Valeo Windscreen Wipers

CrazyChemist_2

Anyone heard of this brand before?

I had some Bosch wipers fitted last year and was expecting them to last longer than a year, but they didn't. Bosch won't reply to my emails so that's the last time I buy any of their products. :mad:

Anyway , I'm about to replace just the rubber blades, not the actual wiper wings... is this easy to do? It certainly is cheaper!

The brand from a local Motor Factor is "Valeo". I've never heard of this brand in my life but does anyone know what sort of quality I can expect from them?

ohreally

CrazyChemist wrote:

Anyone heard of this brand before?

Big player in the automotive parts game...http://www.valeo.com/automotive-supplier/Jahia/

Tbh, i wouldn't bother with new rubbers,just get a new set of blades. Bosch are generally regarded as one of the better brands...oops you don't want to hear that though.
Fitting new rubbers can be a little tricky,there's a knack to it.If your happy to fart about doing this fair do's.Personally i'd get a new pair of blades.

CrazyChemist_2

I tried a set of Champion Blades which weren't very good at all and I had to return them, however I was told that this is because my windscreen is 'curved' (it's on an Almera) and that is why they didn't clean properly and kept juddering.

The Bosch wipers worked brilliantly for the first couple of months then downhill from there :mad:

The guy at the motor factor place said that he could easily fit the Valeo rubber blades. I don't see how replacing the whole metal wings as well is going to affect the wiping capability of the blades . It's just that the Bosch ones have a nice design and spoiler and there's nothing wrong with them really so I'd feel uneasy about chucking them away.

Is there any advantage with having the whole units replaced (apart from the obvious time and trickness involved with sliding new rubbers into the clips)?

blue_haddock

No worries about Valeo - they are a major OEM supplier for a large number of parts for a large number of manufacturers

mr_accountant

im suprised about comments re. bosch, i have a 24 and 20 inch bosch super spoiler wiper blades and they are very good. only cost £13 of ebay too.


valeo too are a famous firm, should be ok too.autotrader did a test on some wiper blades which may be off help-link below

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product_test/43861/windscreen_wipers.html

ohreally

CrazyChemist wrote:

I tried a set of Champion Blades which weren't very good at all and I had to return them, however I was told that this is because my windscreen is 'curved' (it's on an Almera) and that is why they didn't clean properly and kept juddering.

You must ensure the wipers are fitted correctly,they can be fitted the wrong way round - check your Bosch wipers,they should have a marker.If they are the wrong way round they will perform very poorly and judder badly

CrazyChemist_2

My Bosch wipers seem to be the right way round but are still smearing badly. They seem completely worn out even though it's just 12 months. I'm careful with their use too, i.e. I turn off wipers when stationery at traffic lights or in traffic jam.

Don't see why the company refuse to respond either...

Silent_Bob_3

Try some Tenzo-R wipers - I've got them on mine (18 months now) and they're superb. I do also use Rain-X (or similar) and this seems to have prolonged their life somewhat.

CrazyChemist_2

I notice that the Bosch wipers didn't feature in the top three for the Auto Express test

Maybe this says something about the true quality of their blades...

balsingh

Which ones were the best in the Auto Express test?

CrazyChemist_2

Top was a brand I've never heard of called "TP TV480".

Verdict

What a turn-up for the books - little-known TP grasping the win from big hitter Champion. Sort yourself a little local discount, however, and the price differential would not be an issue, so it's a close-run thing.

In third place, Valeo's Silencio produced good results and the wear indicator was useful. Again, though, the price for a pair was its downfall.
Windscreen wipers
1 TP TV480

2 Champion X48 Aerovantage

3 Valeo Silencio

They say that the "price was its downfall" but the Valeo rubber blades only, are the cheapest at my local factor, I think...


This is the review on Bosch Super Plus which only got 3 out of 5 yet were the most expensive:

Bosch Super Plus 19/19S


Rating:
Price: £16.99 (pair)

In its ready-boxed standard and spoiler blade set, the latter has an unusually long 'wing', which runs nearly the entire length of the unit. Performance was totally silent on the dry screen and the blades wiped well in the wet, although the passenger's-side example lifted slightly at the far extreme of its downstroke. While that may seem nit-picking, these are the most expensive blades we tested.

I think that says it all for Bosch :T I'm going for the Valeo unless the Motor Factor has the TP blades in :j