Having Good Wiper Blades Isn't For Everyone
Discussion
Are most drivers generally not bothered about the condition of their windscreen wipers? I say most because when it rains, I reckon something like nine out of 10 vehicles coming towards me appear to have worn, or ineffective wiper blades.
Yesterday I drove through an industrial area of Enfield where vans for well known delivery companies leave their depots as they set out on their daily journeys, and they all had dodgy wipers. Trucks - newish trucks - showing rainbows on the glass indicating there may well be something on the glass which might be a factor, but for the overwhelming majority of cars I see on my travels, there simply is no excuse. Their wipers are well past their change date.
Aside from the legality, are these cars not getting snared in their annual test? Are they recorded as advisories, or are the testers not carrying out a proper test? I personally cannot live with dodgy wipers and as much as me being in the trade of fitting windscreens and glass (maybe I should start selling wipers too) having a wiper that doesn't clear the screen on the first sweep prompts me to take action (either clean or replace). Many cars I see during my traffic surveys on rainy days have wipers that don't even clear on the return sweep, never mind the first one!
Is it now a case of people are getting away with it, a bit like driving whilst texting/interacting on social media? They're either not bothered, or simply are good at looking through a streaky/wet windscreen?
Yesterday I drove through an industrial area of Enfield where vans for well known delivery companies leave their depots as they set out on their daily journeys, and they all had dodgy wipers. Trucks - newish trucks - showing rainbows on the glass indicating there may well be something on the glass which might be a factor, but for the overwhelming majority of cars I see on my travels, there simply is no excuse. Their wipers are well past their change date.
Aside from the legality, are these cars not getting snared in their annual test? Are they recorded as advisories, or are the testers not carrying out a proper test? I personally cannot live with dodgy wipers and as much as me being in the trade of fitting windscreens and glass (maybe I should start selling wipers too) having a wiper that doesn't clear the screen on the first sweep prompts me to take action (either clean or replace). Many cars I see during my traffic surveys on rainy days have wipers that don't even clear on the return sweep, never mind the first one!
Is it now a case of people are getting away with it, a bit like driving whilst texting/interacting on social media? They're either not bothered, or simply are good at looking through a streaky/wet windscreen?
I think a lot of it is reluctance to pay the price dealers charge for them, and the suspicion they are upselling them when they don't actually need replacing.
A colleague and myself recently had our cars (XC90 and Polestar 2) serviced at our local Volvo dealer within a week of each other. They tried to tell both of us that the wipers were smearing, when they weren't. The cost to replace them was £210 and £140 respectably. Most people are going to be presented with a cost like that, and say no thanks, particularly when they feel the wipers are fine. Of course there'll be plenty of people who fall for it and pay the price to have wipers changed which don't even need changing.
A colleague and myself recently had our cars (XC90 and Polestar 2) serviced at our local Volvo dealer within a week of each other. They tried to tell both of us that the wipers were smearing, when they weren't. The cost to replace them was £210 and £140 respectably. Most people are going to be presented with a cost like that, and say no thanks, particularly when they feel the wipers are fine. Of course there'll be plenty of people who fall for it and pay the price to have wipers changed which don't even need changing.
Cant say I have ever really paid attention to or even noticed anyone else's wiper efficiency however I have noticed recently a trend of having your wipers on full tilt when its barely spitting and then leaving them on for a few miles after its stopped, bonus points for a rear wiper left on for even longer.
I think most peoples idea of wiper blades are turning up a Halfords and finding out that a pair of them is nearly £50, and they thing it's rocket science to fit them. If they are organised and buy early from Amazon etc, they can have them for half the price, take 5 mins to read the instructions and fit them themselves.
Many motorists have little understanding of optimal car usage/ownership.
See so many drivers with the wipers swishing on a high setting, when an occasional one-off swipe will do. And don’t get me started on those who use wipers to de-ice.
Similarly, buying new wipers ahead of change, can save plenty shekels. I often get mine for as little as £10 a pair online.
See so many drivers with the wipers swishing on a high setting, when an occasional one-off swipe will do. And don’t get me started on those who use wipers to de-ice.
Similarly, buying new wipers ahead of change, can save plenty shekels. I often get mine for as little as £10 a pair online.
I've been using eBay's knock-off of those flat Bosch blades for several years now. I get 3 years out of a set. Smear/judder free. I always run the wash mitt up and down them when I wash the car which seems to prolong their life. Less than half price of the Bosch ones so the Bosch ones would have to last over 6 years a pair for them to be a better purchase.
