Tell me about wiper blades

MikeBJ · Oct 31st, 2016, 13:19

Opinions please - I've found to my cost that my previous Audi was very sensitive to wiper blades - only genuine Audi did what they were supposed to do!

On other cars, I've had good results from Bosch. Halfords "own brand", on the other hand - -

Is the Volvo equally fussy? Genuine Volvo - or will Bosch give good results? I appreciate most OEM blades are quite likely actually made by Bosch, but as noted, using anything other than genuine Audi blades produced poor results.

Thanks - Mike

taz777 · Oct 31st, 2016, 14:11

I've just put Bosch A089S Aerotwin Flat Windscreen Wiper Blades on my S80.

Nowt better out there, in my opinion. Silky smooth rain clearance with each stroke leaving a completely clear windscreen. It's worth cleaning and polishing your windscreen prior to changing your wiper blades.

Clan · Oct 31st, 2016, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBJ

Opinions please - I've found to my cost that my previous Audi was very sensitive to wiper blades - only genuine Audi did what they were supposed to do!

On other cars, I've had good results from Bosch. Halfords "own brand", on the other hand - -

Is the Volvo equally fussy? Genuine Volvo - or will Bosch give good results? I appreciate most OEM blades are quite likely actually made by Bosch, but as noted, using anything other than genuine Audi blades produced poor results.

Thanks - Mike

The Bosch you get in Halfords last a season , the volvo Bosch ones up to 50000 miles , 3 seasons or more . They may not be Bosch anymore but still the best value even if the price has gone up , they were £35 a pair , at that time Citroen ones were £50 + a pair . Yes always good to clean the screen and also wiper blades if smeary , there seems to be a lot of diesel fuel flying around out there on the roads !

CTCNetwork · Oct 31st, 2016, 15:04

Hi,

I got a new set of volvo blades for my S80 and within two months I got a strip of slightly missed water film in the centre of the drivers blade bang smack in the middle.
Got a new set from the bay which are Valeo (or something) and again perfect for a couple of months followed by the same strip of slightly missed wipe in the centre of the drivers blade....

So maybe I have to get a new arm..? The Valeo's were fine otherwise...

Des. . .

taz777 · Oct 31st, 2016, 16:30

It could be dirt trapped between the blade and the windscreen. It could also be that your windscreen cleaning and polishing.

It should be silky smooth to the touch and you should be able to place a soft cloth onto it when it's dry and the cloth should slide to the bottom of the windscreen by itself.

I recommend using Autoglym Car Glass Polish to give the windscreen a really good polish. Wipe down the wiper rubber with a mild cleaner (soapy water or Windolene spray is fine).

But try the cloth test to see if the windscreen has a rough surface first as that's probably wearing your wiper blade rubber out.

Tatsfield · Oct 31st, 2016, 17:35

When "aerofoil" integral plastic sprung blades first came out, I fitted a set to a Peugeot 406 Coupe and experienced the same problem. The reason turned out to be that the standard metal blades sit much higher and so force the wiper arms further away from the screen and stretch the arm spring more and this holds the blade firmly on the screen. With the aerofoil blades the blades sit lower to the screen and the arm springs are hardly stretched so they apply little down force to the blades which are themselves sprung and the weak arm springs cannot overcome the blade spring so that the outer ends of the blade are against the glass but the centre is sprung away from the glass. The solution was to bend the arms inwards towards the windows so that the lesser blade height still pushed against the arm springs. Arms designed for aerofoil blades are sprung more fiercely to overcome the blades own springing. some 406 Coupe owners searched around breakers yards and bought aerofoil arms from other cars that worked without any bending and looked lower and neater. I hope this explanation makes sense as it is easier to show it to you for real and wave my hands about while explaining!

Simon Jones · Oct 31st, 2016, 19:37

I just bought a pair of Valeo Silencio blades from ECP and so far they are excellent.

RM955I · Oct 31st, 2016, 19:43

I used to buy cheap wiper blades...and now I only buy OE, Bosch or Valeo. I honestly though a wiper blade was a wiper blade but have since been convinced otherwise.

There's a Volvo offer on at the moment if you're signed-up to the My Volvo site.

