Straight Wiper Blades On Newer Cars

[tim-spam]

I've noticed that the newer Galaxies, Alhambras and Sharans ('04 and on) have straight, all plastic wiper blades and an improved ventilation air intake grille / washer jet holder. Has anyone has experience of these, and are they much of an improvement - the grille certainly feels much more solid. Will these parts fit an earlier facelift car (2000 - 2003), and if so what is the cost?

Tim

[Ivor_E_Tower]

IIRC the flat-blade wipers require new wiper arms to fit (since the attachment method is different), and the "improved air intake grille" will require you to also fit new bits to the rear edge of the bonnet; quite a lot of money to pay for basically something that nobody else but you will notice !

[Guest MATT]

...that nobody else but you will notice !

...Ive noticed them, i think they look very sleek and modern.

 

matt

[Ivor_E_Tower]

..I meant the air intake, not the blades ! We're all Galaxy Geeks, we'd notice most of the unusual upgrades etc to different model years (twin chromed exhaust pipes, solid/A-framed headrests, lower part of rear bumper in body colour or unpainted black etc) <_>

[GSMGuy]

On the subject of these air intakes, do they improve or increase airflow into the cabin?

 

My A/C is fine, nice and cold, but there really does seem to be a need for approx double the airflow through the blower/ventilation system..

 

And yes, I have changed my pollen filter lol. (pig of job!)

(And get a coopers one from Halfords

[tim-spam]

An MPV specialist near where I live has several Sharans, Alhambras and Galaxies in stock (on Y, 51, 52 and 03 plates), and they have all been fitted with flat blade wipers and new wiper arms to go with them. In some cases, the wiper arms foul the plastic grille moulding, but this may just be poor fitting. Are these wipers an improvement over the curved ones fitted to earlier cars?

The reason I was asking whether anyone knew the cost and interchangeability of the latest plastic grille / bonnet parts was that the older ones seem somewhat flexible, and should they ever get broken (for example during windscreen replacement), would the later ones fit?

Tim

[Dave-G]

they have all been fitted with flat blade wipers

 

<_< This is actually a bit of an anonomaly...(kant ceem to spel thit), as they have also been referred to as curved ones....due to the fact that they are seriously more curved towards the screen when pulled away from it. :unsure:

 

:P perhaps we orta call them wrap ones on account they'll wrap around curved screens better than orthodox ones :lol:

 

now lets try a file upload to see if Gteuk has done the repair yet...

 

The requested file upload failed. This is either because it was not in the correct format, or the file size was larger than that allowed. Please check the file you wish to upload and try again.

 

 

:unsure: :angry: :D :D :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

[_dg]

It seems odd to me that Ford will fit a part that will potentially cost us less to replace than the previous type!

 

Can I change my curved windscreen to take advantage of potential savings in future blade replacement?

[tim-spam]

I went to B&Q over the weekend, and noticed several Galaxies (on 01, 02 and 03 plates), and they all had these flat blade wiper blades fitted. Have the main dealers stopped supplying the curved blades - if so, I guess they are fitting the later flat blade types together with new wiper arms when they service the car. Has anyone on this forum had this done to their cars?

Tim

[MrT]

The newer plastic bits fit the earlier facelifted models. I replaced mine when I had my windscreen broken twice and heavy handed Autoglass cracked the old plastic trim.

 

I bought a pair of the new Bosch aero twin blades and arms on ebay for about