20313203

I am a pretty new 2005 E55 owner. I need to replace the wiper blades and the mechanism is very different that what I am used to. Looking at it and the blades they look to be OEM only because of the width of the blade mount.
Can you only use OEM or are aftermarket blades OK. Any suggestions on good blades?

Denroll

Once you figure out how ridiculously easy it is to remove the blades, you'll feel silly. I am using aftermarket blades no problem.
The thing that sucks is that the wiper arm does not articulate far from the windshield at all.

20313203

Yeah...that was what I figured....Just dont want to break it. I see the little latch and it looks like you lift it up and it detaches. It is just one of those things...
Yeah...since it wont articulate all the way up it kinda makes you more nervous. Is that the right process of lifting the "latch" on top and it simply slides off? Hell...guess I could crack open the book...just feel stupid! ;(

HeissRod

I've never confirmed this, but thought it might help:

https://mbworld.org/forums/3829433-post160.html

E55Greasemonkey

Turn the wipers on and shut off the key once they reach the top. Then you can lift the arms to replace the blades. Be careful not to drop them you risk breaking the windshield.

novae500

thats what i did last year when replacing the wipers. Also picked up the ones that were on sale at Costco. Works good, just a bit noisy sometimes.

Denroll

I never cheap out on wiper blades.

HeissRod

Yeah, what's the cost difference per pair between cheap and good? $20?

Toadster

no joke, I pulled up on my driver's side blade to swap it and gouged the paint on the under-lip of the hood

26" Bosch 26OE ICON Wiper Blade less than $1 per inch

TAILWAG

I just bought mine and I was thinking the same thing. Good thing the guy that sold it to me had them replaced 2,000 miles ago with OEM ones...I looked at them and haven't really messed with them, but at first glance I was like...oh boy, I hope I don't need to replace these things anytime soon. LOL

Sugar_Mouth

Install video:

HeissRod

lol

SPatykAMG

+1 on Bosch Icon. Have had mine for about a year and a half and still work great. Also probably the easiest blade to change I have ever done. Once you figure it out that is.

James M

Previous owner managed to gouge both sides of my hood. I have to look at the marks every time I get in my car!

jmb614

I've tried the Bosch's, and now the PIAA silicone blades. I haven't had them on long, but so far prefer them to the Bosch's. I never really was impressed with the Icons. YMMV

Bramage

You do not need to do anything to release the wiper except lift the arm, articulate the blade up, and slip it off. If you try to pry open that little area where it looks like there may be a release, you will break it off and find nothing under there..







.

RAWE55

Hahah we must have had the same previous owners. Probably sold the car both times because he couldnt stand looking at the gouged paintwork on the lip everytime he sat in the car. Jokes aside it is very easy to change the blades just be cautious, as stated tackle them from the centre of the windscreen

starbrite

This is pretty funny. Local MB dealer wanted $10 per, to change those blades. No wonder they're called "stealerships" (and No, I didn't have them do it)

HeissRod

It's not about the level of effort, but time related to doing it. I believe my dealership charged around $130/hr last time I was there. $20 labor to change two wiper blades is roughly 9.3 minutes worth of time. That would include visiting parts to get the blades, then installing them. If you are dropping it off, then that would also include a wash at most dealers. It's not a rip-off if you take a second to understand that they can't charge just $5 (2.3 minutes) to change them. The tech has to get paid.

stockC43

Exactly. But my dealers general rule of thumb is that if it can be handled on the service drive, (wipers, non xenon bulbs, tire pressure) they do it no charge labor. It just makes sense to not **** off the customers by charging them for installing wipers. They just have a low paid porter do it, keep the techs working on real work.

IslandS62

How did you guys mount Bosch Icons? I bought a set and there doesn't seem to be a way to mount them using the post/pin type mount on our cars. Amazon says they fit, but if you go to the Bosch database it says "not compatible". So how did you guys who run these mount them up?

IslandS62

figured it out. part # for our car is 26OE. Standard 26A/B do not fit.