Windscreen wipers!

[Bailes1992]

Needed some new wipers as mine had started to smear slightly. No big deal but it plays havoc with the auto wipers!

People look at me silly when I say I always buy top branded stuff for my car.

Went into my local factors and thought that I'd see why everyone calls me stupid for buying expensive stuff and get the whatever wipers are in stock.

They came out with a set of wipers with no brand name just in clear plastic bags.

£17.99 a pair.
Bargain! Usually the Bosch wipers I buy are £45 a pair.

I ended up driving in torrential rain Tuesday morning. The wipers were nigh on useless and just smeared all the time.
They've also scratched my windscreen to hell and back and looks like I'm going to have to fork out £400 on a new solar reflect climate controlled windscreen

I really should just trust my own instincts.

[steve_earwig]

Oh bollocks Umm, you're the same chap that likes quoting the sale of good act at people, right? Something about "of merchanhtable quality"?

While I wouldn't expect cheap wipers to be up to much I'd really be pissed if they actually damaged my car. Trouble is it takes years (seriously) to sue anyone here (thankfully I have Goran who'd only sell stuff he believes in ), in the Untidy Kingdom it's a bit quicker.

[trufflehunt]

Yes, no point in going for tat.

£45 seems a lot though. I replaced both wipers about a year ago.
One's a Bosch, the other is a genuine Peugeot. Can't remember exact price, but don't think
I paid more than about £16 altogether. (ebey)

[azazel]

Ive just replaced my wipers and in my opinion the valeo wipers are the best. I think they are the ones supplied originally on a 406 and what the main dealers supply. They are silent and last well. I paid £26 for the front two. Previously I had Champion wipers and they made stupid noises...

[lozz]

Iknow if something is going to break my car,

idont think iwill go and buy it to prove a point,

[jonsowman]

Totally convinced on Bosch wipers. Managed to get a pair of Valeo OEM ones for my last 406, they were great.

[OllieNZ]

If your screen is that bad you should be able to get it done on the insurance.
I always use bosch wipers Ive not found anything else that compares. £45 sounds a bit steep for a pair though unless you bought flat blades?

[Welly]

I can't really see how a rubber blade would scratch the glass unless a small stone has been dragged across the screen with it

I had a problem with a stone hitting the glass and making a small chip....the little bits of glass then got taken across the screen and scratched it (it was raining)

If you've got any glass treatments on like Rain-X then the new rubber might be a bit harsh and take the treatment off (which might look like scratches)??

I buy Volvo wiper blades from the dealer because I'm a Cad and you can't take it with you

[Bailes1992]

Definitely scratches!
No film on the screen. Never put any coatings on the windscreen.

Going to factors tonight and mention the state on my windscreen.

[Welly]

You should make a claim, and find out the manufacturer of the wipers if they have scratched the screen.

On no, I feel a Newspaper story coming on

[rwb]

Sam: isn't that just crap that they're smearing about beause they won't scour?
Wipers damaging screen after a couple of days sounds implausible.

I thought Bosch were OEM? Anyway, I had a set of original wipers from Peugeot for £24 (IIRC) and they were excellent, although they were slightly different to the actual original ones. Using the original clip made a big difference as it sits at a different angle and therefore put more pressure on the wiper.

[scotty73]

Using the original clip made a big difference as it sits at a different angle and therefore put more pressure on the wiper.

That's what I done with a set Dai put me onto on Ebay and i have to say they're brilliant.

£5 a pair

[Bailes1992]

Well I took them back today.
The wipers were hard plastic. Definatley not rubber!

And motorfactors have agreed to replace my windscreen as the car is pretty undriveable in the dark now.

[Welly]

And motorfactors have agreed to replace my windscreen as the car is pretty undriveable in the dark now.

What? no questions? a £400.00 screen

Nice result!

[Bailes1992]

And motorfactors have agreed to replace my windscreen as the car is pretty undriveable in the dark now.

What? no questions? a £400.00 screen

Nice result!

Got the guy who owns the factors to come and have a look.
I showed him the wipers and my receipt. Told him my story "and because of the absolute rubbish you've supplied me it's going to cost me £400 to replace the screen". He felt the scratches on the windscreen and said "Don't worry about it. We'll get the screen replaced for you".

He give me his number and told me to phone him to get it arranged as my car is going to be in the garage next week getting this bloody oil leak fixed!