wiper blades are only covered once a year. Also dousing rubbing alcohol on paper towels and wiping all the excess "black" crap off of your wipers will bring them back to new.....

Never use windex on the front or rear windshield unless the wipers have been pulled away as the ammonia will eat away at the rubber.

 

I guess I should start thinking about new wiper blades. I still have the originals from early 2007, but then this is California. What's the best wiper for brush fires?

My windshield was treated as part of windsheild insurance from the dealer. I also have the rain sensing wipers (which worked great the few times it rained).

So, what are the recommendations for rain-only wipers? Don't need anything for snow or ice.

 

While wandering through one of my local Costco stores, I noticed that they were selling Goodyear Assurance All-season Performance wiper blades. I bought 2 (an 18" and a 19") for $7.99 each. They installed very easily. After the fact, I decided to look online and see if there were any reviews. There were, and they were good. Some posted that they think these blades might even be the same ones Bosch sells as Icons. All I know for sure is that they were very reasonably priced and in the sizes I needed. Now, if it ever rains here in San Diego again (we just got our first measurable rainfall since June 16th the other day), I'll be able to see how well they work.

Here are some of the claims on the packaging:

• Optimize layover angle
• Round hinge
• SilentArmor Technology
• Optimal wipe angle 45 degrees

#3 Advanced coating to protect rubber and provide silent wiping action.
Round Top design creates VORTEX for maximum wiping power! (Their emphasis, not mine)

For $7.99, they seem pretty nice. I'm not worried.

 

If you tell the SA that your wiper blades blow when you go in for service they'll replace them. I hardly ever use mine but the stock ones seem just fine. I love the auto wipers, just wish you didn't have to turn them on everytime you start the car (I know, it's all about the car wash).

 

I picked up my '10 MCS last month, and the blades suck. From the get go, they were streaky, and not very effective.

Cleaning the rubber, and using Rain-X on the glass made it much better. I think it was the insert still had the mold release on it.

 

I had my car for a month before I decided to change the wipers with something from the local auto supply shop. The factory ones sucked, and the ones I bought are good, but once they are on for a while start to chatter. I plan to bring it up when I take it in for service eventually...I'll put the OEM ones back on and make them change it.

 

i switched to the bosch icons. i've used them for a while on MB's and love them. they don't touch everywhere due to the curve of the windscreen but where they do touch (the important parts) they do very well. much better than the oem one's. i'd recommend any of the one pieces.

 

I currently have a cheap flat-blade (one-piece) wiper as a trial on the passenger side and a Bosch AeroTwin (I reckon this is just the Yurpeen name for the Icon) on the driver's side. I think the Bosch does wipe a bit more of the screen but mainly it's better because it doesn't make any noise or shudder on a nearly-dry screen. Well worth the extra money.

But any flat-blade is a major improvement over the frankly dangerous OEM blades.

Andrew

 

I just switched mine to the PIAA super silicone and I LOVE them! The little pre-application wipey that they give you works wonders to wisk the water off the windshield properly, so you don't even need to use the blades half the time.
As I work in insurance, we work closely with windhsield repair companies and they recommend changing your blades at least every 6 months even if you're not in a rainy area, just because they do bake in the sun and get a bunch of crud on them if left outside when parked, etc. etc.
As someone mentioned before, you can take rubbing alcohol and wipe off the blades every so often to clean them up good as new. (unless they're old and cracking from being baked...)


oh, p.s. anyone else who has the PIAA super silicone blades... is the PIAA logo on the driver's side blade upside down when installed?? Mine is and I can't figure out any way to turn it rightside up, and it's driving me nuts!!

 

mine isn't upside down. probably cause that C1 plastic adapter should be flipped, but now that it's snapped in, i would worry about breaking it if you try to pull it off.

i do like the blades. no coverage issues like my prior valeo ultimates, and silky smooth. got em from outmotoring at a decent price for the pair.

 

Just installed a set of Rain-X Latitude blades.
Supposed to rain here in a few days (big news!). We'll see how they do.
The OEM blades were weak.

 

thanks lacning...I might still try to flip it, cause it bugs the crap out of me..

 

What about the rear wiper. I went to advance auto parts and bought a pair of rain x wipers (the 10 dollar ones) for the front. Nothing showed on the rear for any wiper. Is it something special?

 

According to my SA it is a MINI only thing. I had mine swapped under warranty

 

Trico neoform beam blades work awesome. They are the flat, frameless, euro blades many mention above. You can look up sizes online by googling wiper size lookup.

Rock On,
Jeff

 

anyone try these?
http://www.piaa.com/WiperBlades/forza.html

Would probably need two 18" blades and miss out a little on the passenger side. But shouldn't be too big of a problem.

 

On '07+ MINIs with auto sensing wipers: button on the end of the stalk turns on rain-sensing. Press it again to turn it off. Flip the stalk up to start the wipers (non-rain sensing) and then flip the stalk up/down to increase/decrease the speed.

 

I think that was only a feature on the later '07 models. Cuz mine doesn't have the button. For me, one tick up goes to Automatic, then Medium and then Fast. Ticking Down goes back down the ladder and then a tick down does a single wipe.

 

I have the stock blades on my 07 and the dealer has replaced them for me as often as allowed, I think every six month. However, I rarely use them. I HIGHLY recommend Aquapel by PPG. You can get a four pack from Costco for @ $10. I used to use rainx but it doesn't last long and as it wears the blades grab and leave a black mark on the windshield at the end of the stroke. The Aquapel lasts about six months or so. Somebody, maybe in one of the mini forums did a video showing it compared to Rainx. Try it, I guarantee you will find it worth the couple of dollars, and you can use whatever blades you want, as long as your speed is above 40 mph you don't need them.

 

Ditto on the Aquapel Glass Treatment. Rocks big time. Can get it online too.

 

Here is another option for the cold weather climate folks here.

These heat up and thus do not have ice or snow collect on them when in use.

http://www.autoxcooper.com/heated_blades_order.html

 

Tried to get the dealer to replace mine but they wouldn't because the previous owner put some crappy aftermarket ones on. SA actually went outside and looked to see what was on there. Car was bought from the same dealer too, at least they could of done was show some good will.

 

When people say "The Dealer replaced the Blade", they only mean that the Dealer replaced the Rubber, not the entire Blade. The Dealer has the Rubber Blade on a big roll and cuts the blade to size. And since the previous owner replaced the blade the Dealer cannot replace the Rubber because it is no longer an OEM Blade.

BTW...I use Prima Nero on my OEM Wiper Blades and have the Dealer replace them every 6 months, I live in the PNW where Rain is mighty plentiful this time of year. It costs like $11 for all three!!!

 

Got and installed:
Trico 16-180 NeoForm Wiper Blade with Teflon - 18"
Trico 16-190 NeoForm Wiper Blade with Teflon - 19"
from Amazon. Hasn't rained since then. Very effective wiper at keeping the rain away.

 

Were one of those a rear wiper?