Does anyone else have problems with the stock wiper blades on the 2013s? It's driving me batty! I searched and didn't see a thread on this topic. No matter how many blades replaced, ALL share the same problem: skipping/chattering. I understand it is a design flaw when BMW changed the blade design. Any suggestions? Yes - I've tried RainEx; only temporary (short term) relief. Do folks go with aftermarket blades? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

I don't have that problem with my Mini, but I did experience it with my Infiniti G35. The chattering and skipping happened because I had put Rain X on the windshield. No Rain X, no chattering. Are you using Rain X?

 

I actually saw a youtube video showing how to fix this a few weeks ago. I don't have time to find it and post a link right now. Basically the wiper arm (not blade) has twisted slightly so the blade is being pushed instead of pulled across the glass. The guy put an adjustable wrench on the arm and twisted the other way just a bit and no more chattering!

Look it up on YouTube. Let me know if you can't find it and I'll try to look later this evening.

 

Bosch Icon blades. Done.

 

My wipers have sucked since day 1. It's so bad that I don't even want to drive the car when it rains. The dealer has changed the blades twice. Next they said they will change the whole arms. I just need to bring it in.

I have yet to find aftermarket replacement.

 

The problem is that the 2013 have a weird connection. Nobody makes an adapter that works.

 

I've watched the video and have tried this. The problem is that the wiper chatters on BOTH the up AND down strokes.

 

I changed to ECS wiper blades that is the same as the 2013. They were good, then they began to chatter. When I contacted them, they told me to strip the rain-x off the glass. I did that and the chattering stopped. When I had the car washed, there is rain-x in the carwash. I had to restrip the rain-x off the glass again, and again the chattering stopped.

 

Nope. I only tried it once earlier this year. Haven't used it since.

 

Same with mine. It will be okay for a while, and after a spell with continued use, it will start chattering on both the up and down strokes. I've had the dealer replace them 3 times.

 

Have you tried stripping off any and all prior products and cleaning the glass really well? My method learned only due to and thru owning the MINI is- wash vehicle, razor blade the glass with a lubricant (washing suds will do but you can use a special product if you like), clay the glass with lubricant, buff with glass polish, then apply a glass sealant. I chose Griots but I am sure any comparable will be ok. The results are out of this world. Very clean glass, very slippery and no chatter. Of course the sealant is Hydrophobic and acts like rain-x so you get all of those benefits too. Almost don't need the wipers at speed.

 

Yes. You need to not use rain-x and strip and clean the glass. I have a 2013 roadster and they started with the stupid new wipers. That chattered so bad that I could not use them. After stripping the rain-x and using a product called Opti Glass Coating all is good.

 

Strange. I use Rain X and have no chattering issues.

Only issue I've found is that the passenger blade doesn't contact the glass on the far right when resting in the down position.

 

Same here. No major issues. Long time user of the mono beam wipers since our 2006 rental car in Germany had them.

Still on my original set from the factory, well over a year old.

 

I don't think it's a Rain-X issue. I've razor bladed the window and clay bared it too, and have never used Rain-X. Maybe they used it on the car during dealer prep, IDK but I got the with 7 miles on the odometer, it rained on the way home and they chattered.

It seems like a somewhat isolated problem, definitely not wide spread so hopefully changing the whole arm assembly will fix the problem, we'll see.

 

Can I can get them through MINI, or, if not, where and what brand/model? This sounds like a winner from what I read on some performance car sites on the net. Sounds like a really simple, clever, and effective design. Great tip!!

 

I've experienced the same issue using RainX on the windshield of my MCS.I love RainX, but I can't use it on this car!

 

Clean the windshield with alcohol. I did mine last week and instantly no more chatter. I have done this several times and always success after. The car wash I use offers rain-x which I decline but it must get dispensed regardless since it is in the lines. Try it, there is no reason it shouldn't work for you too.

 

I will try that. Thanks.

 

An update for anyone else:

My wipers have been horrible since I bought the car with 7 miles on the odometer (raining the day I took delivery). I believe that the dealer used rain-X or similar product. I typically wash the car at least once a week and clean the windshield at least a few times a week.

I've scraped and claybarred the windshield to no avail.

I decided (as suggested) to make my own water/alcohol solution and have not had any problems.

Even though I've never used rain-x, I believe that one of my car washing/detailing products has something in it that causes the chatter. Cleaning the windshield with the alcohol/water solution strips this off and completely eliminates the chatter.

 

Thanks for the update. I've been curious what happened. And thanks to the poster for the alcohol comment. I also suspected the cause was a window treatment but didn't know it could be removed with alcohol

 

Try changing your washer fluid and going with a different brand of anti-freeze washer fluid. On my 2013 MCS that I got about 1 year ago, I had no problems until I went to a different washer fluid. I think the washer fluid started braking down the wiper rubber, resulting in rubber gradually building up on the windshield (in very small amounts, but enough to cause serious friction and then chatter). Cleaning the windshield with just about anything, soap, alcohol, windex, temporarily improved things as long as I got all the residue off, but then things would get back to chattering until I switched washer fluid brand, and no more problems since then, I was actually able to continue to use the old blades. The 'bad' fluid was some orang-ish stuff that had a nice low temp rating.

 

I have had chatter return only after a trip to the car wash and always remedied the situation by a good alcohol and razor blade cleaning of the windshield. It has worked every time.

 

Wash and polish residues from the roof section wash down over the windscreen when stationary - this also adds to the problem.

I've no issues with our Mini - i've treated the glass with GtechniQ nano technology products and we barely use the wipers now - way better than RainX which i'd used for 15 years previously on various cars.