(SIGH!) I used the headlight washers for the first time over the weekend. Much to my surprise, the passenger side washer cover remained open, and in fact was quite loose. I determined (by use of an illuminated oral mirror) that on one side a plastic hinge post was broken and missing. Even worse, the spring assembly that hold/holds the cover shut is also missing.
The bad news: The hinge post and mount is a molded part of the bumper cover itself, and cannot be separately ordered. The AMG-style bumper cover is around $2000+ to replace.
The headlight washers on my car are programmed to extend automatically every fourth time the windshield washers are used, after start - so simply not using them is not an option.
I sketched out a repair, using a screw having a head the size of the hole on the cover arms that the missing post fits into, that could be screwed into the molded mount. That is, the screw would replace the plastic post. The dealer was happy to drop the bumper and do the repair that way (surprised me! Service Mgr and tech both thought it to be a great solution) - except we need the spring assembly (note: when writing this originally I was under the mistaken impression that it too could not be separately ordered - but it can).
My calls to breaker yards (including LKQ, formerly Potomac German Auto) and pick your parts places have turned up no wrecked S550s. I am looking for a source for the necessary spring assembly.
My boroscope is on order, so I cannot photograph the actual part (from the still-oprating side) - but the spring assembly should look like the photo below (sorry about the quality - it's the best I can do right now). The spring assembly I need is the silver item, beside the black cover. I only need one. Does anyone know of a source of an OE-style spring assembly?
The bad news: The hinge post and mount is a molded part of the bumper cover itself, and cannot be separately ordered. The AMG-style bumper cover is around $2000+ to replace.
The headlight washers on my car are programmed to extend automatically every fourth time the windshield washers are used, after start - so simply not using them is not an option.
I sketched out a repair, using a screw having a head the size of the hole on the cover arms that the missing post fits into, that could be screwed into the molded mount. That is, the screw would replace the plastic post. The dealer was happy to drop the bumper and do the repair that way (surprised me! Service Mgr and tech both thought it to be a great solution) - except we need the spring assembly (note: when writing this originally I was under the mistaken impression that it too could not be separately ordered - but it can).
My calls to breaker yards (including LKQ, formerly Potomac German Auto) and pick your parts places have turned up no wrecked S550s. I am looking for a source for the necessary spring assembly.
My boroscope is on order, so I cannot photograph the actual part (from the still-oprating side) - but the spring assembly should look like the photo below (sorry about the quality - it's the best I can do right now). The spring assembly I need is the silver item, beside the black cover. I only need one. Does anyone know of a source of an OE-style spring assembly?