Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: dippydave on 15 September 2008, 16:48:06

Title: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: dippydave on 15 September 2008, 16:48:06
Just changed the front wiper blades and thought i'd share the knowledge. My new ones are fantastic!!

Despite Vx only wanting about £12 (on TC) for a pair of 'normal'  blades I'd already spotted the Bosch Aerotwin in my usual wholesalers (£32 rrp reduced to £25) and fancied trying them. These newer single flexible things are apparently much better so I enquired of Vx Lookers. Not normally on TC they said but did me a deal and charged just over £22! They're Valeo ones actually, but do an awesome job! And have groovy little GM stickers on  8-)

FYI the GM box said Signum and Vectra C but not Omega so it took some persuading that they are the same blades. (Based on fitment, and the Bosch wiper codes!)



Can't say I'm as happy with the estate rear window wiper tho that seems to not want to wipe it all, but as i don't drive backwards very often it's a tiny grumble!!
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: The Barge Captain on 15 September 2008, 19:11:38
Rear wiper are a bit of an issue, although lubricating the pivot pin helps.
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 15 September 2008, 19:21:15
Quote
Just changed the front wiper blades and thought i'd share the knowledge. My new ones are fantastic!!

Despite Vx only wanting about £12 (on TC) for a pair of 'normal'  blades I'd already spotted the Bosch Aerotwin in my usual wholesalers (£32 rrp reduced to £25) and fancied trying them. These newer single flexible things are apparently much better so I enquired of Vx Lookers. Not normally on TC they said but did me a deal and charged just over £22! They're Valeo ones actually, but do an awesome job! And have groovy little GM stickers on  8-)

FYI the GM box said Signum and Vectra C but not Omega so it took some persuading that they are the same blades. (Based on fitment, and the Bosch wiper codes!)



Can't say I'm as happy with the estate rear window wiper tho that seems to not want to wipe it all, but as i don't drive backwards very often it's a tiny grumble!!

You could try bending the arm a tad to put more pressure on the rear window......or do as i did.....buy a new arm.....the spring seems to go a bit weak after a while.........Assuming tho it didnt wipe very well with the old wiper.
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: dippydave on 15 September 2008, 21:12:55
yeah true. with the old wiper it left a pattern like


          _____
         /         \
    __/           \__
   /                     \
  /                       \

sort of... and with the new it still does. (i'll put it on a wishlist after more important things like coolant/temp sensor)  ;D

main thing is tho, the front ones are FAB!!
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 15 September 2008, 21:26:25
Quote
yeah true. with the old wiper it left a pattern like


          _____
         /         \
    __/           \__
   /                     \
  /                       \

sort of... and with the new it still does. (i'll put it on a wishlist after more important things like coolant/temp sensor)  ;D

main thing is tho, the front ones are FAB!!

definately weak spring then........replace or bend the arm.....not expensive about...£12-£15 new iirc  :y
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 15 September 2008, 21:30:25
Lol, those blade wipers are crap at complex contours.....and the rear screen has a compelx shape (so does the front one hence why a fair portion of the blade does not touch thescreen when in the park position).

Sadly, these blades are a classic example of form over function....

Still, most estates produce the bat man symbol when the rear screen is wiped and the arm is a bit tight.
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: HerefordElite on 15 September 2008, 23:18:33
Quote
Just changed the front wiper blades and thought i'd share the knowledge. My new ones are fantastic!!

Despite Vx only wanting about £12 (on TC) for a pair of 'normal'  blades I'd already spotted the Bosch Aerotwin in my usual wholesalers (£32 rrp reduced to £25) and fancied trying them. These newer single flexible things are apparently much better so I enquired of Vx Lookers. Not normally on TC they said but did me a deal and charged just over £22! They're Valeo ones actually, but do an awesome job! And have groovy little GM stickers on  8-)

FYI the GM box said Signum and Vectra C but not Omega so it took some persuading that they are the same blades. (Based on fitment, and the Bosch wiper codes!)



Can't say I'm as happy with the estate rear window wiper tho that seems to not want to wipe it all, but as i don't drive backwards very often it's a tiny grumble!!

have you got a part number for these Dave? mine are in need of urgent throwing away
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 September 2008, 09:41:29
That reminds me. I must fix my wipers. At the moment, I'd settle for wipers that actually stop when you switch them off rather than 5 miles further down the road.

