Wiper replacements

[BestGear]

Hi Folks

Has anyone fitted these (or similar) to their cars?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jaguar-XK8-XKR-Re ... 286.c0.m14

Thoughts?

David

[bobwnm]

Hi David,
I fitted them to my convertible and have done a few hundred miles in the wet with no problems, they do seem good quality and well made. They look neat on the car and seem to keep a lower profile than standard wipers, but I still carry the old ones in the boot - -just in case!!!

all the best

Bob

[MyQuest]

I too, was interested in these blades - until I checked the guy's Ebay feedback.....

Bob, perhaps you can advise how they fare over the winter.

Michael

[MarkyM]

I've had my retro wipers fitted for 2yrs and have no complaints as they are a vast improvement over stock (and look better...more modern too)

Myquest, I think it's a bit unfair to cast doubt on an ebay seller with a 99% feedback on almost 58k feedback postings. Personally I think that's exceptionally good given the volume

Mark

[MyQuest]

Mark.

Perhaps you're right about being unfair - but I was implying that the most of his negative feedbacks pertained to flat wipers.
It's reassuring to hear that you find them O.K.

Michael

[BestGear]

Thanks for the views chaps.

I guess the next question is - how well do Bosch replacement wiper blades fit the factory arms and screen wash fitments?

Bosch as a brand never dissapoints...but I dont want any crappy fitting and tywraps to hold the washers on!

David

[mike020150]

More due to local availability than for any deeper reason, I happen to have fitted Bosch blades to my car. They fit and work OK. To replicate Jaguar's fitments, for the driver's side blade make sure you buy the Bosch version with an aerofoil. Mike.

[DoctorHoux]

I fitted low-profile blades from an ebay seller and they're absolutely fine. The view down the bonnet is improved slightly too, but those damned arms still stick too far into the air.

So for me, the real holy grail is not the wiper blades, but improving the way the wiper ARMS are fitted. Does anybody know where to get low-profile arms that allow a better view down that lovely bonnet?

Or is it worth bending them to a different shape with the help of my trusty vice and some diy enthusiasm in my garage? Has anybody tried this?

[mike020150]

It would be interesting to learn how you get on using your trusty vice. It's not something anyone else has mentioned on the BB. Mike.

[MyQuest]

I recently bought Bosch blades; they work fine and are simple to fit.

However, I do NOT have the aerofoil type fitted, as I try not to get the Old Girl wet(!) and whatever make I've used in the past seem to stick to the screen at reasonably fast speeds without one. It also helps the over-bonnet view.

An added bonus being a trimmed length of the old wiper rubber slid nicely into the short rear wiper blade of my day car.

I paid £20 (cash - ahem...) for 3 X 21" and 1 X 16" Bosch blades (2 for the XK8 and 2 for my day car), so compared to Jaguar's silly prices, this seemed a snip.

Michael

[MarkyM]

Valeo has now launched a set of low profile wipers for the XK8, and since they are responsible for so much of our cars original kit (inc wipers) sceptics won't have a problem fitting them.

These perform even better than my first pair and have a wear indicator to tell you when to change them!

Known as the VALEO SILENCIO X-TRM you can find them locally or on Ebay, however I would suggest shopping around as you can pay anything between £22-35 a pair.

Regards

Mark