Wipers on DB11 and new Vantage

[EC2]

Anyone know why they have fitted people carrier style wipers to these cars? The DB9/older Vantage had what I would describe as normal wipers that both go to the right on a RHD car but the new cars have two central wipers which I have not personally liked. Are they an issue or do these cars not go out in the rain?

[Westlondondriver]

The ones on my DB11 work fine even in heavy rain. Expensive though I just had them replaced (4 years old) - £114 at the main dealer ! I am am sure I could have found a compatible pair for less elsewhere.

[LTP]

EC2 said:

Anyone know why they have fitted people carrier style wipers to these cars? The DB9/older Vantage had what I would describe as normal wipers that both go to the right on a RHD car but the new cars have two central wipers which I have not personally liked. Are they an issue or do these cars not go out in the rain?

Yep. The new DB11 and Vantage wiper systems design is purely due to underbonnet packaging space - no room for the pantograph mechanism on the bulkhead.

The other advantage is no need for different LHD/RHD systems. The system uses “smart” motors with one leading and the other following so the blades don’t hit each other. I believe they also move to park at the A-pillar at speed, thus reducing the aerodynamic loads on the parked blades - although when this happens some people think this is a fault.

A disadvantage of the DB11-type system (sometimes called “clap hands” for obvious reasons) is the relatively deep unswept “widow’s peak” in the centre of the screen, making positioning the automatic wiper sensors in the swept area a bit more problematic.

Edited by LTP on Sunday 3rd October 16:32

[EC2]

LTP said:

Yep. The new DB11 and Vantage wiper systems design is purely due to underbonnet packaging space - no room for the pantograph mechanism on the bulkhead.

The other advantage is no need for different LHD/RHD systems. The system uses “smart” motors with one leading and the other following so the blades don’t hit each other. I believe they also move to park at the A-pillar at speed, thus reducing the aerodynamic loads on the parked blades - although when this happens some people think this is a fault.

A disadvantage of the DB11-type system (sometimes called “clap hands” for obvious reasons) is the relatively deep unswept “widow’s peak” in the centre of the screen, making positioning the automatic wiper sensors in the swept area a bit more problematic.

Edited by LTP on Sunday 3rd October 16:32

Thank you for the full answer. When I’ve been in cars with these types of wipers before I have found them more distracting in use than the regular type but I guess you get used to it with time.