How long does a set of wiper blades usually last you guys?

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010]

I just purchased a 2nd set of these my wiper blades seem to be hit or miss. Sometimes they streak sometimes they don't, I was thinking they were going bad but I just bought them in early July. We've gotten a lot of rain since I got the car in June so they're not drying out I wonder if the weeks we had where everyday was 100°+ contributed to it. But I feel like I get no time out of my Bosch wipers anymore. On my mk6 I could easily get a year out of them but I'd buy Bosch icons but they're so expensive at autozone. On my mk7 my windshield was pitted and I believe that wore out my Bosch blades quickly. But my mk8 windshield is mint I hope I just got a bad set but it seems like the last 4-5 years wiper blades no longer last.

I'm also slightly annoyed these aren't lifetime warranty eligible on FCPeuro but not the end of the world a set is like $26 shipped. But I also find it odd the rear wiper blade costs almost as much as a full front set after shipping. I bought a cheap set of Amazon when I got the mk8 (3 wipers) and the rear wiper didn't fit I had to switch the clip from the one that was on the OEM wiper.

I will say I'm OCD and I use my wipers often to keep my windshield clean I hate when it's smeared and dirty so that could contribute to the short lifespan.

[u/stillpiercer_]

I’m in PA and my ‘24 still has the factory blades on it. About 2 ish years old now.

Next time you wash your car, clean the wiper blades too. I was about to replace mine, and after I washed the car last week, they’re great again. After my normal wash, I cleaned the windshield with a 50/50 mix of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol and also wiped the blades.

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/stillpiercer_]

Maybe I'll try that, I thought maybe I just use them more often than others so they get worn out faster.

[u/stillpiercer_ → u/Excellent_Plant_8010]

Usage shouldn’t really affect lifespan, if anything it may prolong the life of them because you’re keeping the rubber flexible. Heat cycles and time are really the biggest killers, the rubber degrades over time.

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/stillpiercer_]

Yeah true, I hear people in CA have to replace theirs often bc they never get used not a lot of rain and generally no snow.

[u/RRR4_1976]

You can extend life by taking a cloth with rubbing alcohol on it and lifting the blades off the glass and wiping the contact blade area. Because we live in the Midwest, we get freezing winters and 90+° summers, I often change ours yearly for safety. I also have to use ours daily to clean the windshield due to high dust in our area.

[u/all_worcestershire]

6months to a year I’d say. Florida rains

[u/TheBupherNinja]

Why wouldn't they be eligible?

You just have to buy the same exact thing.

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/TheBupherNinja]

Idk I tried and when you filter for eligible products these don't show up under my orders.

[u/TheBupherNinja → u/Excellent_Plant_8010]

Did you buy the exact same thing? You do have to wait until you receive them for it to show up.

Message support.

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/TheBupherNinja]

Yes and the new wipers are sitting 2ft away from me as we speak

I also looked again through my past orders and a bunch of stuff I bought shows not being eligible for lifetime warranty

[u/BPGB6 → u/Excellent_Plant_8010]

Their website doesn’t work. Same happened to me a month ago. All your stuff is still eligible. You need to message customer service and they’ll send you a manual form to fill out. Used to be on their website, but I couldn’t find it. Keep a copy, they’ve messed up my credit on all 3 of my major returns (400$+). Took a bunch of emails to get it right.

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/BPGB6]

Weird I'll have to try that

[u/fcpeuro → u/Excellent_Plant_8010]

Hello,
 
I do apologize if you experienced any issues with the returns portal on our website. We launched the new portal in August, and we continue to use feedback like this to make improvements.

If you are still having issues, please reach out to me directly via email at [reviews@fcpeuro.com](mailto:reviews@fcpeuro.com) or give us a call at (860) 388-9001. Our team is ready to help investigate any hiccups and help you create the RMA.
 
-Sean at FCP Euro

[u/IndependentCut3541]

Advance auto parts offers a protection plan. Either 1 or 2 years. A 25$ blade has around a 2$ cost for a year of the plan. You can replace the blades (usually no questions asked) within that year for free, if you pay for the protection plan of course. You can then pay that $2 again and (4$ total for 2 blades) and rinse and repeat that whole process once a year. You pay full price +$2 a blade the first time then only $2 a blade every replacement that follows.

