My new Fabie 1.6 CR TDi 90 hp has these fitted. I have had the car for 5 weeks and 1300 miles. I never use them on a dry screen and already they are leaving streaks!!! On my old Fabia I 1.9 TDi I had 3 sets in 134000 miles!! That's progress, I suppose, At least they are easy to change!!!

So easy that even this bloke can change them without setting his car alarm off?

The point is that the life of these blades is abysmal!!!!!

Is the car new? If so they may have not had the chance to soften properly yet. Get some IPA or white vinegar on a cloth and rub the wiper blades until you don't pick up anymore black/dirt on the cloth. That should sort the problem out.

Yes, jimbo, it is brand new. I will try what you suggest, thank you.

I had to replace my wiper after about 2000 miles from new as they where juddering like mad no amount of cleaning made them better

I still haven't replaced the wipers on my car, 24000+ km.

They are however leaving some streaks, but the car is almost 2 years old so I figure it's normal on new cars .

I have discovered the solution to juddering wipers if anyone would like to know.

I think it's a bit of a hit or miss when it comes to wipers. My Fabia is now over 3 years old and has over 42k miles on it, and yet, the wipers are still the ones it came with from the factory, and they're still performing brilliantly. That said, on a previous car I once had replacements by Bosch, and they started to deteriorate after less than 6 months.

I have discovered the solution to juddering wipers if anyone would like to know.

And ?

I fitted new blades and they juddered even when raining. I sprayed some strong screen wash on the windscreen and they no longer juddered.

Mine are shocking! New car in September and they leave streaks the kind which make you think you have bits of leaves/debris under the wipers. I should speak to the dealer really as they shouldn't be able to argue wear and tear after such a short time. My last car I had from new, kept it for 5 years and 120,000 miles on the same wipers (and bulbs too!)

Just out of curiosity, what was your last car?

Hi Fab,

It was a 120d M sport 3 dr. It did have adaptive xenons so I wouldn't expect the bulbs to go as often as normal ones but even then, I didn't need to change a rear light, brake light, nothing!!!

My next car will probably be another.

Say no more, my mother has had a 116i SE since it first came out in late 2004. I absolutely adore the 1 series, it's a proper BMW and a great car, in every sense of the word. Looking forward to getting back to BMWs myself, as soon as finances and circumstances allow.

Further to my previous post, just fitted the third set at just short of 30,000 miles!! All are/were  Bosch. I have spent ages trying to work out how to fit old style blades with no success as yet; I have even looked at changing the arms to enable this!! Frankly, I think the new system is a bag of hollyhocks!!

I use Rainex on my windscreen, stops me using the wipers quite a lot, as when I was In Perth in the winter months my wipers stopped working altogether, I'd try Rainex, if anything it helps and isn't too expensive....

my roomster had shocking aero wipers from new, so much so I replaced them and no more issues,

 

it was the first car I had with the new style wipers, I was that dismayed by them I was looking at the option to retrofit old style wiper arms

 

once I replaced them I never had any other issues, so all I can assume was it was some rubbish the dealer put on the screen when they PDI / cleaned the car that damaged the blades

 

I must say the new aero wipers are far better than the old metal frame type wipers as the follow the contour of the screen so much better as the pressure is more even you don't get the strips of clean / dirt

In the garage we used to use neat screenwash concentrate and wipe the blades clean it worked a treat. Be aware that different brand screen washes can cause squeaks and judders, different strength mixes can too.

What ever my front blades are are great but the back one judders and makes a horrid noise on the first pass and the return pass is fine the rear window is lovely and clear with no noise or fuss, it winds the Mrs up no end but it does the job.

But what should I look at for a rear replacement when the time comes that the wiper makes nothing but noise and leaves rain on the rear screen?

What ever my front blades are are great but the back one judders and makes a horrid noise on the first pass and the return pass is fine the rear window is lovely and clear with no noise or fuss, it winds the Mrs up no end but it does the job.

But what should I look at for a rear replacement when the time comes that the wiper makes nothing but noise and leaves rain on the rear screen?

My back one does exactly the same. doesn't matter how wet the screen is either.

im still on the originals after 3.5 years, no judder and wipes clean first time, the back however judders like a bugger on the first pass, puts the willies up my kids, great fun

im still on the originals after 3.5 years, no judder and wipes clean first time, the back however judders like a bugger on the first pass, puts the willies up my kids, great fun

I would say 3.5 years they must be due for change, as the rubber hardens in UV light and the edges wear

 

you might be surprised what a new set of wipers does,

 

unless you never drive in the rain

i live in the lake district, doesn't get its name for its sunshine

they work as good as new, no smears squeals or anything, in fact i cant remember the last time i ever bought wipers

Think I might need new front ones mind, they are just starting to leave an inch or so at the tips when the screens mucky like they aren't pushing down as much as they should.