[theminiv]

Hey all, I am at my wits end with the mini wipers now.

Accidently, I got some silicone spray lubricant on the windscreen.

Instantly the wipers started banding, they are only about 3 months old. Plus water sticks to the screen now.

They have got really noisy also, I was torn between my flat retrofit blades which squeak, or my new mini OEM blades which bang.

I have clayed my windscreen, used vinegar, window polish and auto glym window cream. None of these have helped. I have even used 100% alcohol on the screen.

Fitted new wiper rubbers to boot as well.

Still noisy as hell.

I have just ordered piaa blades, but at £40 a pop, I dont want to put them on and ruin them if my screen is covered in something that needs to be removed.

PS, I have even considered smashing the screen to get another one! Its that bad!

[iain cooper]

if youv'e used a window degreaser and are confident that the silicon has ben removed there should not be a problem with new wipers.

is the water still sticking to the screen ?

I would run a while with the existing wiper blades, put up with any noises and wait until they are running smoothly, then put on your expensive blades.

certainly don't put on the expensive ones until you are sure that all the silicone has been removed.

btw I would not recommend claying/polishing a windscreen, only use degreasing products.

[theminiv]

Yes water is still sticking to the screen.

Just ordered some piaa wipers, they will take a few days to arrive so I will need to sort something. Dont know what else to try tho.

[iain cooper]

I have in the past used Mr Muscle glass cleaner, and found it very good.

[Richard Crofts]

Cillit Bang!

JUST KIDDING, DON'T REALLY USE IT!

Although supurb for engine bay I would not like it near the paint LOL

I think a degreaser and/or windolene liquid with elbow grease will be your only thing. Have you tried the old sandpaper the rubber blades trick to see if feathering the edges of the blades makes them work better?

[jedigav]

I'd try some meths on a nice clean cloth & do it a couple of times, that always seems good at removing smeg off glass for me

[drainaudio]

Hi,
Just get some silicone remover from your local body-shop supplies store - it's used to remove all traces of detailing products etc prior to painting so is paint safe, I always use it prior to touching in stone-chips etc.

Once you are sure all the silicone is gone from the glass treat it (actually treat all the glass even the sunroof if you have one) with Rain X - it makes water bead and just fly off the car, so the wipers have less work to do.
In my personal experience - 2 Mini's both with OEM wipers changed twice a year (Summer/Winter) the combination makes for smooth, absolutely silent wipers.

I can't stress the importance of Rain X enough, it's simply amazing.
The first time it starts raining and you witness water instantly beading and flying off every area of glass you'll understand.
I also think it helps with the morning frost as well - a quick squirt with the wipers and frost just crumbles, I thnk the Rain X prevents it having any sort of real adhesion to the glass.

Cheers, Geoff.

[hoojkel]

Quote: Originally Posted by theminiv (original)

Hey all, I am at my wits end with the mini wipers now.

Accidently, I got some silicone spray lubricant on the windscreen.

Instantly the wipers started banding, they are only about 3 months old. Plus water sticks to the screen now.

They have got really noisy also, I was torn between my flat retrofit blades which squeak, or my new mini OEM blades which bang.

I have clayed my windscreen, used vinegar, window polish and auto glym window cream. None of these have helped. I have even used 100% alcohol on the screen.

Fitted new wiper rubbers to boot as well.

Still noisy as hell.

I have just ordered piaa blades, but at £40 a pop, I dont want to put them on and ruin them if my screen is covered in something that needs to be removed.

PS, I have even considered smashing the screen to get another one! Its that bad!

Try this from screwfix Unibond Silicone Sealant Remover 150ml - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

Will remove fresh and dried in silicone, just ordered PIAA wipers myself, got them for £20 each, you should try ebay although there is no PIAA wiper drivers side 18" with spoiler.
good luck

[Meeerrrk]

once youve sorted it, get bosche aerotwins, they are great!

[hoojkel]

Just got my PIAA silicon wipers and put them on, not a noise and in carbon as well, sweet as!!

[theminiv]

Hi there, thanks for the replies. I just had to cancel my order for piaa wipers because they are out of stock!! Terrible. Anyhoo.

Its silicone lubricant that was spilt on there, so will the standard removers work ?

I will try the meths thing to be honest, I have also got some of the tesco screenwash and I think that has alot of meths in it. That might work.

One thing I did notice was that I washed the windscreen a couple of times with a normal wash and wax. It made the wipers alot quieter. I think I might have cut back the screen so much it has made it too dry. If you know what I mean.

I cant wait to get it sorted tho, we live in wales and knowing my luck, as soon as I get it right, we will have the hottest spring on record and I wont be able to test them!!!!!

[theminiv]

Got the piaa wipers,

19 inch passenger curved, 19 inch driver with spoiler.

Excellent wipers, but they are very expensive considering what they are.

I am sure they will last me a long time, they have cured the noisy windscreen issue.

Something I found tho. I cleaned my window with all sorts of stuff, the noise only got better when I started washing the window with wash wax etc.

By the looks of things, the piaa refills could fit in the mini wipers. So I would check into this as they are about £7 each.

[drainaudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by theminiv (original)

Got the piaa wipers,

19 inch passenger curved, 19 inch driver with spoiler.

Excellent wipers, but they are very expensive considering what they are.

I am sure they will last me a long time, they have cured the noisy windscreen issue.

Something I found tho. I cleaned my window with all sorts of stuff, the noise only got better when I started washing the window with wash wax etc.

