemme know. They took an hour and asked me to pay the labour cost for that without even proceeding with the repair which is a clear form of duress. I told them I'd pay it off when I came back to fix the motor (which they did not have in stock then). Thought i'd just take a hint from here before I surely got ripped off by them.

Thanks for your advise and will wait if any techie can simply tell me how to get the turtle shell opened up. I went thru a lot of car forums and it looks like the wipers have simply come off the motor, coz I can too hear the motor rotating.

Cheers
Terry

scheming_gypsy

if you can hear the whirring then the RAC man just pulled out a spanner or 2 and tightened the nut on it, don't think he removed anything.
Although i was glad i saved some money i was on a promise and had to cancel

Jay-Jay_4

Have you asked on Honest John ?

northern_munky

Official time for fitting a new wiper linkage is 1.2 hours, and if you can hear the motor turning it sounds like the linkage arm has worn and dropped off and you need a new arm. As for the plastic surround there should be some clips, screws etc holding it on, maybe hidden under the rubber edging??? Just have a close inspection, it should come off easily enough.

terrymats

Have posted on honest john as well. Simply waiting for precise instructions; probably one with pictures.

Thanks northern_munky. Will inspect the shell properly to look for screws, lugs etc.

Cheers
Terry

110frankie

Buy a Haynes manual from Halfords.
It will save you pounds over the years.

trigger_mike

i'd be surpised if haynes do a manual for a 52 mercedes c-class, not quite the same as a escort to repair!

trigger_mike

Just looked, haynes only make a manual for up to W reg 2000 models, these later mercs are quite specialist only really.

terrymats

thanks mike. I just need to open up that stupid plastic cover on the engine and I think i should be able to access the motor. I've worked on engines & stuff before, but I need to be careful with this expensive beauty. Will post in a fews hours if I'm able to get thru the defences of the engine.

Cheers
Terry