OK.. Big rain today.. most of the rain driving since ownership has been little bits and pieces.. Today (well yesterday) driving for an hour in heavy downpour I ended up with big black smudges on the windshield. The vents were open, not hot/no defroster.. it was very wet, wipers on normal. Is it just poor product or defect? I was planning on switching to silblade anyway but really, the car is only 3mos old. I'd expect the blades to hold up.

 

Were you using RainX or a similar product? RainX can cause certain blades to smudge, but in my experience it's been a white-ish smudge (I believe the waxy RainX coming off where the wipers reverse).

If the blades themselves are leaving marks, have the dealer replace them on your next drive past them. That ain't right.

I have the Valeo Ultimates from Tire Rack - great blades for winter since they don't freeze up as badly, but they're not as aero as the OE blades, and the tip of the PS blade doesn't follow the extreme curvature of the windshield there. So... can't help you there. I think the Bosch and PIAA versions of similar design will likewise not follow that curvature (it's just geometry, physics, and materials science in that design).

My favorite sindshield stuff on the planet - holds up far better than RainX and works twice as well, no smudges or chatter:

 

Thanks.. yeah no rainx on the windows... just any glass cleaner that I might have used in the past (nothing even recent). The smudges are black.. like melted rubber-gunk. I had Silblade on my Z3 and loved it but checking last night they don't sell a MINI model... :( Definitely will take it over to the dealer today and show it. But if its going to keep happening then I want something else. With the product you put above, does it leave a residue ala rainx?

 

eenieMini, my MINI went thru this back in 2002 when i got my MCS, smudges in the upper left hand cornier of my windsheild.
The Dealers checked the wipers the first time, replaced them the second and the third time I went ahead and installed the PIAA Silicone wipers from Moss. The PIAA have been on since early 2003 and still work great.

 

No, no visible residue from the PPG stuff, just clear beading water. I know it leaves something on the window, that's how it works, it's just that on 4 cars and over a year of usage on 2 of 'em I have seen no smudges or chattering wipers, and little degradation of performance. It goes on pretty easy too, comes in a single-use applicator, wipes on in 2 directions, then "buff" with a paper towel until clear (buffing is far easier than RainX).

Don't get me wrong, RainX is great stuff but has its limitations (smudges, limited life), this stuff is just better (lasts longer, easier to apply, no smudges).

(note: While I do live in Pittsburgh I have absolutely no affiliation with PPG or the above product, other than being a satisfied customer)

 

Thanks.. I'll not bother with the dealer replace and go straight to the piaa's. It doesn't rain all that much here but still would rather have a long lasting blade.

 

I'm reading "Hydrophobic" as afraid of water.
I just wax my windshield whenever I wax my car. That works too.

 

Short of flying to PGH, do you know where this stuff is available? I love my Rain-X, but it makes sense that after this many years someone would come up with a better mousetrap.