By the looks of things, the piaa refills could fit in the mini wipers. So I would check into this as they are about £7 each.

As per my post re Rain X you've discovered the "point" so to speak..
The glass needs some form of treatment if you want it to be slippery, repel water, keep the wipers working quietly and efficiently.

That is what Rain X is designed to do - it's about £5 a bottle (mine has lasted 3 years thus far), go get some already and stop faffing about with stupidly expensive wiper blades, the stock ones work perfectly.

I personally wouldn't be using wash and wax on my paint and glass - wash washes, wax waxes, they are separate processes.

Cheers, Geoff.

[theminiv]

Quote: Originally Posted by drainaudio (original)

As per my post re Rain X you've discovered the "point" so to speak..
The glass needs some form of treatment if you want it to be slippery, repel water, keep the wipers working quietly and efficiently.

That is what Rain X is designed to do - it's about £5 a bottle (mine has lasted 3 years thus far), go get some already and stop faffing about with stupidly expensive wiper blades, the stock ones work perfectly.

I personally wouldn't be using wash and wax on my paint and glass - wash washes, wax waxes, they are separate processes.

Cheers, Geoff.

Car washes have wax in them (some of them) - I dont actually wax my windows.

I have used rainx before on one of my previous minis. - To be honest, you have to keep re applying it or it will make the wipers judder etc. Sometimes it can make things worse.

I wanted to avoid products like rainx because its just adding something else to my already chemical ridden windscreen.

The Ultimate advice is never to put anything on your screen not even rainx!! - Your wipers will be fine then

[hoojkel]

Quote: Originally Posted by theminiv (original)

Got the piaa wipers,

19 inch passenger curved, 19 inch driver with spoiler.

Excellent wipers, but they are very expensive considering what they are.

I am sure they will last me a long time, they have cured the noisy windscreen issue.

Something I found tho. I cleaned my window with all sorts of stuff, the noise only got better when I started washing the window with wash wax etc.

By the looks of things, the piaa refills could fit in the mini wipers. So I would check into this as they are about £7 each.

There should have been a wipe included with the PIAA wipers which you're supposed to apply over the window before putting on and using them. I got one with my set and the water just beads of the glass, leaving no streaks etc. Got one with each wiper!!

[theminiv]

Quote: Originally Posted by hoojkel (original)

There should have been a wipe included with the PIAA wipers which you're supposed to apply over the window before putting on and using them. I got one with my set and the water just beads of the glass, leaving no streaks etc. Got one with each wiper!!

Yes, got the wipe. Only used one tho to be honest.

Something does get me about the piaa wipers. I think that the magic is in the wipe c. And not the actual wiper. But to be honest, they do the trick no matter what!

[hoojkel]

Funny, I thought that too but they are great when it is raining, water just beads of and no squeaks and a clear screen after a wipe, I was sick of the old cr##py wipers!!!

[drainaudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by theminiv (original)

Car washes have wax in them (some of them) - I dont actually wax my windows.

I have used rainx before on one of my previous minis. - To be honest, you have to keep re applying it or it will make the wipers judder etc. Sometimes it can make things worse.

I wanted to avoid products like rainx because its just adding something else to my already chemical ridden windscreen.

The Ultimate advice is never to put anything on your screen not even rainx!! - Your wipers will be fine then

Hi, sorry but wrong on both accounts..

The only washes that contain wax are the cheap & nasty variety, proper detailing product companies do not do wash/wax.........they do however make detailing spays that can top up your wax as a final stage after washing.

Glass is not smooth (at a microscopic level) and water pools on it without a product such as Rain X.
Rain X does not need to be constantly applied if done properly the first time.
I applied Rain X to all my glass (after a thorough clean) last July - water still forms tight beads
and flies straight off as soon as you move.

Personally I like to be able to see out of my windscreen when it rains......

Cheers, Geoff.

[drainaudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by hoojkel (original)

There should have been a wipe included with the PIAA wipers which you're supposed to apply over the window before putting on and using them. I got one with my set and the water just beads of the glass, leaving no streaks etc. Got one with each wiper!!

So, not only are these PIAA wipers expensive, but they come with a wipe that you apply to the glass first?
It will be a product very similar if not the same as Rain X that is on the wipe..

OEM wipers and a bottle of Rain X, much cheaper and just as effective without the fancy marketing

Cheers, Geoff.

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by theminiv (original)

PS, I have even considered smashing the screen to get another one! Its that bad!

You wouldn't.... would you?

Quote: Originally Posted by jedigav (original)

I'd try some meths on a nice clean cloth & do it a couple of times, that always seems good at removing smeg off glass for me

Smeg?

Quote: Originally Posted by theminiv (original)

I have used rainx before on one of my previous minis. - To be honest, you have to keep re applying it or it will make the wipers judder etc. Sometimes it can make things worse.

I wanted to avoid products like rainx because its just adding something else to my already chemical ridden windscreen.

The Ultimate advice is never to put anything on your screen not even rainx!! - Your wipers will be fine then

I tried RainX products in wipe-form (anti-rain on the outside, and anti-mist on the inside) and they buggered up all my windows. It's slowly coming off with the passage of time, but you can still see the swirl marks on the glass every time it rains - as the damn stuff told you to apply in small circles.

I really wish I'd never let the stuff get anywhere near my ONE. Not only has it buggered the windows, it didn't actually do what it was supposed to do! Rain now smears across the windscreen rather than running off, and the interior mist repellent I put on the insides just made it mist up even more! It's awful stuff - a really bad product line. Avoid it at all costs.