Kevin
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: Humpy on 16 September 2008, 11:23:35
I bought a brand new wiper and arm from Vauxhall for my rear window and as Mark says, it still wipes the Batman symbol :)

Perhaps I should have bought a new window as well....!

Humpy
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: Jimbob on 16 September 2008, 14:42:38
If you rainx the rear screen, and use the wiper regularly, I find mine about perfect  :y
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: Kevin Wood on 16 September 2008, 14:45:54
Quote
If you rainx the rear screen, and use the wiper regularly, I find mine about perfect  :y


.. or of course you could adopt the first rule of Omega saloon driving:

"What's behind me... is not important!".

 :D

Kevin
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: dippydave on 18 September 2008, 03:26:12
Quote
Quote
Just changed the front wiper blades and thought i'd share the knowledge. My new ones are fantastic!!

Despite Vx only wanting about £12 (on TC) for a pair of 'normal'  blades I'd already spotted the Bosch Aerotwin in my usual wholesalers (£32 rrp reduced to £25) and fancied trying them. These newer single flexible things are apparently much better so I enquired of Vx Lookers. Not normally on TC they said but did me a deal and charged just over £22! They're Valeo ones actually, but do an awesome job! And have groovy little GM stickers on  8-)

FYI the GM box said Signum and Vectra C but not Omega so it took some persuading that they are the same blades. (Based on fitment, and the Bosch wiper codes!)



Can't say I'm as happy with the estate rear window wiper tho that seems to not want to wipe it all, but as i don't drive backwards very often it's a tiny grumble!!

have you got a part number for these Dave? mine are in need of urgent throwing away


yeah I still got the box in the boot. I'll have a look in the morning!!

by the way, i haven't fitted a 'blade' type on the back window. just a std 13" Vx wiper. i like the batman analogy tho!
and i realise that on the front they don't clear by the tax disc but the rest of the screen is loads better than from new 'normal' wipers.
mind you having a 'duxback' treatment from a service centre was pretty fab too. (think it works same as Rainx)
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: stevief on 18 September 2008, 13:01:53
The problem with the back wiper is not always the spring tension it is the ability for the blade to follow the shape of the glass as the blade is not deep enough. The last blade I bought needed some filing done to remove the restriction and previous ones required the saddles which hold the blades to be bent slightly to give the rubber enough curve.  
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: bob.dent on 18 September 2008, 17:32:15
Quote
Just changed the front wiper blades and thought i'd share the knowledge. My new ones are fantastic!!

Despite Vx only wanting about £12 (on TC) for a pair of 'normal'  blades I'd already spotted the Bosch Aerotwin in my usual wholesalers (£32 rrp reduced to £25) and fancied trying them. These newer single flexible things are apparently much better so I enquired of Vx Lookers. Not normally on TC they said but did me a deal and charged just over £22! They're Valeo ones actually, but do an awesome job! And have groovy little GM stickers on  8-)

FYI the GM box said Signum and Vectra C but not Omega so it took some persuading that they are the same blades. (Based on fitment, and the Bosch wiper codes!)



Can't say I'm as happy with the estate rear window wiper tho that seems to not want to wipe it all, but as i don't drive backwards very often it's a tiny grumble!!

I fitted these Bosch Aerotwin flatblade wipers to mine at the beginning of the year and wouldn't go back to the "old" style wipers. They still clear the windscreen superbly, almost silent and don't lift off the screen at any speed. :y

I don't use them on the rear window though - I always get a genuine one from VX.
Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: dippydave on 18 September 2008, 18:42:19
Just dug out the boxes I got from Vauxhall Starcity...

The fronts are part no 93189630. GM branded "Retrofit" for Vectra C and Signum.
The rear is 91155610, a Vx branded 385mm (15") standard one. I had taken a Bosch 400mm one off but might try filing that to see if the bat shape goes!

Title: Re: new fangled wiper thingies
Post by: Kate on 18 September 2008, 19:14:28
I had the batman problem on my estate.  That was the least of it's problems though if anyone remembers! ;D