Oct 31st, 2016, 13:19	#1
MikeBJ Member Last Online: Oct 29th, 2021 11:50 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Stirling	Tell me about wiper blades Opinions please - I've found to my cost that my previous Audi was very sensitive to wiper blades - only genuine Audi did what they were supposed to do! On other cars, I've had good results from Bosch. Halfords "own brand", on the other hand - - Is the Volvo equally fussy? Genuine Volvo - or will Bosch give good results? I appreciate most OEM blades are quite likely actually made by Bosch, but as noted, using anything other than genuine Audi blades produced poor results. Thanks - Mike

Oct 31st, 2016, 14:11	#2
taz777 VOC Member Last Online: Oct 21st, 2021 17:39 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London	I've just put Bosch A089S Aerotwin Flat Windscreen Wiper Blades on my S80. Nowt better out there, in my opinion. Silky smooth rain clearance with each stroke leaving a completely clear windscreen. It's worth cleaning and polishing your windscreen prior to changing your wiper blades. __________________ MY16 Volvo S80 D4 SE Lux Geartronic with Polestar

Oct 31st, 2016, 15:04	#4
CTCNetwork Forum Support Team Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Liège, Belgium View Photos By: CTCNetwork	Hi, I got a new set of volvo blades for my S80 and within two months I got a strip of slightly missed water film in the centre of the drivers blade bang smack in the middle. Got a new set from the bay which are Valeo (or something) and again perfect for a couple of months followed by the same strip of slightly missed wipe in the centre of the drivers blade.... So maybe I have to get a new arm..? The Valeo's were fine otherwise... Des. . . __________________ Density:- Not just a measurement ~ It's a whole way of Life.! ! ! I drive a Volvo, Please Don't Get In My Way! OldVolvos4Ever He shows up. People die. He vanishes. People should not be afraid of their governments. "He'll deliver more justice in a weekend than 10 years of your Governments should be afraid of their people... "V" courts & tribunals. Just stay out of his way." "I plan to."

Oct 31st, 2016, 16:30	#5
taz777 VOC Member Last Online: Oct 21st, 2021 17:39 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London	It could be dirt trapped between the blade and the windscreen. It could also be that your windscreen cleaning and polishing. It should be silky smooth to the touch and you should be able to place a soft cloth onto it when it's dry and the cloth should slide to the bottom of the windscreen by itself. I recommend using Autoglym Car Glass Polish to give the windscreen a really good polish. Wipe down the wiper rubber with a mild cleaner (soapy water or Windolene spray is fine). But try the cloth test to see if the windscreen has a rough surface first as that's probably wearing your wiper blade rubber out. __________________ MY16 Volvo S80 D4 SE Lux Geartronic with Polestar

Oct 31st, 2016, 17:35	#6
Tatsfield Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 11:02 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Poole	When "aerofoil" integral plastic sprung blades first came out, I fitted a set to a Peugeot 406 Coupe and experienced the same problem. The reason turned out to be that the standard metal blades sit much higher and so force the wiper arms further away from the screen and stretch the arm spring more and this holds the blade firmly on the screen. With the aerofoil blades the blades sit lower to the screen and the arm springs are hardly stretched so they apply little down force to the blades which are themselves sprung and the weak arm springs cannot overcome the blade spring so that the outer ends of the blade are against the glass but the centre is sprung away from the glass. The solution was to bend the arms inwards towards the windows so that the lesser blade height still pushed against the arm springs. Arms designed for aerofoil blades are sprung more fiercely to overcome the blades own springing. some 406 Coupe owners searched around breakers yards and bought aerofoil arms from other cars that worked without any bending and looked lower and neater. I hope this explanation makes sense as it is easier to show it to you for real and wave my hands about while explaining! __________________ 2012 XC70 SE Lux Polestar 230 bhp D5 Auto Oyster Grey

Oct 31st, 2016, 19:37	#7
Simon Jones Premier Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2022 11:23 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salisbury (ish)	I just bought a pair of Valeo Silencio blades from ECP and so far they are excellent.

Oct 31st, 2016, 19:43	#8
RM955I Premier Member Last Online: Jun 26th, 2022 23:42 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Midlands	I used to buy cheap wiper blades...and now I only buy OE, Bosch or Valeo. I honestly though a wiper blade was a wiper blade but have since been convinced otherwise. There's a Volvo offer on at the moment if you're signed-up to the My Volvo site. __________________ D5, 205 Phase 3 V70...love the grunt. Previous: 2004 (2005 facelift) 2.4 170

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)