Look after your window wipers ... sheesh !

Costa · 05-13-2007, 10:07 PM

I thought I'd go in to get some new wipers on Saturday - afterall, the car is about 18 months old, and I do get the odd streak when they're on. So I go in and ask for some and the parts guys comes out with this long narrow box, places it on the table and says "that'll be $107"

... I picked my jaw off the ground and said "are you sure?". He opened the box and pulled out the wipers ... to my horror, I realized that you can't get just the rubber wipers - you need to buy the whole blade. The parts guy looked on the computer and confirmed that because of the way the rubber sits inside the blade, you can't just buy the rubber bits

... can anyone confirm this? Is this how it is for all BMWs ? (this is my first one)

All I can say is that I'll be looking after my wipers from now on, and next time the wife drives and accidentally switches them on, I'll ask for a hundred bucks !!

LEA69 · 05-13-2007, 10:24 PM

Hahahah! Yeah, most euro cars you have to replace the whole wiper! No more going to the servo and picking up a pair of $18 wipers!! Welcome to the world of BMW's!! Everything is $$$$$$$

ejazbmw · 05-13-2007, 10:32 PM

i thought wipers where under the warranty? when i went in for my first oil change and check up they gave me a new set of wipers for free and they said they'll do it till the warranty over....

LEA69 · 05-13-2007, 10:35 PM

Not that I was advised, the ruber wipers are a 'consumable' part, so not covered under warranty. Unfortunately, if you had an issue with the metal arm, then yeah, BMW would change it over under warranty, but not the rubber blade itself. The blade, if worn out and needed replacing, must be bought with the arm... so catch 22... have to buy the whole lot. Thats how they make their money!!

astra · 05-13-2007, 10:45 PM

it's just a ploy to get more money from you, and they will do it any way they can... that's why they don't sell them individually

ed-320d · 05-14-2007, 05:59 AM

My wiper blades always last me more than 3 years or 75000kms (not BMW).
This is how I look after it:
- Try not to park under the sun too much. If you have to leave it under sun for long period time, lift up the wiper arm. Heat could "melt" the rubber into your windscreen.
- Always keep your windscreen clean, free of dust or dirt (yes I know it may defeat the purpose of the wipers). Because of the pressure on the windscreen wiping through tiny dust could cut off invisible bits of the blade. This is the cause of lines.
- Clean the blade regularly, make sure little or no dust staying on top of the blade. Dust that stucked on the blade could "cut" through your windscreen. Once that happened, you will never have a clean wipe until you replace the windscreen.

This may sound crazy: in many case before I turn on the wiper, I would rub it clean with a piece of wet tissue paper.

That way the wiper last many years without squeak sound and clean wipe everytime.

hav2flynow · 05-14-2007, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ejazbmw

i thought wipers where under the warranty? when i went in for my first oil change and check up they gave me a new set of wipers for free and they said they'll do it till the warranty over....

Yea, I just got my first oil change and they changed my wipers for FREE. Maybe thats just a US thang?

CaptOz · 05-14-2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed-320d

This may sound crazy: in many case before I turn on the wiper, I would rub it clean with a piece of wet tissue paper.

It's not crazy, it really does help. Keep the blades clean.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hav2flynow

Maybe thats just a US thang?

Down Under we pay for any consumable, under warranty or not.

Cheers.

astra · 05-14-2007, 05:12 PM

wowww, someone who knows how to double quote!!

CaptOz, i am very impressed!

CaptOz · 05-14-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

wowww, someone who knows how to double quote!!

CaptOz, i am very impressed!

I learnt from the best.

Cheers.

LEA69 · 05-14-2007, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptOz

I learnt from the best.

Cheers.

Happy now!!!?????

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

wowww, someone who knows how to double quote!!

CaptOz, i am very impressed!

I'm trying!!!!!!:rocks:

CaptOz · 05-15-2007, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEA69

I'm trying!!!!!!:rocks:

I've been told I am very trying.

Cheers.

P.S. Gotta love those wiper blades. (Phew)

astra · 05-15-2007, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptOz

I've been told I am very trying.

Cheers.

P.S. Gotta love those wiper blades. (Phew)

*sigh*

can't complain i guess... atleast it contained the word "wipers"

chris_1001 · 05-15-2007, 08:50 AM

On my E46, they changed them 3 times for free, each time I did an oil change...

astra · 05-15-2007, 08:44 PM

how often are they meant to be changed?m i was under the impression that if you take care of them they shouldn't need changing at all?

TYW · 05-15-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hav2flynow

Yea, I just got my first oil change and they changed my wipers for FREE. Maybe thats just a US thang?

Same here... free with first oil change!

VGR00 · 05-15-2007, 10:03 PM

Well that deffinitly has to be a USA thing. Wiper blades are consumables and all car manufactures charge for a consumable item even if te car is under warrenty. Sure if the part was faulty they would replace for free but ware and tear - no.

astra · 05-15-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vgr02

Well that deffinitly has to be a USA thing. Wiper blades are consumables and all car manufactures charge for a consumable item even if te car is under warrenty. Sure if the part was faulty they would replace for free but ware and tear - no.

sadly we not only pay a premium for the cars themselves in australia, but also teh upkeep

CaptOz · 05-16-2007, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

sadly we not only pay a premium for the cars themselves in australia, but also teh upkeep

Yeah....you should see what some people charge for a car wash in Australia!!

Cheers.

VGR00 · 05-16-2007, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptOz

Yeah....you should see what some people charge for a car wash in Australia!!

Cheers.

