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OEM or aftermarket wiper blades?

T

Tsi7

Ready to race!
Location
Ontario, Canada
I ask because I am genuinely impressed with the quality of the OEM wipers on my mk7... Not sure how long they've been on the car as I bought it used last year and from what I know, the dealership didn't replace anything on the car. Even if it's been one year, they are still working fairly well. I was looking at getting them replaced because they are starting to leave some streak marks, although i'm not convinced yet if it's the rain-x washer fluid that might be the culprit... either way, they are not streaking to the point where they are making noise, only the rear one does that

The only problem with OEM blades is they're stupid expensive... dealer wants 75 bucks plus tax for all 3 (50 for the front and 25 for the rear) and that's with a 20% discount! Why can't VW be like Honda and just sell the inserts for 10 bucks a piece :(

and with that said, I've used a bunch of different aftermarket wiper blades on previous cars and was never impressed with any of them... I just ended up usually getting the michelin costco ones because they were cheap

I really don't feel like spending close to 100 bucks on wiper blades... will probably just end up getting the cheap costco ones again, unless there are some decent aftermarket blades people like to go with
 
AdamSheikh

AdamSheikh

Autocross Champion
Location
FLL
Car(s)
15 GTI | 24 RS 3
I recommend Valeo Silencio Xtrm - look for Valeo VM387 on Amazon. (Pay no attention to the lengths listed in the Amazon title, they are wrong but Amazon refuses to update the listing.)

That said, these wipers are made specifically for Mk7 and A3 applications and work very well.
 
J

Jozooka

Go Kart Newbie
Location
Bucks County, PA
If you like the OEM, you can get a full set online for less than $60.

I went through the same thing coming from a Volvo. The OEM blades were expensive but they outlasted everything else and fit perfectly.

Considering how critical being able to SEE is while driving, it's not really an area to skimp on :)
 
T

Tsi7

Ready to race!
Location
Ontario, Canada
Thanks for the responses so far everyone

Given that i'm in Canada, all the aftermarket products mentioned come out to around the same price as OEM. The valeo ones aren't even available with prime shipping in Canada

I just looked at one of the most known german parts store around my area and found these bosch wiper blades

https://germanparts.ca/parts/8569

https://germanparts.ca/parts/F0669

These appear to be the evolution ones. Looking on Bosch's site, they have 20 different kinds... never would've thought there would be so many
 
Hoon

Hoon

Autocross Champion
Location
Rhode Island
I've got the Trico ones, can't recall the model name but they're the best ones I could get at my local Napa.

They're def better than OEM.
 
seanmcd1

seanmcd1

Autocross Newbie
Location
SC
I bought Bosch Icons (paid way more than I expected to) and they are performing perfectly, but the next go-round I will be searching for the OEM Valeo replacement part numbers to see if they are worth getting. It better at least fit the OEM wiper arm without any goofy attachments added... It's been a year so it's time for me to get some again.

Also be aware that certain Bosch Icon's you might stumble across in auto parts stores (or even Amazon) won't actually fit. Make sure it says "Clear Max 365" on them. If it doesn't say that it may not fit.
 
Last edited:
southpawboston

southpawboston

Drag Racing Champion
Location
Somerville, MA
I've been incredibly happy with the OEM blades. 10 months and 8k miles in, and one New England winter down, and they still wipe like new. No streaks, no chatter. Rear wiper is just beginning to show the slightest streaks. I'll be sticking with OEM when these wear out. I'm also very conservative with the wipers, never "overuse" them.

I think the type of washer fluid you use makes a huge impact on the longevity and performance of the blades. For the past few years I've been using the purple stuff with detergent and water repellent, and my wipers suddenly started lasting longer since switching.

I also think VW's (and other German makes') idea of "twitching" the wipers at engine shutdown is ingenious. It probably does help preserve the blade's edge.
 
T

Tsi7

Ready to race!
Location
Ontario, Canada
Xdpker said:
Don't buy new ones if you like your OEM ones. Just buy new inserts.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MU6T680/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Click to expand...

Ideally this is what I want but any no name piece of rubber blade won't be the same as OE rubber... The rubber is cheap to buy, it's everything else that makes it so expensive, which is why I like Honda because they figured it out with inserts many years ago...

So far I'm liking the Trico option Hoon mentioned or the Bosch evolution set that I found... Hell maybe I'll find a way to get my hands on the OE rubber that comes on vw's from factory
 
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