That time of year again to start thinking about for some wiper blades.

I've done a search and see the Bosch ones seem to be well rated, but has anyone got any experience of the VW Retro fit ones which go on the standard arms?

I can't justify the cost of MK4 Aero arms from a dealers and they are like rocking horse poo anywhere else.

VAG RETROFIT AERO BLADE KIT GOLF MK4 MK3 BORA VENTO POLO 9N LUPO [1J2 998 002] - £14.46 : Veedubmachine

You want the Valeo Silencio X.TRM retrofit flat wiper blades (19" & 21"). Better than Bosch, and I really rate them since I'm on my 3rd set.

VALEO Silencio X.TRM UM664 RETROFIT FLAT Windscreen Wiper Blade 21" (530mm)

Or Wiperblades.co.uk's own retrofit flat blades - cheap and good!

Or Wiperblades.co.uk's own retrofit flat blades - cheap and good!

I tried them too. They seemed to squeal more than normal, guessing it's the cheaper rubber they use on the blades. Also they didn't look as neat as the Valeo's. (I'm a bit obsessive about having good wiper blades and a well treated screen!)

i got some generic retrofit ones from ebay. £10 including delivery and do the job better than the standard type bosch ones on there before. they weren't worn, just wanted the better look. i'll try to get a photo but these intergrate with the arms brilliantly. Look like they all the same piece of metal!

Better than Bosch, and I really rate them since I'm on my 3rd set.

How come 3rd set? I am running with proper VW ones, which have been on the car for 3 about years and I have not had to change the blades yet

Why change them yearly? :confused:

I would only change my wiper rubbers if they were split at the end, or failing to clear the screen well.

I change them when they stop wiping perfectly. Most people don't notice the loss of a clean wipe and just use the same old wipers until they get so bad that they split.

Borrowed my sisters Nevara the other day and couldn't handle how bad the blades were! They just smeared the water about and never actually wiped the water away to leave a dry screen. I bought new ones and put them on before returning the car.

I change them when they stop wiping perfectly. Most people don't notice the loss of a clean wipe and just use the same old wipers until they get so bad that they split.

Borrowed my sisters Nevara the other day and couldn't handle how bad the blades were! They just smeared the water about and never actually wiped the water away to leave a dry screen. I bought new ones and put them on before returning the car.

Even after properly degreasing the wiper blades regularly?

I bought some of these orginal retrofit blades last week as i couldnt justify the retrofit aero arm conversion price and like bodge they HAVE to work properly or they get taken off.....and im very impressed with these so far. £21 inc from my main stealer or same from tps.

If you do a lot of motorway miles you soon eat through blades. I hit 25k a year and regularly change the blades. Usually one pair through summer and then two over winter. They degrade pretty quickly. Still, at £10 a pair for Bosch ones it's hardly bank breaking. Like tyres & brakes holding you to the road and slowing you down, seeing clearly is one of those pretty important things to be able to do!

If you do a lot of motorway miles you soon eat through blades. I hit 25k a year and regularly change the blades. Usually one pair through summer and then two over winter. They degrade pretty quickly. Still, at £10 a pair for Bosch ones it's hardly bank breaking. Like tyres & brakes holding you to the road and slowing you down, seeing clearly is one of those pretty important things to be able to do!

I do over 25K (more than 35k actually) and never needed to swap blades annually.

Infact our own car (Octavia mk2) is 2.5 years only, and still on original wipers all round after 33k.

The usual reason IME from early degradation is using when not actually wet, trying to use when screen not cleared/still frozen, too strong washer mix and using de-icer stuff.

HTH

Oh, and regular cleaning to remove grease - at least once a month. I use some vinegar in a cloth, wipe blade, then ensure blade is well rinsed.

Some also dont clean their glass properly, and think shampoo will do the job. It doesnt.

That time of year again to start thinking about for some wiper blades.

I've done a search and see the Bosch ones seem to be well rated, but has anyone got any experience of the VW Retro fit ones which go on the standard arms?

I can't justify the cost of MK4 Aero arms from a dealers and they are like rocking horse poo anywhere else.

VAG RETROFIT AERO BLADE KIT GOLF MK4 MK3 BORA VENTO POLO 9N LUPO [1J2 998 002] - £14.46 : Veedubmachine

Do this just fit straight onto standard arms?

I think those probably do, if you read the description in the ad.

I do over 25K (more than 35k actually) and never needed to swap blades annually.

Infact our own car (Octavia mk2) is 2.5 years only, and still on original wipers all round after 33k.

The usual reason IME from early degradation is using when not actually wet, trying to use when screen not cleared/still frozen, too strong washer mix and using de-icer stuff.

HTH

The screen is always cleaned properly at various points with a clay bar and an abrasive glass polish and the blades are regularly degreased but still, when you spend half the time with the screen covered in dust, mud, sand and everything else it just chews the blades up. At £10 a pair though it hardly breaks the bank. It's always been the same with every car I've owned and I just accept it. Perhaps I'm just more fussy than most as at the first sign of the cleaning not helping rid the smearing they just get replaced.

I tried them too. They seemed to squeal more than normal, guessing it's the cheaper rubber they use on the blades. Also they didn't look as neat as the Valeo's. (I'm a bit obsessive about having good wiper blades and a well treated screen!)

Hmm - not had that, the ones I have (on the MAzda) have been good and very quiet - better than the previous flat retrofit ones I had.

Granted as per other comments they probably aren't the sleekest design but they were 1/3rd of the price!

The screen is always cleaned properly at various points with a clay bar and an abrasive glass polish

Clay bar and abrasive polish?

:eek:

Never done any of that. Just some good quality glass cleaner.

I use AG Glass Polish, and Rain-X on mine. Works a treat.

Clay bar and abrasive polish?

:eek:

Never done any of that. Just some good quality glass cleaner.

Claybar gets rid of tar/tree sap and all the other crap that really sticks and the abrasive polish is the autoglym glass cleaner. Polish is an abrasive. It all helps but when the screen is constantly covered in dust and crap the blades wear regardless of what you do.

Interestingly, I find Rain-x a pain in the **** on the front screen. I use it on the areas that don't get hit by the blades and on the side windows but I find that when using the wipers it just causes smearing and, if anything, seems to cause the wipers to smear more even once you've got rid of the rain-x.

These are by far the best wipers I have ever used, pretty expensive but well worth it. They put a coating on the screen that has the same effect as using Rain-X too.

Fitted perfectly on my Mk1 Octavia VRS

PIAA WIPERS

Or Wiperblades.co.uk's own retrofit flat blades - cheap and good!

I put some of these on yesterday to replace the Bosch Aeroblades I had on and to be honest, I'm off to Halfords tonight to get some more Bosch versions.

They are noisy, lift off the screen at anything over 50mph, already leave trails on the screen as the blade is warped/damaged and I wish I'd spent more money in the first place.

You get what you pay for and the Bosch have been brilliant for the last two years.

These are by far the best wipers I have ever used, pretty expensive but well worth it. They put a coating on the screen that has the same effect as using Rain-X too.

Fitted perfectly on my Mk1 Octavia VRS

PIAA WIPERS

Not a good idea if you have auto wipers. It'll confuse them.