You should also see what prices car wash business are on the marker for up here. .....

but Capt, your position would most likely be :rocks:

CaptOz · 05-16-2007, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vgr02

You should also see what prices car wash business are on the marker for up here. .....

but Capt, your position would most likely be :rocks:

My mission in life is purely to have a world of clean cars and happy customers.

Cheers.

VGR00 · 05-16-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptOz

My mission in life is purely to have a world of clean cars and happy customers.

Cheers.

Very inspiring ...... unfortunatly with level 5 water restrictions upon us and who know how worst it will get, the reality might be "a world of dirty cars and thirsty people".

05-13-2007, 10:07 PM	#1
Costa Second Lieutenant 17 Rep 203 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Look after your window wipers ... sheesh ! I thought I'd go in to get some new wipers on Saturday - afterall, the car is about 18 months old, and I do get the odd streak when they're on. So I go in and ask for some and the parts guys comes out with this long narrow box, places it on the table and says "that'll be $107" ... I picked my jaw off the ground and said "are you sure?". He opened the box and pulled out the wipers ... to my horror, I realized that you can't get just the rubber wipers - you need to buy the whole blade. The parts guy looked on the computer and confirmed that because of the way the rubber sits inside the blade, you can't just buy the rubber bits ... can anyone confirm this? Is this how it is for all BMWs ? (this is my first one) All I can say is that I'll be looking after my wipers from now on, and next time the wife drives and accidentally switches them on, I'll ask for a hundred bucks !! __________________ 325i auto \| Saph Blk \| PDC \| Sunroof \| Prof Nav \| BiXenon \| SS \| Logic7
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05-13-2007, 10:24 PM	#2
LEA69 BORRIS the BMW! 24 Rep 369 Posts Drives: BMW E90 MSPORTS & BMW E34 535i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E90 M-Sports [0.00]	Hahahah! Yeah, most euro cars you have to replace the whole wiper! No more going to the servo and picking up a pair of $18 wipers!! Welcome to the world of BMW's!! Everything is $$$$$$$ __________________
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05-13-2007, 10:32 PM	#3
ejazbmw blahhh 302 Rep 6,355 Posts Drives: 2014 M235I Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NJ/NY iTrader: (7)	i thought wipers where under the warranty? when i went in for my first oil change and check up they gave me a new set of wipers for free and they said they'll do it till the warranty over....
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05-13-2007, 10:35 PM	#4
LEA69 BORRIS the BMW! 24 Rep 369 Posts Drives: BMW E90 MSPORTS & BMW E34 535i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E90 M-Sports [0.00]	Not that I was advised, the ruber wipers are a 'consumable' part, so not covered under warranty. Unfortunately, if you had an issue with the metal arm, then yeah, BMW would change it over under warranty, but not the rubber blade itself. The blade, if worn out and needed replacing, must be bought with the arm... so catch 22... have to buy the whole lot. Thats how they make their money!! __________________
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05-13-2007, 10:45 PM	#5
astra Brigadier General 94 Rep 3,748 Posts Drives: BMW 325Ci Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 325Ci Individual [0.00]	it's just a ploy to get more money from you, and they will do it any way they can... that's why they don't sell them individually __________________
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05-14-2007, 05:59 AM	#6
ed-320d Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 209 Posts Drives: Prado 150, CT200h Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 Lexus [0.00]	My wiper blades always last me more than 3 years or 75000kms (not BMW). This is how I look after it: - Try not to park under the sun too much. If you have to leave it under sun for long period time, lift up the wiper arm. Heat could "melt" the rubber into your windscreen. - Always keep your windscreen clean, free of dust or dirt (yes I know it may defeat the purpose of the wipers). Because of the pressure on the windscreen wiping through tiny dust could cut off invisible bits of the blade. This is the cause of lines. - Clean the blade regularly, make sure little or no dust staying on top of the blade. Dust that stucked on the blade could "cut" through your windscreen. Once that happened, you will never have a clean wipe until you replace the windscreen. This may sound crazy: in many case before I turn on the wiper, I would rub it clean with a piece of wet tissue paper. That way the wiper last many years without squeak sound and clean wipe everytime. __________________ 320d (E90) Sparkling Graphite, Bi-Xenon, Rear PDC, 17 Alloy 158(athome) 157 (On the car), Climate comfort Wscreen, Sport Steer, Electric Rear Blind, Mirror Package, Lemon interior with poplar trim, Comfort access, Partial Electric Seats, Through Loading and Adjustable Arm Rest
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05-14-2007, 05:12 PM	#9
astra Brigadier General 94 Rep 3,748 Posts Drives: BMW 325Ci Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 325Ci Individual [0.00]	wowww, someone who knows how to double quote!! CaptOz, i am very impressed! __________________
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05-15-2007, 08:50 AM	#14
chris_1001 Second Lieutenant 532 Rep 224 Posts Drives: 2022 BMW M340i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: MA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 M340i xDrive [0.00]	On my E46, they changed them 3 times for free, each time I did an oil change...
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05-15-2007, 08:44 PM	#15
astra Brigadier General 94 Rep 3,748 Posts Drives: BMW 325Ci Individual Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 325Ci Individual [0.00]	how often are they meant to be changed?m i was under the impression that if you take care of them they shouldn't need changing at all? __________________
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05-15-2007, 10:03 PM	#17
VGR00 Major 52 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: 430i Gran Coupe Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane - Australia iTrader: (1)	Well that deffinitly has to be a USA thing. Wiper blades are consumables and all car manufactures charge for a consumable item even if te car is under warrenty. Sure if the part was faulty they would replace for free but ware and tear - no.
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