Isn't it just plain dumb and the biggest auto gimmick ever when Volvo and Mercedes and others started putting wipers on head lights and a washer hose?? Total stupid in my opinion.

OK, OK, someone will say, "They work great in a snow blizzard". Or, "When driving through major muddy roads the washer really comes in handy."

First of all, don't drive in a snow blizzard. Second, why drive a car that is not made for muddy roads on a muddy road?

I wonder how many yuppies bought that Volvo with wipers on the head lights just for that reason only?

Did you know that when windshield wipers were first invented, sometime several years after the modle T I think, that the auto companies turned the inventor away saying that the wiper would "distract" the driver and could cause wrecks? I think it was a woman who invented the wiper, could be wrong. I know it was a woman who came up with the "Bright" idea to have a third brake light in the back window. Thought was that those who could not see the two brake lights would see one in the upper middle. Another dumb thing that was put into law.

Oh well, just another boring thread to up my post count +1.

Joe

They were designed for use on the roadways of Europe where they are needed. Stick to a Yugo...you'll be fine.

yup, they are REQUIRED in certain norther euro countries

I have headlight washers on one of my Land Cruiser, they really do work

They're a pain in the kiester when you're trying to change out the headlight lens on a MB 300E. One more piece of useless equipment to get in the way.

__________________
Insert short witty words here

At one point in my youth, I considered power steering and power brakes as unnecessary "extras." I learned to drive without them and thought any "real" man should eschew needless luxury appointments on their vehicles as well. Similarly, I wouldn't be caught in anything that came equipped with the horsepower robbing airconditioning so many now take for granted as standard equipment.

That was many years ago and while I have not come to embrace ALL of today's automotive conveniences, some do come in handy. They may not be a NECESSITY but those little wipers do come in handy.

Call me stupid. Why are they needed on roads in Europe?

__________________
Cheers -Jeff

I have spent a good bit of time in Europe, their roads are at least as good as ours. I gotta agree with "Jorem" & "truckemup97". They are simply a way to seperate yuppies from their $, and a PITA to change/service. YMMD.

About half the junk they cram into cars these days I'd rather not have.

Who needs plush carpet and velour seats in a work truck?

And those antilock braking systems are a hoot to watch on a wet boat ramp .

I saw quite a few cars so equipped in the UK when I was there back in the mid 80's, and asked the same question. Can't say for the rest of Europe, but in the UK there is a nonstop mix of heavy fog, dew, drizzle, and rain that never seems to end, and there is a constant spray of muck off the roadway that soon covers anything and everything. The wiper/washer setup on the headlights keep you from having to constantly clean them, and in that pea soup, you want your headlights at their brightest.

Audi has them too (sprayer only), and they're actually pretty nice for hosing off the **** that accumulates in the winter.

I drive in the snow because I don't have a choice, I drive on dirt roads because not everywhere I go is paved.

(And for the time being anyway, I don't drive an Audi.)

Well, for starters, in the rest of the world Mercedes Benz is just another Chevrolet. A common, ordinary car often used as taxi cabs and what not. Only a small number of Benzes on the far side of the ocean are luxury models while very few on this sde aren't. Benzes are found on every continent and used in applications most in the States would never consider. Prior to the full on electronics Benzes were simple to maintain vehicles and most mojor repairs could be performed in primitive conditions. Conditions like these lead to the headlight washer/wiper system Believe they've been on the Benz since the late 60's/early 70's).

I've had a couple (still have my classic 1972 280SEL 4.5) and have always been amazed at the overengineering in them. Shoot, on my 72 the blinker switch is designed to be repaired rather than replaced (only requires a rattail file). Of course, I still have to manually adjust my valves every 10K miles, but it isn't brain surgery or rocket science. No offense to any nuerosurgeons or aerospace engineers.

1) So how often do you change the headlight lens?
2) If they are that much of a PITA, take them off!

And if you think Daimler Benz doesn't "get it" when it comes to undestanding the automobile industry, while GM was dragged kicking and screaming into bankruptcy, here is what you will find all over Europe and now in some places in the U.S.


Scott

Until experiencing the advantages of the wife's 850 Volvo these past 15 years of automotive excellence, I too was a technological Luddite.

I've even come to appreciate the heated seats.

In my part of muddy Orygun having a clean headlight is a definite advantage over the alternative.

__________________
Dum vivimus Vivamas

My 93 Bonneville had washers, but I never read the book to see how to activate them. I wash my car at least weekly and never felt the need for them. When the weather is bad, I will stop and manually clean the headlights. The 00 Bonneville does not have them, or if it does, I can't find them.

1) Hopefully only once.
2) Because it will leave a funny little hole in the trim piece below the headlight. I don't like funny little holes in my S&Ws, and Mom doesn't like them in her Mercedes. Sometimes a son's gotta do what a son's gotta do.

__________________
Insert short witty words here