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Stock Problems/IssuesDiscussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Clubman (R55), Cooper and Cooper S(R56), and Cabrio (R57).
I wanted to put some new wiper blades on our new to us Cooper. I did a search here and found that the most recommended seemed to the Bosch Icon, so I bought some from Amazon.
Those of you who have traveled this path before me, know just what I got, but for the rest of you, I got some really nice replacement blades that will not go on a 2013 Mini Cooper. This because in the middle of 2012, Mini in their infinite wisdom, changed the standard hook ends on the arms to a straight connection. I boxed the Boschs back up and headed to the local parts store. Of the 8-10 different kinds of wiper blades they had hanging there none of them included an adapter for the Mini's straight-ending arms.
When we got home, I came here and re-did my search for wiper arms. This time instead of stopping after the first couple of threads and posts I dug deeper and discovered that there really isn't an aftermarket blade that'll work on my 2013 car. I ended up buying some stock blades from the forum sponsor ECS Tuning.
While perusing their site I discovered that they actually sell a kit to change from the earlier style to these new-fangled aero blades. Is there a 2 ounce weight savings involved here? Am I crazy for considering going the opposite way and getting the older hook-ended arms next time I need wiper blades?
Sometimes you need an engineering degree to decipher wiper blade fitment. I've been in the local auto parts store and had the owner tell me he had blades for my car, no problem. Then watch him waste 20 minutes trying to fit various blades to my car.
In some cases just going OEM is the best solution. Having said that did you try Valeo Ultimates? Not sure if they have what you need but I recall them fitting my Countryman when nothing else would.
Having said that did you try Valeo Ultimates? Not sure if they have what you need but I recall them fitting my Countryman when nothing else would.
The Advanced Auto I went to didn't carry that brand of blade. Do you think the ones that did work were called Beam Original? The photo on the Valeo website looks like it might be the one that would work with straight arms, but the text is inconclusive.
Amazon sells the 18" & 19" Valeo Ultimate with the Beam Original configuration and their product page says it won't work on my 2013. But how can I believe them when they said the Bosch Icons would fit and they clearly wouldn't.
Used the Bosch and never really liked them. The best wipers we've found are the Piaa blades. The set on my car is now over 4yrs old and still work better than the stock ones. And we do have them for the straight arms so you don't have to go back to the hooks https://www.waymotorworks.com/piaa-w...ades-2013.html
OK, maybe I am crazy for wanting to go backwards (and I probably won't), but for someone like me who drives longer than he should on crappy wipers, finally decides that enough is enough and buys news ones on a rainy day, it was a little unnerving to not be able to walk into the local chain auto parts store and get some replacements.
Originally Posted by WayMotorWorks
Used the Bosch and never really liked them. The best wipers we've found are the Piaa blades. The set on my car is now over 4yrs old and still work better than the stock ones. And we do have them for the straight arms so you don't have to go back to the hooks https://www.waymotorworks.com/piaa-w...ades-2013.html
Bookmarked the PIAA link for next time. I was going to make a joke about having them drone delivered in a hour, but then I noticed the Atlanta location. In a couple years when I do need new blades that might be possible for me as I'm only 150 miles away.
it was a little unnerving to not be able to walk into the local chain auto parts store
Im lucky I guess my 2011 I just walk into wally world and buy some bosch blades and done. BMW and Porsche love to make needlessly proprietary solutions when engineering. Each subsequent generation of them is harder and harder to work on but I guess in reality that is every manufacturer. I doubt that these little issues hurt sales at all to first time owners but in sum im sure some folks go more mainstream for the next ride. At least the oil is not some off the wall weight that costs 5X the price even if the filters must be ordered online. I still have never seen another manufacturer make the owner bend over part of the coolant system in order to change the oil filter (with a socket extension I may add). Porsche is the worst offender of this though. Cant even access the engine on some of the new ones without a lift.
