Windscreen Wiper Matters
Discussion
Having worn/ineffective wiper blades on a car. Is it really that much of a problem? I speak for the countless drivers I see behind a rainbow left by the return sweep of their windscreen wipers.
Whenever it rains, the number of cars I see with smeary/greasy-looking windscreens is obvious to me driving the opposite way; what's it like for them behind the wheel? It's not just the odd one here and there, it's spot the good ones (usually the newer cars).
Having good wipers that clear your windscreen is not only satisfying it's also (obviously?) giving you a clear view of the road. The moment mine start to look a bit streaky, they get replaced. If there are that many cars on the road with moody wipers, is it really an issue? Are they simply being marked as advisories on the last MOT? Or is there no real call because we haven't had a serious road incident where the wipers were cited to be the cause?
It's meant to be illegal, yet so many motorists no bothering/bothered by it.
Whenever it rains, the number of cars I see with smeary/greasy-looking windscreens is obvious to me driving the opposite way; what's it like for them behind the wheel? It's not just the odd one here and there, it's spot the good ones (usually the newer cars).
Having good wipers that clear your windscreen is not only satisfying it's also (obviously?) giving you a clear view of the road. The moment mine start to look a bit streaky, they get replaced. If there are that many cars on the road with moody wipers, is it really an issue? Are they simply being marked as advisories on the last MOT? Or is there no real call because we haven't had a serious road incident where the wipers were cited to be the cause?
It's meant to be illegal, yet so many motorists no bothering/bothered by it.
I reckon most people think that using the windscreen washer or washing the entire car is the only way to clean the windscreen.
I don't wash my car often but I clean the windscreen and wipers before every long journey. If the windscreen gets too dirty during a trip, e.g. with lots of insect splatter, I don't use the wipers to smear it, I stop and do it properly.
I think the main reason for people driving around with filthy windscreens isn't degraded wipers, it's just not routinely keeping the screen and wipers clean.
I don't wash my car often but I clean the windscreen and wipers before every long journey. If the windscreen gets too dirty during a trip, e.g. with lots of insect splatter, I don't use the wipers to smear it, I stop and do it properly.
I think the main reason for people driving around with filthy windscreens isn't degraded wipers, it's just not routinely keeping the screen and wipers clean.
mickyh7 said:
Just by looking at your username, I'm wondering if you sell Wiper Blades?
Bit pointless asking a Petrolheads forum this question, as we all keep our cars in pristine condition.
I probably change blades every year.
Why does it concern you so much?
Other way around, Glassman replaces windscreens and a fine gentleman he is Bit pointless asking a Petrolheads forum this question, as we all keep our cars in pristine condition.
I probably change blades every year.
Why does it concern you so much?
Glassman said:
Having worn/ineffective wiper blades on a car. Is it really that much of a problem? I speak for the countless drivers I see behind a rainbow left by the return sweep of their windscreen wipers.
Whenever it rains, the number of cars I see with smeary/greasy-looking windscreens is obvious to me driving the opposite way; what's it like for them behind the wheel? It's not just the odd one here and there, it's spot the good ones (usually the newer cars).
I tend to find that when this happens it's mostly due to a buildup of crud or some other surface contaminant on the screen (baWhenever it rains, the number of cars I see with smeary/greasy-looking windscreens is obvious to me driving the opposite way; what's it like for them behind the wheel? It's not just the odd one here and there, it's spot the good ones (usually the newer cars).
rd birds) after a dry spell. The wipers will be fine after a few rain showers so it's not worth changing them just yet, just takes a bit of elbow grease to shift the film at the earliest opportunity.
I have noticed the crap quality of replacement blades tho.
I bought my car at 6 months old. It’s now at 13k miles and the blades seem as good as new.
Previous older cars I was forever buying blades (supposedly good brands) at well under that mileage.
Do new cars get better quality blades than you can buy aftermarket?
Where do you buy ‘good’ blades?
I bought my car at 6 months old. It’s now at 13k miles and the blades seem as good as new.
Previous older cars I was forever buying blades (supposedly good brands) at well under that mileage.
Do new cars get better quality blades than you can buy aftermarket?
Where do you buy ‘good’ blades?
Drawweight said:
I have noticed the crap quality of replacement blades tho.
I bought my car at 6 months old. It’s now at 13k miles and the blades seem as good as new.
Previous older cars I was forever buying blades (supposedly good brands) at well under that mileage.
Do new cars get better quality blades than you can buy aftermarket?
Where do you buy ‘good’ blades?
OE blades are designed to follow the shape of the windscreen, and most importantly, to keep a correct level of force on the glass at the blade tips.I bought my car at 6 months old. It’s now at 13k miles and the blades seem as good as new.
