OEM Bosch Wiper Blades VS. Aero Blades

[A4TUNE]

Okay I still haven't bought new blades, and the rubber on my pass. side blade is almost fully off so its about time I get a new set.

I've been looking at the Aero blades and arms from ECS for $110 shipped. My other option is to just replace the blades I have now with regular OEM Bosch blades from ECS for $40.

My question is; is it worth upgrading to the Aero blades and arms or should I just keep using the OEM blades I have and pick up a new set. BTW is ECS the cheapest option for OEM blades? I checked wal-mart and some auto stores but they don't sell the correct ones and I'd rather not go to the dealer. Thanks need some thoughts and opinions.

[F16HTON]

Buy the set from ECS Killer deal from them if. I used to sell the set for $109 shipped (at that price I barely made enough for a happy meal)

[Audized]

getting the aero arms/blades appears to me a better option because those aero blades seem to last longer than the conventional ones and perform better. i've not had any experience with the OEM bosch blades though, so i can't tell you whether the oem bosch blades last longer than the bosch aeros.

[IKE20VA4]

whoa whoa whoa. don't spend $110 on wipers. bosch makes a blade called the bosch icon. it is like the euro aero blade but they only cost $20 each. mine have lasted me 2 years (up here in oregon through tons of rain and snow) they're amazing.

[durfA4]

Ditto on the Icons I had them on my B5, The were very good. I think there is another company out there that makes a similar part, maybe PIAA.

[A4TL]

you need the aero wiper arms AKA the generic U shaped end to use bosch icons.

i'm pretty sure after using icons on my corrado and rocking the same 85-90mph freeway commute in GA torrential downpour that the bosch icons and aero's are the same thing, seriously unless there is some aging factor built in the aero's which were alot more $$ than the icons look , feel, drive identical.

But hay my 02 330ci had whatever wipers, and they didnt suck after 4 years like the audi. makes you go hmmmmmmmmmmm

[AudiA4_20T]

Aeros= Waste of money, I have them and theyre wipers, a good wiper is a good wiper

[old guy]

Another option is to go to Autozone and buy the Anco W22-R (rubber only) refills. Cost about $7. Works fine with stock '03 wiper arms. I'm guessing the '04 arms are the same.

[derleicaman]

Check out Clair parts. They are featuring the Aero arms and blades for $88.

[Matav23]

I just replaced mine with the OE Bosh not the areo. But a heads up, wile looking around to find the right blades I came across Pure Motorsports. DO NOT BUY FOR THEM! I ordered mine right from there website under the B6 area. They sent me the wrong blades (I got stock B5 bosh blades) and when i called to get everything figured out the guy ended up telling me i was an idoit and had no idea what i was talking about. Anyway stay away from Pure.

BTW I don't know if you can get those Icon blades for a B6, but I have only heard good things about them!

[motor_werke]

I also just ordered from Pure Motorsports. Their prices were good on many items, so I ordered wipers from them. I too, got the wrong wipers. I entered my car on the front page (2003, A4, 1.8T) and then typed "wiper" in the search box. Saw two different sets of wipers, one for 18 each, and the other 14 each. The ones for 14 are the ones I chose, and even said includes spoiler in the description, just like the ones currently on my car. Got them on Friday, and it turns out they are the standard "hook" style that our A4's don't use. I emailed PureMS, and it turns out their search feature looks at all parts, and doesn't use your car info shown on the front page. I'm a bit upset by that! Trying to see if I can return them, but in any case I'd still be out the shipping cost back to them.

As a side note, I went back to their site yesterday, and if you manualy browse their site for the wipers, it will onyl show the $18 ones. Strange that they can filter results when browsing the site, but not with the search feature?

[a4000]

Rain X FTW!

[Papachristou]

i got the areos thinking i was wasting $... and even my girlfriend said they look better lol! plus they do wipe a lot better in heavy rain especially!

this isnt a taurus where u can go pick up wipers for $10... just another perk of owning a german car :)

[nvr_follow]

Second on www.clairparts.com you can get the set cheap! If I probably wasn't going to sell my car, I'd pick up a set

[quattrotman]

But hay my 02 330ci had whatever wipers, and they didnt suck after 4 years like the audi. makes you go hmmmmmmmmmmm

That's funny...I had the exact opposite experience. My wifes car is a 05 325 and we bought our cars at the same time. My wipers are still great (2+years), her's are noisy as hell, streaking, and the rubber has taken a folded memory to them so they skip on the windshield....hmmmmmmm

[quattrotman]

Rain X FTW!

I agree...this stuff will extend the life of any wiper. Put it on and they are like new again.

[Audized]

I agree...this stuff will extend the life of any wiper. Put it on and they are like new again.

does Rain X make blades that fit earlier model year B6?

[A4TUNE]

Thanks for all the input guys, I think I may pick up the set from clair parts. How is the install to convert OEM arms and blades to the Aero set? Looks like they have everything included that I will need so it shouldn't be too hard to swap them.

