Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) says that he saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performing ablution. He (peace and blessings be upon him) took water for his ears other than the water he (peace and blessings be upon him) had taken for his head (i.e. he took fresh water for wiping).
This chain is sahih (authentic).
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الطهارة / 308