Wiper blades that don't suck

Stock blades have started going a bit squeaky so thought I'd give some "Valeo - Silencio X.TRM Flat" wipers a go. Branding is more prevalent that I had expected.

EZvM2Mi.jpg


Excuse the water, I had just squirted everywhere.
 
I tried cheap ones but they were worse than the old ones.
I bought BOSCH Specific Fit Aerotwin style for my Audi A8 from TPS (Trade Part Specialists). They were £25 instead of £33 from the dealer. Still fine 3 years later despite running on frost and ice. I remember having to get them every 6 months 20 years ago.
 
I put Bosch direct OEM replacements (my car has flat blade wipers as standard, with a handy quick release clip) on mine last September and they're still spot on, and pretty much silent when in use. The best thing to do is polish your windscreen to remove the film of crap and road grime that builds up over time and won't wash off. I then used GTechniq glass sealant/rain repellent which works brilliantly but probably isn't totally necessary. This was a night and day difference for me. It's worth cleaning the wiper blades with methylated spirit occasionally too - just dab some on a tissue and run it along the wiper blades every couple of times you wash the car or something.
 
As Gaygle mentioned elsewhere about the BMW aero wipers, I've been using them for a good 6-7 weeks now through various levels of rainfall at all manner of speeds. They don't lift above motorway speeds like the Alca/cheapo ones did, below motorway speed they're very similar though. These don't have the bulging wedge in the middle like the previous version of the BMW aero wipers used to so actually suit the E46 wiper arm which is nice.

A keeper I think.
 
Howard said:
It's worth cleaning the wiper blades with methylated spirit occasionally too - just dab some on a tissue and run it along the wiper blades every couple of times you wash the car or something.
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Spot on. This is something that many folk neglect to do. Wiper blades are like any other part of a car really, you can't expect them to remain clean after hundreds of miles of use especially given how much muck they are asked to shift off a windscreen in regular use. I usually clean mine every couple of washes of the car, quick wipe with pure acetone and another wipe to remove the excess does the trick and keeps them working almost as they did when new.

Amazing the amount of folk who complain that their wiper blades are noisy/smearing/rubbish etc but have never cleaned them! ;)
 
Nick1881 said:
PIAA silicone wiper blades never make a noise, even on a dry windscreen. They also add a coating better than Rain-X. I've been using them for years, they are a bit more expensive and start to smear a little once they are 12-18 months old. You can get refills though.
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Mine do, ever since I gave them a clean with IPA :/
Improved since a thorough reclean with neat screen wash, but think they might need new rubber. Where do you buy the refills?
 
Howard said:
I put Bosch direct OEM replacements (my car has flat blade wipers as standard, with a handy quick release clip) on mine last September and they're still spot on, and pretty much silent when in use. The best thing to do is polish your windscreen to remove the film of crap and road grime that builds up over time and won't wash off. I then used GTechniq glass sealant/rain repellent which works brilliantly but probably isn't totally necessary. This was a night and day difference for me. It's worth cleaning the wiper blades with methylated spirit occasionally too - just dab some on a tissue and run it along the wiper blades every couple of times you wash the car or something.
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Had planned to give the whole car a clay at some point, but think I'll do just the glass this weekend to give them the best possible start in life. Not considered using meths on the blades, normally give them a wipe over with the wash mitt in an attempt to keep on top of it all, but shall give meths a go in a few months.
 
I use this stuff on my 530 :


I find it to be excellent. Although the bottles are pretty small. I'm not putting it on my 330i, as I wont likely keep it long enough, but the next motor I buy will get the treatment.
 
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xs2man said:
I use this stuff on my 530 :


I find it to be excellent. Although the bottles are pretty small. I'm not putting it on my 330i, as I wont likely keep it long enough, but the next motor I buy will get the treatment.
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That's what I use. It's bloody good.

Remove everything but the video ID from the
 
Ahhhh. Thanks.

Still, my browser problems don't let me know if it was a success or not...

EDIT: Got to the bottom of my browser problem, it's that pepperflash was disabled. It was purposely disabled though as now videos play back all jumpy and stuff. Anyway, thats WAAAYYYYYY off topic, lol.

But yes, that G1 is amazing stuff.
 
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Hi,

Has anybody fitted the wiperblades.co.uk own brand Hybrid blades?

I recently fitted them to our Skoda Fabia, as pictured:
IMG_0244.jpg


I'm not convinced they are the right way around, aerodynamically. Unless I'm mistaken, the instructions looked to suggest one way around for left-hand drive and the other for right-hand drive. This doesn't make sense but I followed them anyway. I am assuming the curvature of the plastic part of the blade acts like the spoiler on conventional blades? If so, these probably need rotating 180deg ?
 
roadie said:
Looks to me like they should be the other way around...

Has anyone experience of the Michelin Stealth Hybrid wiper blades?

http://www.michelin-lifestyle.com/c...-blades/michelin-stealth-hybrid-wiper-blades/
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I've tried a set of the Michelin and found they seemed to leave a witness mark on the screen at the end of their travel, so switched back to Ford oem versions.

Getting the same with those now so don't know if it's a general side effect from most types that I'd just not noticed before.
 
Tesla said:
Hi,

Has anybody fitted the wiperblades.co.uk own brand Hybrid blades?

I recently fitted them to our Skoda Fabia, as pictured:
IMG_0244.jpg


I'm not convinced they are the right way around, aerodynamically. Unless I'm mistaken, the instructions looked to suggest one way around for left-hand drive and the other for right-hand drive. This doesn't make sense but I followed them anyway. I am assuming the curvature of the plastic part of the blade acts like the spoiler on conventional blades? If so, these probably need rotating 180deg ?
Click to expand...

Have these on the X Trail, and the same way round as in your picture...they work fine :)
 
Recently got a set of the new(ish) Bosch units where the whole blade bends (rather that stiff metal frame with rubber that bends to the screen).

I think they're great... better than the old style.
 
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