Windscreen wipers - are the expensive brands worth it?

plutoniumpilot

colino wrote: »

Don't buy the cheapo aero blades from ebay! Quality is so hit and miss its just not worth the minor saving.

I agree totally. I've bought the cheapos off eBay several times and they don't seem to be the same quality as the branded wipers. They don't last as long, especially when exposed to hot and freezing weather and one set has scratched my windscreen as the rubber hardened. Managed to get a set of genuine Ford aeros for my Focus off eBay for £20 and they have lasted and performed much better.

Crabman

I bought the own brand aero blades from wiperblades.co.uk - cost about £15 for a set delivered and they were good quality when I last bought them (a couple of years ago).

locky123

Crabman wrote: »

I bought the own brand aero blades from wiperblades.co.uk - cost about £15 for a set delivered and they were good quality when I last bought them (a couple of years ago).

Seems wiperbleades.co.uk dont have their own make blades for my car. So will probably try eBay.

waynedance

All the people talking about cheap blades from wilkos and pound land are you on about original equipment flat blades? ie fitted as standard.

PudseyDB

I have a Corsa so just need basic blades. Had a lot of trouble this past year with smearing - even with the expensive Bosch ones! Last month in desperation I bought two blades from Wilkos and.....theyre AMAZING!!!!!!! Even my partner commented on them.

They may not last as long as the premium brands, but at that price I can easily afford to replace them. The only downside is that the fittings didnt seem to fit onto my wipers, so had to reuse the ones that were already being used.

vikingaero

I use wiperblades.co.uk and can recommend them for the quality of their product and speedy service.

As a general rule I find the premium brands to be quieter and more durable, but if you're selling the car soon then eBay ones are fine!

The Valeo retrofit aero wiper blades have a wear indicator which changes colour from black to yellow if you need to change them. It relies on UV exposure to change the colour of the telltale - it's pretty useless as mine went to yellow after a month of sunshine this summer.

vax2002

Always try some neat vinegar on kitchen roll first, it lifts off a tar and a few wipes and the blades are like new.

poppasmurf_bewdley

I bought cheap blades from Wilkinsons for my Astra but found they were noisy and didn't do a good job. They were replaced with a set from Halfords at about £15 and they were much better.

My current Mk 4 Mondeo needed new wipers. Halfords don't have them in stock but have them on special order for £29!!! I got a set of Trico from my local motor factor for £17 and they have been fine.

mikey72

I've had mixed results on wipers, but I only tend to replace them when they split, so they all wipe the screen adequately. I even recycle them and move them down the cars by cutting the end off the insert and using them on the smaller cars, or the back screen.
I've never kept a record of how long they last, I suppose I usually change one or two at winter, or the mot, but's that out of 8 overall, not counting back ones.
I've used 99p inserts, and £2 complete wipers, all seem the same. Old style though, not aero.

Hintza

I tend to try an buy decen blades.

My major concern apart from working well is that they don't SCHREECHHHHHH....argh!!