Windscreen Wipers - how much!!!

[Alickadoo]

Last time, I used these people

https://tinyurl.com/s52k43ex

OK, they charged a fiver to fit them, but if it goes wrong, it's down to them.

[vikingaero]

Another way to minimise wiper costs is to think laterally. Mrs V's car has a single 28" front wiper. There are invoices from the previous owner who paid £70 for a single wiper from Mitsubishi. If you buy a 28" wiper for a Mitsubishi it is around £30. If you buy the same wiper 28" wiper for a Citroen Berlingo van it's £15.

[FMOB]

Alickadoo said:

Last time, I used these people

https://tinyurl.com/s52k43ex

OK, they charged a fiver to fit them, but if it goes wrong, it's down to them.

And when they try to yank up the wipers, bend the arms and chip the paint on the bonnet because the bonnet is in the way you are none the wiser and a fiver down. Sounds like a good deal to me.

[Geertsen]

Got ripped off at Ford in Abingdon this year during my MOT. Was told it failed on wiper blades but they were almost new and wiping clearly on the way to the MOT. I paid the £36 for new blades just to get the car back ASAP because I needed it.

[Alickadoo]

FMOB said:

Alickadoo said:

Last time, I used these people

https://tinyurl.com/s52k43ex

OK, they charged a fiver to fit them, but if it goes wrong, it's down to them.

And when they try to yank up the wipers, bend the arms and chip the paint on the bonnet because the bonnet is in the way you are none the wiser and a fiver down. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Only they didn't.

I was there. You weren't.

[budgie smuggler]

James6112 said:

Reminded me, I need to change mine.
Skoda Superb, Bosch ones £18.50 on Amazon!

Edited by James6112 on Monday 13th May 18:37

Beware, lots of fakes on Amazon and Ebay.

[bodhi]

Aren't you as well just going to Halfords for those?

Just checked as my 1 Series could do with a new set - £16 each for Bosch Aerotwins.

[murphyaj]

I've had this a few times, garage fails the MOT on wiper blades then wants a eye watering amount to change them.

At least once in the past I have refused and run down there with a set from Halfords, stuck them on myself, then got them to do a retest. Most recently however the car was with a specialist that was a 45 minute drive away, I couldn't get down there, and needed it back for the weekend, so had to suck it up and hand over £76.84 for a pair.

In future I will replace them every 2 years right before the MOT just to be on the safe side.

[James_N]

The joy of running an old shed. New wiper blades are £1.46 each! Some of the prices quoted here are bonkers!

[James6112]

budgie smuggler said:

James6112 said:

Reminded me, I need to change mine.
Skoda Superb, Bosch ones £18.50 on Amazon!

Edited by James6112 on Monday 13th May 18:37

Beware, lots of fakes on Amazon and Ebay.

I’ll take a close look
The company they are coming from have been in business since 1967
I doubt they would get away with selling fakes tbh.

[Fermit]

An unmentioned multi-branch autocentre wanted £70 for blades for my E91. Bought them online the next day for £20ish.

[wong]

I've just replaced wipers on three cars and found Halfords to be cheapest (cheaper than wiperblades.co.uk) - under £20 for each pair of front wipers - all Bosch Aerotwin

[Freakuk]

Just replaced the front wipers on the GR Yaris, Bosch aeroblades £22 from Halfords.

Seemed about right to me.

[FMOB]

Alickadoo said:

FMOB said:

Alickadoo said:

Last time, I used these people

https://tinyurl.com/s52k43ex

OK, they charged a fiver to fit them, but if it goes wrong, it's down to them.

And when they try to yank up the wipers, bend the arms and chip the paint on the bonnet because the bonnet is in the way you are none the wiser and a fiver down. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Only they didn't.

I was there. You weren't.

Absolutely correct, I wasn't there but doesn't mean my comment isn't valid.

If you are so confident in their abilities why did you stay there rather do something most interesting/enjoyable than supervising installation of wiper blades?

I recall seeing some chap getting his Alfa Romeo written-off by a tech from who was it, oh yeah, guess who!!!

[ChocolateFrog]

FMOB said:

Alickadoo said:

Last time, I used these people

https://tinyurl.com/s52k43ex

OK, they charged a fiver to fit them, but if it goes wrong, it's down to them.

And when they try to yank up the wipers, bend the arms and chip the paint on the bonnet because the bonnet is in the way you are none the wiser and a fiver down. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Exactly what happens if you try to lift the wiper arms of a MG4, not even sure if there's a service position.

Edited by ChocolateFrog on Tuesday 14th May 13:46

[IdiotRace]

Got caught out last year with the mini and the factory wiperblades were completely shot after having 0 rain for ages so ended up going to local halfords to get a set. They didn't have the bosch aero wipers so just the standard bosch ones and from new they squeeked horribly. The more it rained the noisier the damn things were, I tried cleaning them but it persisted annoyingly I'd lost the recipit too.

Ended up buying a set of Denso aero blades, which looked identical to the oem ones and worked perfectly. I've had no issues with the standard bosch blades over the years using them on quite a few cars so I wonder if they've dropped in quality. Although I used a set of Densos on my mr2 before I sold it and was happy enough so think I'll just stick with them. Either that or go with fancy PIAA silicone jobbies.

[ChocolateFrog]

I've haven't bought Bosch blades for a few years but the quality of some of their other stuff is definitely got worse.

I avoid them as a brand now where I can.

[dvs_dave]

FMOB said:

This was an online upsell before they have even seen the car.

It’s a pre-check to see how inept and gullible you are and if they should get you in front of their very best upselling ‘service advisor’ aka conman.

Anyone that pays main dealer pricing for wiper blades, washer, and indicator fluid deserves everything they get.

[Big Nanas]

My wife had her mini-e in for first service couple of weeks ago:
quoted:
- wipers fitted for £80
- slow puncture in rear tyre - £200 for replacement

Sod that.
£18 Bosch wipers from Amazon, which took 2 mins to fit
£17 tyre repair from local independent tyre shop.

Great savings.

[FMOB]

dvs_dave said:

FMOB said:

This was an online upsell before they have even seen the car.

It’s a pre-check to see how inept and gullible you are and if they should get you in front of their very best upselling ‘service advisor’ aka conman.

Didn't consider in that light, obviously failed the test as I didn't click anything but instead spent my time correcting all the mistakes and errors in the rather long list of warranty problems they need to look at instead.