Aero Device on Windscreen Wiper Questions?

[Dark Silver S]

On my '03 S, I have an aero device on just the driver's side wiper. It's clearly designed to keep the wiper from lifting at speed.

Why only the driver's side?

Does anyone else have just one?

Where can I get another one?

If I replace the blades, will the device fit on them?

[MiniMan7]

Yes, I have just one on the drivers side, I have no idea what it is for however.

[MiniMan7]

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave
At higher speeds wipers tend to lift off the windshield.
The chunk on the drivers side provides resistence which keeps the blade pressed against the glass better at higher speeds.

That makes sense, but what about the passenger side?

[Jeep-2-mini]

My guess - its not exactly vital for the passenger to see where they'r going, so as a cost saving measure the chunk is only provided for the driver

[3GGG]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeep-2-mini
My guess - its not exactly vital for the passenger to see where they'r going, so as a cost saving measure the chunk is only provided for the driver

This was covered on MINI2 before a while back- I recall the explanation was that on the drivers side the wiper is closer to the airflow at the edge of the screen. Just going from memory...

[MiniMan7]

The aerofoil wiper is infront of the driver over here (left side).

[JR9907]

I have both a 2003 mini cooper s and my wife has a cooper.I purchased 2 left side wiper blades and installed them on the pass sides of both cars.At high speed both wipers now stay on the glass.

[JR9907]

I have found in the lower part of the pass side wiper it does not hit the glass properly.With the drivers side wiper on the pass side it hits at all speeds (at least to 125 mph in Montana in the rain 1 week ago.

[fishie <///><]

Quote:

Originally posted by JR9907
at least to 125 mph in Montana in the rain 1 week ago.

hail to the lack of speed limit in montana.

[MiniMan7]

I've never really had a problem with em.

[Dark Silver S]

So the consensus is that MINI left it off on purpose as a cost-saving measure? A part that must cost all of 10 cents to manufacture, and 30 seconds to install? [/sarcasm]

The single device certainly is better looking than some of the after-market products that achieve the same effect. But I'd like to be the judge of whether or not I look out the passenger side, thankyewverymuch!

Not meant to be offensive or flaming, but, obehave, you do have a knack for stating the obvious.

[flipper]

I recall reading somewhere that wiper 'lift off' is not achieved at speeds below 150mph & I have never noticed a difference between the two wipers they all wear out too soon IMO.

[olerud400]

I have not noticed a problem with my passenger windshield wiper but I HAVE noticed one with the driver side. It's not fitting right so in rain or when attempting to clean the windshield all i get are nasty smudges.

[GordonD]

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave
Mine got that way just before they fell apart last month. I'm pretty anal about cleaning my windshield and I usually wipe the blades at the same time. It also gets bad if you had a brief rain and then it dries up. This just floats road oil which gets sprayed on the car and then just dries(solidifies?) up on your blade. Next rain---instant goo.

My OEM blades got deformed by ice buld up over the winter and I changed them a couple of weeks back to PIAA silicon ones.

When you put them on you treat the windscreen with a special cloth (smells like RainX) and then run the wipers dry for 5 minutes. Apparently there is some interaction between the material of the blade and the stuff you spread on the glass. So far they have worked really well - no smearing - and even bug and bird ***** will come off just by spraying/wiping.

they are hellish expensive but a clean windshield is valuable.

They don't have the airfoil but are slotted so air flows through them and presumably doesn't produce any lift

[Dark Silver S]

I waas hoping that the airfoil would fit in those slots. we shouldn't lose that feature just because we change out the blades.