Wiper blade replacement

[k_rider]

So, I took my car in for its 30k service and get the obligatory "we're halfway through the job and recommend you..." phone call from the dealer. Amongst a couple of other things (pollen filter replacement and wheel alignment) he recommended having the wiper blades, front and rear, replaced at the princely sum $176!

After picking myself up off the floor and asking him to repeat the cost once more, as I was sure I'd misheard him, I politely declined his kind offer. I thought that $76 would be expensive, let alone adding another hundred. I mean, seriously!?!?!

A quick call to a Skoda parts shop and I was quoted about $100 for the three blades. I checked out the Bosch Online shop in the banner ad above and they're not much cheaper (front set is cheaper than the genuine, but the rear is a bit more expensive). Still pricey, but better than $176!

Anyone have any experience with the Bosch Aerotwin wipers or have any other recommendations?

It seems that the days of buying a pair of Trico refills for about $10 are long gone...

[zei20t]

i think the factory ones ARE bosch aerotwins

anyway, I use them on the fiat and replace them every 1.5-2 years. the car is rarely garaged.

went through some cheaper ones, but needed a few sets a year. not worth it IMO

[dArK5HaD0w]

Checkout supercheapauto, they stock a huge variety of Bosch aero wipers.

[Martin]

Avoid Repco and SCA - both crap

Go here: Fast and Affordable Way of Buying Quaility Wiper Blades | Wipertech
Get the TrueFit Aeroflex - they are awesome
About $70 for a set (but it's frames as well as the rubber)

[futureskodaowner]

Hi. About 6 mths ago I was advised of a similar price by a dealer and nearly fell off my chair. Politely declining, I found Bosch replacement blades on wiperblades.co.uk. Granted, the exchange rate is not as favourable, but maybe worthwhile looking at. The ease of which these blades (I have a wagon) can be replaced is amazing.

[Antiplastix]

Mine have been on for 3 1/2 years now and still work like new. Why bother changing them if they re still working OK ?

[dArK5HaD0w]

Mine have been on for 3 1/2 years now and still work like new. Why bother changing them if they re still working OK ?

that's a good point - why is the dealer trying to change the wipers after only 30k?!?!?!?
oh wait....

[pologti18t]

VW sell an insert kit (just the floppy rubber blades) for <$30. You just need to dismantle the current wiper blade and replace the insert

Have a look at

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f22/diy-aero-wiper-blade-change-rubber-only-58989.html

[Lindsay]

I tried to dismantle mine and they broke, at which point I drove to Supercheap and bought their poverty flexblades as a temporary solution. That was about 12 months ago, and they are still on there and still working just fine

[DunlopRS]

My front OEMs were shot after 12 months (and car is undercover day and night). Replaced with repco hydrobaldes. 5 minute job and IMHO better than the OEMs

[k_rider]

Thanks loads for all your feedback!

I wasn't sure myself why they suggested replacing the wipers, as I hadn't really noticed anything particularly wrong with them (apart from a bit of a "clunk" on the change of direction, which it's done since new). I thought that maybe it was standard practice at the two year mark - Bosch recommend replacement every 12 months for their Aerotwins (probably makes sense under European conditions)!

Taking a cynical viewpoint, I guess they suggested it because it's a nice little earner!

I suppose like everything that happens gradually, you don't notice how bad things have become until it's changed. So I may just change them anyway and see what difference it makes. I now just need to choose what to go for...

[woofy]

I find ours which are now 4.5 yrs old smear a lot, even when they have been cleaned. I pointed that out to the service advisor at the service last Nov, and he said they were checked and cleaned and are all OK. They also promised me some new ones free a while back, so in my case they are avoiding doing it when I'm pretty sure they need doing. My wife isn't bothered by the smearing but I am.

[woofy]

Just ordered some, the wiper link provided doesn't say what brand they use, but noticed the Bosch ad up top on there, clicked it and get the genuine Bosch blades for $62 delivered by courier.

Easy....link here if its not showing at the moment for you....Car Parts & Auto Parts Online Australia. Bosch Auto Parts, Wiper Blades, Spark Plugs - Bosch Auto Shop

[k_rider]

Woofy, yes, the link still shows up, but occasionally replaced with something else, so the link in your post will be handy for future reference. Thanks!

Just for shiggles, I pulled the wipers off (basically to see how it's done) on the weekend - can't believe how easy it is! Makes it harder to justify why the dealer wanted to charge so much for what would be no more than a 5 minute job.

Also opposite to Woofy's experience, my dealer said "they were cleaned as best we could, but still recommend new ones..."

I can confirm the OEM fitted blades are indeed Bosch, their logo is moulded into the mounting point in the centre of the wiper blade (on the front pair, no identifier on the rear blade).

[woofy]

My wife pulled them off in about 2 seconds the other day, so figured it must be pretty simple if she did that without knowing how.