Previous older cars I was forever buying blades (supposedly good brands) at well under that mileage.
Do new cars get better quality blades than you can buy aftermarket?
Where do you buy ‘good’ blades?
So not necessarily better, but designed to fit the windscreen and optimise the cleaning performance.
After market generic blades will be designed to be more or less compatible with any windscreen so may or may not work as well.
Cyder said:
OE blades are designed to follow the shape of the windscreen, and most importantly, to keep a correct level of force on the glass at the blade tips.
So not necessarily better, but designed to fit the windscreen and optimise the cleaning performance.
Unless the garage servicing your car doesn't spot the difference and fits LHD wipers on your RHD car, only to find the mount isn't symmetrical so the center of the blade lifts completely off the screen for part of the wipe!So not necessarily better, but designed to fit the windscreen and optimise the cleaning performance.
To be fair the garage was as surprised as me that they didn't fit properly and replaced them free of charge.
I think it’s just another indication of the times we live in, with regards to motoring in automotive white goods, for the majority of whom don’t care, couldn’t care or don’t know how to care about it. Another very obvious indication are they amount of throbber roaring around with faulty lights. It’s everywhere.
Anyway rant over. Genuine Bosch aero twin ( many fakes on EBay) and as importantly decent screen wash. I only use Decosol. I also change my wipers yearly, just as we head into winter, as I believe the summer with bugs etc is hardest on the baldes.
Anyway rant over. Genuine Bosch aero twin ( many fakes on EBay) and as importantly decent screen wash. I only use Decosol. I also change my wipers yearly, just as we head into winter, as I believe the summer with bugs etc is hardest on the baldes.
I can’t say I have noticed other cars wiper blades leaving streaks, etc.
What does annoy me is on some cars, after flick washing the screen, the parked blades allow a dribble of rain to flow up the screen. This requires a second flick, with the risk of a screech and a smear. It only happens on cars where the blades sit in the air-stream (wife’s ‘13 plate Fabia). It does not happen on the F30, where they sit out of the air-stream - so much so that you have to set the blades vertical to pull them away from the screen when maintaining them (easy enough to do, switch ignition on then off, hold the wiper switch up for three seconds). We moved to North Wales, very wet, but wiper blades seem to last longer. I agree bird crap can be a problem if you live in a seaside town, luckily we don’t.
What does annoy me is on some cars, after flick washing the screen, the parked blades allow a dribble of rain to flow up the screen. This requires a second flick, with the risk of a screech and a smear. It only happens on cars where the blades sit in the air-stream (wife’s ‘13 plate Fabia). It does not happen on the F30, where they sit out of the air-stream - so much so that you have to set the blades vertical to pull them away from the screen when maintaining them (easy enough to do, switch ignition on then off, hold the wiper switch up for three seconds). We moved to North Wales, very wet, but wiper blades seem to last longer. I agree bird crap can be a problem if you live in a seaside town, luckily we don’t.
normalbloke said:
I think it’s just another indication of the times we live in, with regards to motoring in automotive white goods, for the majority of whom don’t care, couldn’t care or don’t know how to care about it. Another very obvious indication are they amount of throbber roaring around with faulty lights. It’s everywhere.
Anyway rant over. Genuine Bosch aero twin ( many fakes on EBay) and as importantly decent screen wash. I only use Decosol. I also change my wipers yearly, just as we head into winter, as I believe the summer with bugs etc is hardest on the baldes.
I agree with the Bosch Aero twin blades. However, my F30 original blades lasted a long, long time. I only changed them after 4 years, and then only because I thought I ought to! I can’t remember when I last had to clean or adjust a nozzle, that used to be something I was doing all the time in the past. Anyway rant over. Genuine Bosch aero twin ( many fakes on EBay) and as importantly decent screen wash. I only use Decosol. I also change my wipers yearly, just as we head into winter, as I believe the summer with bugs etc is hardest on the baldes.
I had a very strange advisory once for my wiper blades, nothing to do with their ability to clear the screen, but just that they squeaked.
I am sure a squeaking wipe blade is not something a car could fail on, so it makes no sense at all to appear as an advisory. Its annoying, but not dangerous!
I am sure a squeaking wipe blade is not something a car could fail on, so it makes no sense at all to appear as an advisory. Its annoying, but not dangerous!
Evil.soup said:
Durzel said:
Are windscreen wipers supposed to be replaced every year regardless of use?
NopeTesla are suggesting (or at least, they've proposed) replacing my wiper blades and cabin air filter thing even though the car has only done 2800 miles (it is 2 years old though).
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff