Wipers. OEM or Aftermarket?

[candurin]

We haven't had a good wiper discussion in awhile (I know, front to back!).

 

My wife's wipers disintegrated on her CX-9, so it prompted me to replace mine as well (OEM 60k miles). They could probably go another 40k, but, better swap them out while I am in the mood.

 

Looking at Bosch ICONs, Valeo 900 (ultimate) traditionals or the OEM premiums (Not premium flat).

 

Seems like I can price them out and can get any of the brands, all 3 blades (Left, Right, Rear) for $30-40 all in.

 

Taking price out of it and the fact OEMs have lasted me 5 years, any reason to go aftermarket?

[enigma-2]

I was told years ago by my dealer (service rep) that the blades that come with the car are different blades than the replacment blades sold by the dealers.

 

Personally, I've use Trico for most of my life. Have tried most every blade out there at one time or another, but always came back to Trico.

 

One way to extend the life of your blades is to wipe the blades once a month (or so, I'm not consistant on this) with an alcohol wipe. Cleans the dirt off while breaking the oil film that holds the dirt to the blade.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

I like the Bosch IKON, but as enigma said, the more important part is keeping the blades and the glass clean.

 

I have wanted to try Silblade, but never got around to it.

[TheWizard]

Wow! Five years without changing wiper blades? That's amazing! Here in Florida we have to replace blades (used to be just refills but nobody sells those anymore) every six months. In fact, that's the industry standard although it's probably intended more for selling blades than any other reason - just like 3,000 mile oil changes. In Toronto I used to replace once a year because the road salt in the winter would destroy the rubber.

 

I have tried many different brands over the years. I am forced to use Motorcraft on my Mustang because nobody else seems to make the right mount but I've used Trico, Bosch, Rain-X, Anco and several others on other vehicles. Rain-X is the only brand I would never buy again. I just installed a set of Michelin blades on my wife's car. I'll let everyone know how they do after they get used for a while.

Edited March 19, 2017 by TheWizard

[candurin]

I do keep mine clean regularly (alcohol wipe whenever I clean the car, if not more often).

 

I just put the icons on my wife's CX-9 and I am very impressed!

 

I really feel like my wipers could keep on going, but like I said, it has to happen some time.

 

I swear looking at the motorcraft premium wipers and they look identical to what's on my edge now...

[enigma-2]

I have wanted to try Silblade, but never got around to it.

If that's the silicone rubber blade, they work great, but winter ice tore them to shreads. Soft rubber, you need to keep the glass clean; dirt and (esp) ice, causes them to wear out quickly.

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

So change them out along with tires. Got it

[rwf78155]

Bosch IKON blades are awesome.

They are very well built and wipe the windshield amazingly clean

Edited March 20, 2017 by rwf78155

[onyxbfly]

I use PIAA wiper blades. I have never had a reason to be ecstatic about wiper blades until now!

[macbwt]

Just change them every spring and winter. Whatever is on sale that is a higher price wiper and swipe on.....dude. LOL

[addison21]

Have no complaints with my PIAA wipers. Works great and no streaking.

[chefduane]

I change them once a season here in Texas. We get pretty hard rains and hot, sunny, days that really eat up blades. I just buy whatever better+ brand is on sale.

BUT, I do Rain-X my windshield once every year. Makes average blades good, and good blades better.

[KLinNBC]

First thing you need to know: neither Ford nor Mazda nor PIAA actually manufacture wipers. They all brand wipers they have manufactured to their specific parameters by one of the big guys in that business. Not that that tells you anything about what works better. But do you actually think Harley Davidson contributes anything to the HD Edition F150? Ford simply pays HD for the right to slap the stickers on it and passes along that cost (with a healthy mark-up) on to the brand-whores who think it's something special. Welcome to the world of branding (you couldn't bury me in Tommy Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren).

 

That said, Bosche makes what they sell and I have extensive experience with the IKON. Worth every penny, out performs every other blade I've had in the last decade. And the Kootenay is probably the worst torture ground for blades. I change every spring, winters are the worst part of the wear cycle.

[candurin]

I did end up with the icons. They work perfect on my wife's car. Amazon just had a decent sale on them and picked up two icons for the front and an OE for the rear.