Most liked posts in thread: Wiper replacement recommendations...

Don't think you Texas boys really count on this wiper blade count down! Thats of course if you count dust!

I think our Oregon/Wash State friends will be the final word on wiper blades. They know a thing or two about rain!

 

:cornut::cornut::cornut::cornut:
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Jason

 

I got my PIAA's from Outmotoring. I just use whatever they sell.

 

Well as this Oregonian would say....got rain!

I have been using the Sillblades for years and really love them. They come with a 5 yr warranty and I have never had to send one back for replacement. They have always lasted more than the 5 yrs. Now I do use Aquapel on the front and rear windscreens and this will prolong the life of the wiper.

As to the rear wiper, the later design of the rear wiper does allow the use of a cheaper refill. You can get a refill and just cut it to size.

 

I have just been using the regular silblade premium. But I am sure they would all perform equally well.

 

Ok, so stupid question. I've always gone OEM because of the blade lift/flapping aerodynamics thing. Are you guys replacing the whole blade or just the rubbery bit? Have you had any issues with lift at high speeds?

 

I replace the whole blade. No lifting at 120+ mph on track.

 

Never had a lifting problem either, but you really need to use some Aquapel also. Won't even need the wipers at any speed above about 35mph.

 

They don't lift at 120 mph, but they don't really wipe that well, either. If you're on the track and it's raining, you want Rain-X on your windshield, 'cause that way the rain will blow off before the wiper gets to it.

EDIT: yeah, what Scott said. =)

 

Yeah, I love Aquapel, really I don't use the wipers much. But certain MINI supply sites, implied that at highway speeds, the wipers would lift.
Now I know better, next time I'll upgrade

Although, with the Aquapel, it may be a while!

 

Thanks Scott, was hoping you'd take the 'oregonian' cue!

Already bookmarked the Silblade site and noted aquapel

 

I recently went back to OEM wipers on mine. I was using rainx but OEM last longer and clean better IMHO. The tip is that the cars are shipped with a oily waxy layer on the windshield and it destroys the OEM blades so right after you take delivery you need to swap them out and keep them clean.
If you go through a car wash you need to ensure you clean the blades afterwords as well. The OEM wipers do better than any other I have tried at higher speeds as well.

 

I'm using PIAA's right now. Just bought them a few weeks ago. In Canada, they are expensive. They are made in Japan. I like that they wipe very quietly. The build quality seem very high. I have no complaints about them other than the price.

I cannot get OEM blades here. The dealer just replaces the rubbers and I found I was replacing them every 3 to 6 months. Funny, the autoparts shops no longer sell just the rubbers. You have to buy complete blades, which makes replacing the rear wiper troublesome.

I also used rain-X when I was using the OEM blades. However, the PIAA blades come with a windshield wipe you are supposed to apply onto the windshield before putting the blade on. I suspect it's similar to Rain-X, but it doesn't seem to clear water off the windshield as well as Rain-X. I'm wondering if Rain-X will mess up the blades.

 

I'll give a +1 for the Bosch Icons. I'm getting the car ready for the Dragon and a new set of wiper blades was in order. My old Bosch Icons had lasted 2.5 years and were still in good shape, but I don't like to take any chances on a long road trip, so they were replaced a bit early.

 

I never had any problems with using Rain-X. Had used it for 30+ yrs before switching to Aquapel.

 

Tim,

I've got the Super Silicones as well, and at 37 bucks a pair I was hoping for more than 2 years. I remember someone saying they were on year 5 of their daily drivers PIAAs, and it was not a garage queen.

To your point tho, I EXPECT the 6 dollar blades to give it up early.

And this has been a particularly brutal winter for rubber products.

I believe I still have one of the packets of stuff to wipe on the windshield. Perhaps I'll go out and claybar the windshield (windscreen for the purist) and then apply that prep stuff again that came with the PIAAs.

...Les

 

Is Aquapel the new RainX?

 

:cornut: See Above^. I'm sure that PIAAs will last 5-6yrs in Texas.:lol:

Jason

 

Yes, but better. At least in the climates that it rains in