Biker's Nemesis said:
A good tip if you're fitting your own wiper blades is to place cardboard or a thick blanket behind the blades before you start.
If the arm springs back when you've just removed the blade it's very likely you'll break the windscreen.
Thanks for the advice 12 years too late.If the arm springs back when you've just removed the blade it's very likely you'll break the windscreen.
Cost me a golf windscreen.
Biker's Nemesis said:
If the arm springs back when you've just removed the blade it's very likely you'll break the windscreen.
With our company cars there was an agreement with Halfords to do all the maintenance. So one of the guys at work takes his 1 series to Halfords to get the wipers changed. Later that day he gets a call to say that the wiper pinged back and broke the screen and that they would pay to have a new one fitted.It never ceases to amaze me how useless people are and they cannot do the simplest of jobs. One of my friends would take his car to a main dealer to get a bulb changed. I have seen numerous people late for work as they got a puncture and don't know how to fit the spare.
I just think people are either too lazy or think it beneath them to fit a set of wipers. Also as you say, the prices Halfords charge they probably see it is £50 and put it off.
ajap1979 said:
I think a lot of it is reluctance to pay the price dealers charge for them, and the suspicion they are upselling them when they don't actually need replacing.
A colleague and myself recently had our cars (XC90 and Polestar 2) serviced at our local Volvo dealer within a week of each other. They tried to tell both of us that the wipers were smearing, when they weren't. The cost to replace them was £210 and £140 respectably. Most people are going to be presented with a cost like that, and say no thanks, particularly when they feel the wipers are fine. Of course there'll be plenty of people who fall for it and pay the price to have wipers changed which don't even need changing.
£210 to change a set of wiper blades? A colleague and myself recently had our cars (XC90 and Polestar 2) serviced at our local Volvo dealer within a week of each other. They tried to tell both of us that the wipers were smearing, when they weren't. The cost to replace them was £210 and £140 respectably. Most people are going to be presented with a cost like that, and say no thanks, particularly when they feel the wipers are fine. Of course there'll be plenty of people who fall for it and pay the price to have wipers changed which don't even need changing.
I know main dealers are expensive (never been to one as I do 95% of work on my own cars), but how the hell can that be justified?
Faust66 said:
ajap1979 said:
I think a lot of it is reluctance to pay the price dealers charge for them, and the suspicion they are upselling them when they don't actually need replacing.
A colleague and myself recently had our cars (XC90 and Polestar 2) serviced at our local Volvo dealer within a week of each other. They tried to tell both of us that the wipers were smearing, when they weren't. The cost to replace them was £210 and £140 respectably. Most people are going to be presented with a cost like that, and say no thanks, particularly when they feel the wipers are fine. Of course there'll be plenty of people who fall for it and pay the price to have wipers changed which don't even need changing.
£210 to change a set of wiper blades? A colleague and myself recently had our cars (XC90 and Polestar 2) serviced at our local Volvo dealer within a week of each other. They tried to tell both of us that the wipers were smearing, when they weren't. The cost to replace them was £210 and £140 respectably. Most people are going to be presented with a cost like that, and say no thanks, particularly when they feel the wipers are fine. Of course there'll be plenty of people who fall for it and pay the price to have wipers changed which don't even need changing.
I know main dealers are expensive (never been to one as I do 95% of work on my own cars), but how the hell can that be justified?
Faust66 said:
ajap1979 said:
I think a lot of it is reluctance to pay the price dealers charge for them, and the suspicion they are upselling them when they don't actually need replacing.
A colleague and myself recently had our cars (XC90 and Polestar 2) serviced at our local Volvo dealer within a week of each other. They tried to tell both of us that the wipers were smearing, when they weren't. The cost to replace them was £210 and £140 respectably. Most people are going to be presented with a cost like that, and say no thanks, particularly when they feel the wipers are fine. Of course there'll be plenty of people who fall for it and pay the price to have wipers changed which don't even need changing.
£210 to change a set of wiper blades? A colleague and myself recently had our cars (XC90 and Polestar 2) serviced at our local Volvo dealer within a week of each other. They tried to tell both of us that the wipers were smearing, when they weren't. The cost to replace them was £210 and £140 respectably. Most people are going to be presented with a cost like that, and say no thanks, particularly when they feel the wipers are fine. Of course there'll be plenty of people who fall for it and pay the price to have wipers changed which don't even need changing.
I know main dealers are expensive (never been to one as I do 95% of work on my own cars), but how the hell can that be justified?
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