Just wondering if anyone has had success using aftermarket wiper blades on their mini.My stock ones are trashed and I would like to put a set of piaa's on it but i'm not sure on the size.Also has anyone put other blades on and had problems on the highway with lift from not having the spoiler on the drivers side blade?

 

I have the PIAAs and they have been great. the metal arm is perforated and doe4sn't lift. As you probably know they are silicon and you have to treat your windsheild for maximum effectiveness. It's something like Rain-X.

The two sides are different sizes if I rememeber right so you will need to check with a dealer.

The only negative is that they are very expensive.

 

I have silblades, they are great! No smearing, no mess, just a clean sharp wipe everytime. Probably one of the best things you can do for the car, since the MINI wipers are crap.


Silblade

 

Are wiper blades a performance modification?

There is some discussion on this subject in MINI Talk.

 

I have PIAA's.....much better than the stock wipers!

 

you've never owned a corrado if you think the mini blades suck. not trying to bash you in anyway, but i think the mini blades are great compatred to my old corrado. those didn't do crap for wiping.
however, are you guys replacing the whole wiper blade and bracket, or just the blade?

_________________

CCA
I'm looking for a new graphics/
animation related job. can you help?

 

In the roadfly.org web site someone changed the refill, not the entire blade. He said that the driver's side refill blade is a pain in the a** to change, but the rear window blade is easy.

 

so you guys actually have to drive in the rain?! wow, that sucks.

 

>>so you guys actually have to drive in the rain?! wow, that sucks.


haha..my thoughts exactly

 

What about the rear wiper? Can I, should I, put a better blade on the rear?

 

>>>>so you guys actually have to drive in the rain?! wow, that sucks.
>>
>>
>>haha..my thoughts exactly


Confused? I sure am. :shrug:

 

>>>>so you guys actually have to drive in the rain?! wow, that sucks.
>>
>>
>>haha..my thoughts exactly


>>Confused? I sure am. :shrug:

They must live in California where the sun shines approximately 97.625 percent of the time.

FrogGuts

 

So, what's better Silblade or PIAA? And do you get 17"/18" or 18"/19"?

Has anyone tried the Tenzo Wiper Wings?

 

I have the Silblades too (on Ant's recommendation), and I have to say they work outstandingly. They do have one drawback though, which is that I can't get the outermost tip of the driver's side blade to contact the windshield as it swings down, so I end up with a smattering of droplets down the middle. But the rest is so incredibly crystal-clear that I don't mind. I haven't yet tried to tinker with it.

As far as the sizes go, the Silblade site will tell what the correct sizes are you once you enter in Mini Cooper. The set, if I remember correctly, ends up being $35-ish, which includes the metal brackets, and I also sprung for the bottled windshield treatment because sometimes I am a sucker for that kind of stuff.

Installation was not too hard at all. And the Silblades are guaranteed for five years, which is ten times as long as my OEM blades lasted!

 

I have the PIAA's, and they are highly recommended! Well worth the price, and you can get them at http://www.tirerack.com

cheers,
Danny

 

Just got some PIAA Silicone blades also and so far they work great. Really quiet.

Not sure how it is in other parts of the country but here in NY they can b ehad locally for cheaper than what Tire Rack charges. Check PIAA website for local dealers.

Oh yeah .. they are now available in CARBON FIBER as well !!!

 

I got the Silblades on chrisnl's recommendation and they've been outstanding. There's no "wing" on the driver side blade but it doesn't matter, works perfectly, doesn't "lift" at any speed. My driver's side blade seems to keep in constant contact with the window all the way to the edge... wonder if there's a difference in 2002 and 2003 windshield angles or something?

Rock On,

-Joe

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and point out that MINI will probably refuse to honor cracked windshield claims if you have installed aftermarket wipers.

 

This is a thread that I just don't understand. I thought that the MINI really needed some chrome blades. So a week or so after I brought it home I went to the local parts store and picked up a pair. They were less than $9 each and work great. Best of all, they have a little lip that doesn't let them lift until I am quite a bit over the speed limit. I figure if I'm going that fast, I shouldn't do it in the rain so who cares. Just my $.02

 

How 'bout a pic of the chrome blades installed? :smile:

 

I will have a pic for you tomorrow.

 

I tried to install aftermarket "winter" blades but they didnt even come close to conforming to the windshield.

FWIW, wipers are included in your 50k worth of maintenance. I had mine replaced once by the dealership.

--
Cheese

 

>>I'm going to go out on a limb and point out that MINI will probably refuse to honor cracked windshield claims if you have installed aftermarket wipers.

Replacing the wipers will void your warranty. I would highly recommend not to replace them with non BMW OEM wipers. I know they are expensive, but the peace of mind is worth it.

I will be waiting until my warranty expires before I change them out. I can't believe how many risk takers we have here. I know I am going to hear "Well I have been driving 2,000 miles with no problem". Well that means squat. When you put 100,000 miles in extreme heat and cold conditions with salt water, then you can tell me they last. Otherwise, it is BMW for me (until my warranty expires). Plus the aftermarket ones look so "rice".












Did I get you guys! :smile: I just had to throw in all of the typical NAM comments.

 

>>FWIW, wipers are included in your 50k worth of maintenance. I had mine replaced once by the dealership.<<

That's good information! I'll have to put my crap ones back on before I go in for my next service, so I can get a free pair!

One caveat about the Silblades - in the summertime, the issue with the tip not making contact is no sweat. In the winter, though, if you drive where it's salty, the result is a permanent smear up the center of the windshield. Still, though, the Silblades work so much better than the OEMs that even THAT wasn't enough to make me get rid of them. Some others, though ( *cough* pezboy *cough* ) have been a bit more frustrated by the Silblades in winter...

 

I have tried the Silblades Winter Blades, which worked horribly. The rubber boot on the blades prevented the blades from conforming to the windshield. The regular Silblades work great on the other hand. Coverage and effectiveness is very good.