Headlight wiper motors

[pablo2696]

Hi all

I have two brand new sets of headlight wiper motors for a w126 (1985 500SEL) and a r129 (2000 SL55 amg) sitting around inside my garage. My 500E headlight wiper motors were stolen a couple of years ago at a mechanic shop where my car sat for a couple months so I was wondering if there is any way I can fit any of those sets to my car.

I am not expecting a plug and play instalation, but can it be done with minor modifications?

thanks!

 

[LWB250]

I don't know for a fact without the VINs from the other cars, but I would guess that the R129's are very similar if not identical. Realize that they work as a unit, so it's critical that you keep the "pairs" together. That's because the right wiper motor is the controller and the left is just responds to the right's direction, for lack of a better description.

The difficult part might be the mounting brackets. Get that sorted and they should work, I would expect.

Dan

 

[gsxr]

Ideally you would source a pair of good used ones. These were the same on all 124's worldwide (except USA, pre-facelift).

 

[gerryvz]

Have you checked the EPC / ISPPI to determine if any of the motor part numbers are shared between the models?

 

[gsxr]

Have you checked the EPC / ISPPI to determine if any of the motor part numbers are shared between the models?

They are not shared. I don't know what issues may arise if trying to use motors/arms from a different chassis, or if they would fit at all.

 

[pablo2696]

Ideally you would source a pair of good used ones. These were the same on all 124's worldwide (except USA, pre-facelift).

I can´t source any used pair of euro headlight wiper motors in good condition here in Costa Rica so thats why Im wondering I can fit them

Have you checked the EPC / ISPPI to determine if any of the motor part numbers are shared between the models?

I checked it a few days ago and it appears that the part numbers are not shared... However, I have heard that they do fit but nobody that has told me that has ever try fitting them. I´ll see and then I´ll share the results with y'all...

They are not shared. I don't know what issues may arise if trying to use motors/arms from a different chassis, or if they would fit at all.

As for the wiper arms, I just tried the a set of used w126 500SEL arms I had and they appear to fit just fine.



Thanks all!

 

[gsxr]

You'd have to source the 124 motors/arms from Europe or USA (94-95 USA only). It's the motor fitting the headlight that is the bigger question. Mounting bracket may not be in the proper position.

 

[GRAEME JOHNSON]

Its not so much fitting the motor to the lamps, its the arc the blades travel through.
It would be awful if the blade and arm went down to far and damaged the panel
below the light or even came up to far and caught the bonnet.
Even if I could get the motor to fit I would use a battery and do a test run with the
light off the car to see what the range of travel is with the arm and blade well away
from the panels and paint
Graeme Johnson

 

[sheward]

I recently acquired some more of these motors/wipers. I believe there are only two differences between the early US motors and the late motors. The wiper shaft is some 16mm longer on the late motor and the square mount block at the base of the shaft is different in that it "clocks" the entire motor slightly different as it mounts to the light. This is done to account for the slightly different angles of the pre and post wipers. The early late plastic mount blocks are blue in color. The late early mounts are black or green. The mount blocks are easily modified to clock the early motors like the late motors. This leaves the problem of extending the shaft and acquiring the actual wiper arms. The SEL arms look like they may be made to work. I'll be experimenting with the shaft extension over the winter.
Best to keep a lookout for the late model assemblies in the breaker yards.

EDIT..... this information is incorrect in the sense that the longer shaft motors are proper for the early US lights.
the shorter shaft motors are proper for US facelift and all years euro lights. Sorry for the misinformation.

drew

 

[pablo2696]

Hi all and thanks for your replies!

Yesterday night I took sometime to try to fit themotors and as expected, I encounter some problems... The first problem is as @gsxr mentioned, the mounting braket doesn't fit as it should. I will fix that issue by going to a wreckyard and taking a braket from a non working w124 motor. As for the wiper shaft, I need one that is straight like the ones from @sheward so I will also get one of those from the yard. The r129 motors have a non-straight shaft that will make it impossible to fit in any w124.



The 500SEL wiper arms fit perfectly and the arc the blades travels through doesn't go past the headlight. The bigger issue I have right now is that whenever I plug the motors (and then I turn on the headlights), fuse 3 blows out. After trying to see which motor keeps blowing fuse 3, I found out that both motors actually blow fuse 3, it doesn't matter where they are connected or if only one is connected, fuse 3 keeps blowing out after I turn on the headlights. Any ideas why this might be happening?

After I fix this issue I will solve the other ones because if I need to replace the motors then I might as well just source a good working pair from a facelift w124 from the US and be done with any mounting or shaft issues...

Thank you all!

 

[LWB250]

There is a PTC (positive thermal coefficient) device in the right side motor that often fails, causing the #3 fuse to blow when you attempt to operate the wipers. I found an old thread on PP about this if you're interested:

Story on headlight wipers - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Dan

 

[gsxr]

Dan, the Fruitbird writeup is on the 140. I'm not sure the 124 circuits are the same design. Detailed troubleshooting for 124 motors at link below, photos show a diode instead of a PTC (post #10).

EDIT: Appears the 124 motors have both a diode and PTC...

HOW TO: Headlight Wiper / Washer System Diagnostics and Repair | Electrical, CAN and Wiring

This is an extremely informative "HOW TO" for performing DIY headlight wiper / washer circuitry testing on the W124. Just be cognizant to use E500E-specific wiring diagrams in performing these procedures. :banana1: Headlight Wiper / Washer System Diagnostics and Repair Jon B Kanas MBCA...

www.500eboard.co

 

[pablo2696]

Thank you all! I will check those links and I'll write an update soon

 

[LWB250]

Dan, the Fruitbird writeup is on the 140. I'm not sure the 124 circuits are the same design. Detailed troubleshooting for 124 motors at link below, photos show a diode instead of a PTC (post #10).

EDIT: Appears the 124 motors have both a diode and PTC...

HOW TO: Headlight Wiper / Washer System Diagnostics and Repair | Electrical, CAN and Wiring

This is an extremely informative "HOW TO" for performing DIY headlight wiper / washer circuitry testing on the W124. Just be cognizant to use E500E-specific wiring diagrams in performing these procedures. :banana1: Headlight Wiper / Washer System Diagnostics and Repair Jon B Kanas MBCA...

www.500eboard.co

I know. The internal wiring is identical. Later models used a diode which often fails shorted, hence the fuses that blow.

Dan