Wiper blades in the UK

[Tony Harrison]

Not all SPA cars have heated Aqua Blades.

Mine has heated nozzles on the wiper arms but uses conventional inserts. They work extremely well.

In my view, the heated Aqua Blades rank alongside PowerPulse as a pointless but expensive complication.

Don't shoot.

[James77]

Originally Posted by Tony Harrison

Not all SPA cars have heated Aqua Blades.

Mine has heated nozzles on the wiper arms but uses conventional inserts. They work extremely well.

In my view, the heated Aqua Blades rank alongside PowerPulse as a pointless but expensive complication.

Don't shoot.

That sounds like a more cost effective system the heated blades are expensive if you buy the whole unit but they're better the water proceeds the blade rather than rubbing dirt and fallout across the window, result fewer scratches and smooth glide. Changed the inserts today in 5 mins £30 these will last another 4 years.

[Ulrikas PA]

By deduction, as all the genuine Volvo, V90 wiper blade sets on EBay are suitable for 2016/2017 onwards, and there are none specific to later years, you could assume that the Bosch ones listed for the V90 are also equally compatible with later models?

For what its worth Bosch do make OEM wipers of the same quality that retailers sell for a fraction of the OEM branded ones.

[Krh134]

The aquablades on the V60 18 on are made by Valeo, I do not know about other models, Valeo sell them in the aftermarket.

Not that cheap though.

[neilgorin]

The v60 and v90 and similar s cars, use different designs.

You can get Bosch for the 90s but not the 60s.

The problem with a forum coving so many different cars is the differences like this to be honest.

[voukos]

Originally Posted by neilgorin

You can't buy Bosch wipers for the 2018 on models.

Only Volvo ones or the no name £5 inserts from eBay.

I've been using the £5 ones for the last 50k miles, changing them about every 10k miles. It's a tiny expense.

I would only ever buy Bosch is actually made for the car though.

hi, can you share the ebay trader details please?

[maps]

I had a nightmare of a time last week trying to work out the replacement wiper blades, nothing i got with the car (72 plate v60) suggests the wipers are heated, but they have the nozzles running along the arm. Volvo were (predicatably) very expensive, and aftermarket sites couldn't agree which type of wiper arms i needed, they were all different sizes.

I ended up buying a pair of bosche aerotwins and taking out the rubber insert, trimming to size and reinserting them in the OEM wiper arms. good as new.

[Franko1960]

Originally Posted by maps

I had a nightmare of a time last week trying to work out the replacement wiper blades, nothing i got with the car (72 plate v60) suggests the wipers are heated, but they have the nozzles running along the arm. Volvo were (predicatably) very expensive, and aftermarket sites couldn't agree which type of wiper arms i needed, they were all different sizes.

I ended up buying a pair of bosche aerotwins and taking out the rubber insert, trimming to size and reinserting them in the OEM wiper arms. good as new.

During my service last week, the service guys said i need a new set of rubber blades. I explained to him that the last service back in October 2022 they were also replaced.
He told me Volvo ones should only last 6-12 months depending on how much they are used.
They do not seem to last very long compared to other manufacturers such as BMW etc

[Kugaman1]

Originally Posted by Franko1960

During my service last week, the service guys said i need a new set of rubber blades. I explained to him that the last service back in October 2022 they were also replaced.
He told me Volvo ones should only last 6-12 months depending on how much they are used.
They do not seem to last very long compared to other manufacturers such as BMW etc

Absolute rubbish.

I changed mine today, the car is 3 years old, 20k miles and thats the first new blades its had. The old ones were still near perfect! Only changed as I had the spare inserts in the garage and the car goes for its first mot tomorrow !

[MikeGMT]

Originally Posted by Franko1960

During my service last week, the service guys said i need a new set of rubber blades. I explained to him that the last service back in October 2022 they were also replaced.
He told me Volvo ones should only last 6-12 months depending on how much they are used.
They do not seem to last very long compared to other manufacturers such as BMW etc

Originally Posted by Kugaman1

Absolute rubbish.

I changed mine today, the car is 3 years old, 20k miles and thats the first new blades its had. The old ones were still near perfect! Only changed as I had the spare inserts in the garage and the car goes for its first mot tomorrow !

Likewise, car is 4 years old with 20k miles and still on the same blades. Recently serviced and MOT'd and no mention of poor wiper performance.