Wipers question

[Peter1450]

Morning chaps Just replaced the wipers on my wife’s Z3, seems it had 20” and the replacements are 19” , what is the standard fitment?
Dump question but the Bosch replacements come with a plain blade and one with the plastic blade on (no idea what it’s called), which side do you fit them?TIA

 

[colb]

Front Driver:	20" / 500mm
Front Passenger:	20" / 500mm

The Blade is there to allow air pressure to push the blade onto the screen when the car is moving, it should be on the drivers side.

 

[Stevo7682]

@colb curious where did you get that info from all 4 of my zeds all have 19" on
Stephen

Edit.
Only reason i ask as never bothered to look anywhere when i have changed just bought same as already on ( which doesn't mean its right) never thought that the 19 looked too small as just replaced on my silver zed

20 must run really close to all the rubbers at screen edges.

 

[t-tony]

Some makes (when bought as a pair) come with a spoiler on the O/S blade and the N/S blade has a slight curve to it.

Tony.

 

[petecossie]

Although it’s no help to the problem of the original poster, I’ve always used on my ZCoupe the Bosch Aero Wiper Blades and had excellent results with them. Haven’t got access to my car at the moment but just gone on Halfords site and they say 19” wiper blades for my car. I’ll check when l get home later today.

 

[Peter1450]

These were from eBay but as you’ll know if you use it the eBay garage feature is far from accurate at times!

 

[Jam03]

The Bosch Aero 20inch are fine on a Z3. I suspect 19inch might also be okay. Halfords recommends 19 and 20 inch.
Interestingly, you can get a set of wiper blades direct from BMW for the Z3 and one of the blades has a spoiler incorporated.
I’ve not noticed any wind noise or loss of performance with the aero wipers at any speed.
I also don’t recommend driving a Z3 in the rain.

 

[Mint]

I've always replaced mine with what was already on, in my case 20".

 

[Peewee]

The Bosch Aero 20inch are fine on a Z3. I suspect 19inch might also be okay. Halfords recommends 19 and 20 inch.
Interestingly, you can get a set of wiper blades direct from BMW for the Z3 and one of the blades has a spoiler incorporated.
I’ve not noticed any wind noise or loss of performance with the aero wipers at any speed.
I also don’t recommend driving a Z3 in the rain.View attachment 329795

Yes. I bought some if these from BMW a couple of years back. They are specified as 500m, which converts to 19.68 inches (aka 20 inches in old money). 475mm (i.e 19 inch) would also work.

 

[Peter1450]

I’m presuming Aero’s are the flat style of wipers? We have the the old school type and one has the “ aero foil “ the blade on just the one , thanks for all the replies!

 

[petecossie]

Just for completeness, just checked my car and it has 20" Aero wiper blades. However if you go on eBay (I purchased them from there a while back) and put my car reg in you get suggested both 19" and 20" sizes for the front windscreen.
To my mind these Aero Blades and the steering wheel refurb by Royal Steering Wheels are the best and cheapest upgrade you can do, although headlamp bulbs as suggested on another thread is a great mod.

 

[Peter1450]

May give the aero’s a go next time

 

[Guinn]

Just for completeness, just checked my car and it has 20" Aero wiper blades. However if you go on eBay (I purchased them from there a while back) and put my car reg in you get suggested both 19" and 20" sizes for the front windscreen.
To my mind these Aero Blades and the steering wheel refurb by Royal Steering Wheels are the best and cheapest upgrade you can do, although headlamp bulbs as suggested on another thread is a great mod.

Trico and Rain-X both list their wiper blades as 20" for Z3s, driver and passenger...

 

[mikeyH]

Well, I've put Bosch blades on both my Z4 E85 (Aero) and my Transit and no matter what I clean them with they squeak like hell, drives me up the wall. I won't be buying them again.

 

[petecossie]

Well, I've put Bosch blades on both my Z4 E85 (Aero) and my Transit and no matter what I clean them with they squeak like hell, drives me up the wall. I won't be buying them again.

I've used them on my Z3 M Coupe since 2013 (on at least my second set maybe third) plus fitted them to my wife's VW Golf and never had a problem with squeaking on either car. No special cleaning, just use Meguiars shampoo and an occasional application of Rain-x plus Prestone screen wash.
Mystery, anyone else with same problem with possible solutions?

 

[mikeyH]

I use Meguiars wash and wax shampoo and wondered if this was the reason. But not then.

 

[colb]

Ensure the blade has sufficient pressure applying it to the glass and that the blade flips its direction when it completes its sweep so its lying in the correct position for the next sweep. I had to adjust my wiper arms on the Z4 to get them to sweep correctly and be quiet in operation, bending and twisting the arms to get the blades sitting on the glass correctly sorted my issues.

 

[t-tony]

A `6" adjustable spanner applied to the wiper arm is the way to align the blade to the glass.

Tony.

 

[Peewee]

Front Driver:	20" / 500mm
Front Passenger:	20" / 500mm

The Blade is there to allow air pressure to push the blade onto the screen when the car is moving, it should be on the drivers side.

The blade (aerofoil piece) should be fitted so that it is below the wiper blade. This is not always made clear in the fitting instructions and may not seem logical particularly if there is a 'universal' fitting to the arm. It took me a while to work out how to fit the BMW OEM ones.