If I don't go with the Aero set where can I pick up a new set of Bosch OEM blades (not Aero)? I may just do what Old Guy said and pick up some refills but I want to check around at my options first.

[quattrotman]

does Rain X make blades that fit earlier model year B6?

Rain X is that stuff you put on the winshield to help the water bead off. They don't make wiper blades from what I know.

[a4000]

Rain X is that stuff you put on the winshield to help the water bead off. They don't make wiper blades from what I know.

They do make wiper blades actually, but I know where you were going, it sounded like he thought we were talking about blades, when we were talking about rain x the liquid.

[IKE20VA4]

I agree...this stuff will extend the life of any wiper. Put it on and they are like new again.

yah, or wipe the wipers down with rubbing alcohol, that cleans them up so nicely..just like new!

but rain x on the windshield combined with aero wipers... = bomb.com

[A4_Mike]

+1 on the Rain X.

[Audized]

i just ordered a set of aeros from ECS. Can i reuse the bolts and caps? or should i order some new ones? TIA!

[A4TUNE]

Those are $20 cheaper from clairparts.com

I think you get the bolts and caps with the kit but i dunno. I'm going to order the aero's soon I think, haven't quite decided yet.

[F16HTON]

How much is the shipping from Clair?

[Audized]

Those are $20 cheaper from clairparts.com

I think you get the bolts and caps with the kit but i dunno. I'm going to order the aero's soon I think, haven't quite decided yet.

shipping is more expensive though. the kit from ECS includes bosch blades, that's why i ordered it from ECS.

[motor_werke]

Only $6.68 shipping for me, but I'm also in MA, only 1 hour from Clair. I ordered a set this morning. Tired of the 'custom" clip design on my 03. PureMS's site wasn't clear, so I got the standard hook style that I'm stuck with now. At least with the Aero's, I can pick up the Bosch localy.

[A4TUNE]

shipping is more expensive though. the kit from ECS includes bosch blades, that's why i ordered it from ECS.

The kit from Clair includes the bosch blades as well.

How much is the shipping from Clair?

Shipping from clair is going to be $9.17 which will total $97.35 shipped opposed to ECS which is $109.95 shipped.

greg I just checked ECS looks like they're selling the fuel filters for $41? Is this the same one your selling?
http://ecstuning.com/stage/edpd/page...ro&engine=1.8T

[Audized]

The kit from Clair includes the bosch blades as well.

good to know thanks Max!

[quat]

OK, I've done the upgraded arms and wiper bit. Best move I ever did. I got mine through the dealer though. I got B7 wiper arms and blades, all in all it only costed 120. The blades have lasted a pretty long time and they get the cleanest wipe. I say go for it.

[Hamann]

clair has them for 102 shipped.

[A4TUNE]

I got mine for $110 shipped from ECS (free shipping if order is over $100). Great customer and fast shipping.. highly recommended. Oh and that blades work great too .

[el_bobbo]

Another option is to go to Autozone and buy the Anco W22-R (rubber only) refills. Cost about $7. Works fine with stock '03 wiper arms. I'm guessing the '04 arms are the same.

These work on the OEM B6 Non-Euro wipers?

Grabbing a set from AZone today and crossing my fingers.

[nvr_follow]

To answer questions about install...simple! Pop off caps, remove nut, wiggle while pulling up, slide on new arm, thread on nut, replace cap! Repeat.

Side note-mark where your wipers lay on the windshield with masking tape as you will have many position choices when putting the new arms back on.

[Colt556]

you need the aero wiper arms AKA the generic U shaped end to use bosch icons.

i'm pretty sure after using icons on my corrado and rocking the same 85-90mph freeway commute in GA torrential downpour that the bosch icons and aero's are the same thing, seriously unless there is some aging factor built in the aero's which were alot more $$ than the icons look , feel, drive identical.

But hay my 02 330ci had whatever wipers, and they didnt suck after 4 years like the audi. makes you go hmmmmmmmmmmm

I've used ICONS on all my VWs, but could never get them to work on my Corrado, stoopid shaped windshield! They don't make an ICON blade for the standard A4 arm so I ordered the AERO set from ECSTuning. Got it in a couple days, took 10 mins to install and works perfect. I use RainX every other wash on the winshield and only really need the wipers in heavy rain or spray when I'm in traffic.

[DELUX]

Make sure you buy OEM Aero-wipers and not Bosch Aero wipers. The Bosch Wipers do not work well with the OEM Aero Arms. I learned this the hard way.

[Siggiepop]

if it doesn't snow where you live get the aero then. Aero isn't good in countries with snow at all =(

[Condo]

My wipers held up fine this winter with the snow we had here.

[KraftwerkB6]

Anyone know a DIY to get the RainX Latitude wiper blades to work on a B6 A4.???????
If searched around forever and i knew i saw a thread a long time ago but cant find it now. Or do the RainX blades not work on non Aero arms? the RainX magazine in the store says that they go right on and give specs for the blades and all.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

buy the Bosch icon blades from any auto store they cost like $20 each or something!