Wiper blades?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
PS-- I also purchased new refills for my Mercedes from my Mercedes dealer, Even though they were in Mercedes packaging, they turned out to be Anco. I paid twice as much as what I can purchase Anco from AutoZone. Life's lessons, I guess.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,002
Likes: 2,703
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
If I buy blade inserts through the local dealer parts dept, they are some other brand like Joe said.
If I order them through one of the Forum dealers (I use Fichtner Chevrolet), I can specify the genuine GM ones. They cost a couple of bucks more but are excellent quality, I usually combine that with some other parts order to save on shipping.
The left and right blade inserts have different part numbers, but they are actually identical. If you buy the complete blade assembly, the driver side has that little wingy thingy and so you would order one of each.
We've always been willing to drive our Corvettes in the rain, no sign of melting yet.
If I order them through one of the Forum dealers (I use Fichtner Chevrolet), I can specify the genuine GM ones. They cost a couple of bucks more but are excellent quality, I usually combine that with some other parts order to save on shipping.
The left and right blade inserts have different part numbers, but they are actually identical. If you buy the complete blade assembly, the driver side has that little wingy thingy and so you would order one of each.
We've always been willing to drive our Corvettes in the rain, no sign of melting yet.
Last edited by Gearhead Jim; Dec 1, 2010 at 12:15 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
If I buy blade inserts through the local dealer parts dept, they are some other brand like Joe said.
If I order them through one of the Forum dealers (I use Fichtner Chevrolet), I can specify the genuine GM ones. They cost a couple of bucks more but are excellent quality, I usually combine that with some other parts order to save on shipping.
The left and right blade inserts have different part numbers, but they are actually identical. If you buy the complete blade assembly, the driver side has that little wingy thingy and so you would order one of each.
We've always been willing to drive our Corvettes in the rain, no sign of melting yet.
If I order them through one of the Forum dealers (I use Fichtner Chevrolet), I can specify the genuine GM ones. They cost a couple of bucks more but are excellent quality, I usually combine that with some other parts order to save on shipping.
The left and right blade inserts have different part numbers, but they are actually identical. If you buy the complete blade assembly, the driver side has that little wingy thingy and so you would order one of each.
We've always been willing to drive our Corvettes in the rain, no sign of melting yet.
Genuine GM from a forum dealer. They seem to last longer than anything else that I've used on my GM vehicles.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Oh, and my local dealer is a forum dealer, and also happens to be the fifth largest GM Corvette dealer on the face of the Earth.
Same when I walked into my local Mercedes dealer, and she pulled the blister pack marked Mercedes from the shelf, that contained Anco brand refills that were nothing like the blades that came on my Mercedes form the factory.
Last edited by JoesC5; Dec 1, 2010 at 03:31 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 145
From: Northcentral, Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
I asked my dealer to order the OEM rubber inserts for me. I picked them up and they were OEM packaging. I don't know who actually made them, but they fit, they work just fine, and only cost $6 or $7 each.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,801
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I replaced mine with Bosch Icons. The Icons have a built in spoiler and you get it with both blades.
Bill
Bill
Last edited by Bill Dearborn; Dec 2, 2010 at 01:16 AM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 877
Likes: 142
From: Little Egypt, USA
Original equipment blades that came on the car are made by NWB a European company. The factory blades work fine and if you replace them you won't get the nice spoiler on the drivers side. Keep the blades and just buy the rubber refills. Tricos are some of the best quality you can get in a USA refill. They have stainless steel spines and quality rubber just like the originals. Trico 45-205 or Napa 60-2001. Both sides are 21" long. Anco doesn't make OE anymore and the refills have plastic spines. If you must have them its N-21R.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
That's what I thought I was buying when I walked into my local Chevy dealer and told him I wanted GM refills for my Corvette. He sold me the ACDelco's that turned out to be Trico's in ACDelco sealed blister packs. I assumed that ACDelco was OE on my car just as the OE battery is ACDelco. The so-called ACDelco refills in the ACDelco blister pack were not constructed anywhere near what came on my C5 from the factory, but were identical to the Trico refills sold at several auto parts stores.
Oh, and my local dealer is a forum dealer, and also happens to be the fifth largest GM Corvette dealer on the face of the Earth.
Same when I walked into my local Mercedes dealer, and she pulled the blister pack marked Mercedes from the shelf, that contained Anco brand refills that were nothing like the blades that came on my Mercedes form the factory.
Oh, and my local dealer is a forum dealer, and also happens to be the fifth largest GM Corvette dealer on the face of the Earth.
Same when I walked into my local Mercedes dealer, and she pulled the blister pack marked Mercedes from the shelf, that contained Anco brand refills that were nothing like the blades that came on my Mercedes form the factory.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
When I replace the wipers on my C6, I'll make sure I ask(and recieve) those part numbers. Thanks!!!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,485
Likes: 713
From: Sausalito CA
My vote is OEM blade inserts (from dealer).
I have always had good luck with these inserts and they fit the arms perfectly.
I think they cost $7 a piece.
Else, I go with an aftermarket arm and blade asm as opposed to just inserts.
I have always had good luck with these inserts and they fit the arms perfectly.
I think they cost $7 a piece.
Else, I go with an aftermarket arm and blade asm as opposed to just inserts.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
I failed the inspection a few months ago because my wiper blades were falling apart.
I got a whole new set of wipers with arms at Wal-Mart for about $12. They were branded Michelin. They had cheaper brands, but I liked the looks of the Michelin.
They do not sell refills there anymore at Wal-Mart I guess. Kind of pisses me off because I used to buy them for about $2 but Wal-Mart only sells the wipers with the arms. They looked very good quality, so I did not feel too bad.
I got a whole new set of wipers with arms at Wal-Mart for about $12. They were branded Michelin. They had cheaper brands, but I liked the looks of the Michelin.
They do not sell refills there anymore at Wal-Mart I guess. Kind of pisses me off because I used to buy them for about $2 but Wal-Mart only sells the wipers with the arms. They looked very good quality, so I did not feel too bad.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Cape elizabeth Me
I think it depends on if you have a daily driver or a garage queen. I have found the Bosch ICON last a long time and stay down at high speeds when clearing bugs and such. I would not use these on a daily driver as they don't last more that a 5 or 6 months as I had them on my daily driver (TL). I have found that the bosch Mirco work well far a daily driver.
Just my 2 cents
Just my 2 cents
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 21
From: D Block
