Consumer Reports just tested wipers up in Alaska. At the beginning, Rain-X tested #1. Six months later, they were still #1.
I just replaced my fairly new Icons with the Rain-X blades and am very, very
pleased with the results. Western Washinton. Fall. Wiper paradise. 'nuff said.

 

I love my PIAAs. Pricey, but they rock.

 

I've responded once, but here is more detail on my experience:

Yea, disagree. Put Sillblades on 3 cars last year, took them off of 3 cars this year. For a blade that is supposed to last for 5 years, the claim did not live up to reality.

After 1 years, the wipers on all 3 cars were streaking (Acura MDX, Toyota Sienna, Toyota Camry). My wife kept complaining about it, and I tried to clean the blades to no effect. The blade itself was still "intact" but in fact, it was getting cut up with usage. No dry rot or rubber breakdown (since they are silicone), but they were not cleaning the glass properly.

Now I'm of the firm opinion that you buy a good blade for a decent price, and then plan to replace it in a year. No matter how long the material may last, the environmental wear on the edge over time will leave holes in it, just like a knife edge get nicks in it. Once that happens, you can't get streak free glass.

I also had trouble with the metal blades of one set of Sillblades breaking down where the paint did not bond with the metal and it rusted out.


I ended up getting the PIAA's for my MINI at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00067BYDE about $19 each.

I also found refills for them here, but have not bought yet ($9):
http://www.sigmaauto.com/safety/piaa/wiper.php (very bottom)

I'm not recommending the PIAAs as I just put them on about a month ago.

smp

 

A good wiper is more than just the rubber, it is 75% the suspension in the wiper it's self, I have used the Bosch Icon and Rain-X on my car and can hardly tell the difference between the two (both excellent) But I feel the Bosch if anything look a bit more OEM. I feel the best improvement to wiper performance is stripping your windsheild and throughly cleaning the built-up grime and oil off that usually does not come off easily in a car wash, which is usually the cause for streaks.

 

Okay, after reading all this and being in need of new blades, I've decided to try the Rain-X. 18" for the driver's side, 19" for the passenger side, and what, is it 15" for the rear?

 

I bought the Rain-X Latitude's 18" for the drivers side and 19" for the passengers side and both wiper blades do not make contact on the ends of each wiper blade. I just put them on yesterday because it was raining but since they are not making contact on either end of the wiper blade it really pisses me off (OCD). The 19" doesn't get the complete right side of the window, and the 18" do not wipe completely on either side. I don't know if its because they don't have enough pressure to make the push down harder or what.

 

Amazon sells the refills for $6.37 each: 18", 19" (and free shipping if you purchase $25 of Super Saver items).

As I mentioned above, I think the PIAA refills might fit the OEM wipers, and at this price I'm going to give it a try. If they don't fit, I'll get the complete PIAA wipers and keep the refills for later, so it's little risk.

 

I use rain-x on all of my cars but found that polishing your windows makes the blades work better, on top of having to use them less as the water streaks off at speed.

 

Great info. Thanks for sharing.

 

What do you use to polish the windshield?
thanks

 

I've used just plain old carnuba wax for a number of years. I recently found glass doctor and it helps removed alot of the grit that gets embedded in your glass, I then just used good old mothers when I waxed Mojo. Works beautifully, lasts about 6 months and traveling at 55mph I can set the wipers to intermittant.

 

can you please tell me if your windshield could be a different size or curvature as the '08 MCS??
Not sure what year you have, or if there would be a difference in model year.
I tried a 19" blade by another company (Armour All) (as in avoid at Armour All costs!!)
The passenger side 19" blade did not make complete contact to the end of the blade. When I read you have two 19" blades going I got excited... but I don't want to order till I'm sure I'm getting the perfect fit.
Thanks!!

 

It's just too bad the Rain-X blades don't cover very well. The last couple of inches of the blade don't even touch the Mini's windshield. I have them.

 

I also tried the Rain-X, and they are offal. The outer 2" of each blade does not touch the glass at all. I tried bending them to fit the curve of the Gen-1 windshield, but instead I got a 3" section inboard on the blade that didn't touch. On the area that they do touch, they do a nice of of cleaning, but are otherwise unacceptable.

The only ones I've found that work well are the OEM rubber inserts, IMHO.

 

I have PIAAs and they have been on for almost a year. They still work good as new, even after a summer baking in the hot CA sun. Worth every penny, and I will buy the refills when the time comes. I got the pair at OutMotoring.com for I think around $35 for the set.

Here they are.

 

So these are a big improvement over the stock excuses for wipers? I'm so not thrilled with some of the stock essential pieces--the halogens are weak and the wiper blades are craptastic. I paid over 25k for this??? Arg.

$35 sounds like a good price for a safer driving experience.

 

Does the entirety of the blades make contact with the windshield? I must know this before getting them.

 

Do you think my OCD would allow anything else?

 

Do you guys all look out the corner 2" of your windshields on a regular basis?

 

Given that your line of sight gets jacked up by pillar...yes, actually, I do use that, especially when I'm turning or driving through mountain roads.

 

Just double-checking.

 

Even when you're just doing normal visual scanning on a straightaway, any reduction in field of view is noticeable on a MINI.

 

How about that section of unswept windshield in the middle? You know, when the right blade sweeps water over to the left, and the left blade doesn't get it all? So now you have a streak of unswept water and crud in the middle of the glass. That's what the Rain-X blades leave.

 

Agreed.

 

I have Bosch Icons that have lasted (miraculously... no idea how) for 1.5 years. They're just now starting to get bad.

I also use Collinite Insulator Wax on my car... glass and paint! At 20 MPH, water falls off; at 55 MPH it flies off!