Wiper blades that don't suck

Voxination · 1 Apr 2015 at 18:53

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.

Excuse the water, I had just squirted everywhere.

snapdragon69 · 1 Apr 2015 at 19:37

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.

Howard · 2 Apr 2015 at 09:59

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.

BananaDunka · 2 Apr 2015 at 10:13

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.

Draeger · 2 Apr 2015 at 10:44

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.

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!

Conscript · 2 Apr 2015 at 11:42

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.

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?

Westyfield2 · 2 Apr 2015 at 14:19

Conscript said:
Where do you buy the refills?

Also interested in knowing.

I've got the PIAA silicone wipers, and reapply the Vision protective coat liquid every few months.

snapdragon69 · 2 Apr 2015 at 20:00

Westyfield2 said:
Also interested in knowing.

ebay, amazon etc..

Voxination · 3 Apr 2015 at 08:06

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.

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.

xs2man · 3 Apr 2015 at 08:48

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.

Howard · 3 Apr 2015 at 08:53

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.

That's what I use. It's bloody good.

Remove everything but the video ID from the

xs2man · 3 Apr 2015 at 09:22

Howard said:
That's what I use. It's bloody good.

Remove everything but the video ID from the

Howard · 3 Apr 2015 at 09:24

It's done like so:

[ youtube]P9Hz2e3TbwY[ /youtube]

xs2man · 3 Apr 2015 at 12:45

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.

Edinho · 3 Apr 2015 at 23:19

Cheap aero wipers off ebay. Been on a year better than the Bosch rubbish that I took off.

Tesla · 13 Aug 2015 at 20:55

Hi,

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

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

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 · 14 Aug 2015 at 15:52

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/

tl45 · 14 Aug 2015 at 22:51

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/

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.

Conscript · 15 Aug 2015 at 19:53

Tesla said:
Hi,

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

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

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 ?

Have these on the X Trail, and the same way round as in your picture...they work fine

crinkleshoes · 15 Aug 2015 at 21:06

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.

Wiper blades that don't suck

Chooser of poor weather meets

Chooser of poor weather meets