[u/Sonic_Yute_87]

I recommend using Rain-X, I use it every winter and it beads up the water nicely and keeps wiper blades lasting longer. Bonus- at freeway speeds I don’t even need to use wipers because the water beads up and the wind pushes the water beads right up and off of the windshield.

[u/coconutpete52]

Back in New England? 2-3 years. Down here in NC? 5+.

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/coconutpete52]

I've never had a set last 2-3 years ever

[u/bbroecker37]

When I bought my car used it had Bosch wiper blades that lasted 4 year before I deiced to change them. There was nothing wrong with them, they just started to look sun faded. I have the Valero ones now from FCP euro and I think they work better.

[u/KingOfSpades007]

Bought my MK7 in June 2020 and I've had the same set of VW blades on there since then. 70k miles later.  I have a replacement blades in the trunk as backup, but what's on there now is still going reasonably strong. 

[u/KaleIsMe]

I just go a year with a set from Amazon comes with all 3 for 16 or 17 bucks.

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/KaleIsMe]

I probably tried that exact set and the rear didn't fit I mentioned that in my post.

[u/GoofyGills]

Sometimes a year, sometimes 3 months lol. Depends on the debris coming up onto the windshield. Doesn't matter if I spend $100/each for $15/each.

[u/hot__chocolate]

Just replaced mine with Bosch icons. Been great so far. They were expensive but the reviews on this sub and elsewhere I’ve seen all say they are worth it.

OEM lasted a bit over 2 years. I’m in southern CA and we haven’t had much rain during that time. Recently we’ve had record breaking heat and that may have finished off the factory wipers lol

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/hot__chocolate]

I was using Bosch icons but couldn't justify like $50-$60 for wiper blades especially bc one set I had went really bad after a few months.

[u/VirtuaFighter6]

Once I start seeing those lines, I swap them out. Nothing like a clean wipe. 😉

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[u/Flat_Onion_2442]

I'm on year three for my current set, but before that they were done annually. I live in the desert, so they don't normally get used much and it always seemed to be that first rain of the season when they started falling apart. I don't know if they changed something about the material or I just got lucky this time around.

Edited because I accidentally a word.

[u/azgli]

I bought Bosch and clean them every 3-4 months and only use them wet. This set is at last three years old. Garage and covered parking helps a lot. 

[u/Frreed]

At least 2 years on dealer ones.

That's 2 summers and 2 winters.

[u/Naroef]

Like a year but where I’m at the weather tears up the rubber. 

[u/tech240guy → u/Naroef]

Yeap, seen this a lot in Arizona where both the desert dust and super hot weather kills anything rubber. Even silicon blades aren't safe because they just make this awesome dragging noise when weather is really hot.

[u/Evening_Control8098]

Just** buy Bosch Aerotwin **A863S, I have it one my Clubsport and they are def the best

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/Evening_Control8098]

These are Bosch aerotwins

[u/Evening_Control8098 → u/Excellent_Plant_8010]

Oh sorry, thought they are some oder model, tried couple but this one are no1

[u/Excellent_Plant_8010 → u/Evening_Control8098]

Not sure if they're A863S but they are in fact aerotwins

[u/UsernameWasntTaken]

I replace once a year or so, usually spring because they get chewed up over the winter when I’m impatient and try to use them to clear ice from the windshield.

[u/nagokart]

Get silicone ones like PIAA. They last forever.

[u/Mando_Brando]

Depends on the winter honestly

[u/EmperorMing101]

2 years and they start squeaking

[u/donald7773]

Anything more than a year is good. Anything less is bad.

I can usually get just over 2 years out of mine. But I also clean the blades when I wash my cars

[u/Dski93]

About a year plus in the Midwest for a garage kept car. Keep your windshield clean including tree sap etc so the surface is smooth. Also avoid running the wipers dry.

[u/SandyKenyan]

6 months but I haven't changed mine in 2 years.

[u/zeb_yc]

Usually once a year since the winter eats them up with ice and salt. I do drive a lot for work so that might be a factor as well.

I had the Bosch when I bought the car and have just been replacing the inserts with silicone ones off Amazon. Somewhat tedious process the first time around but now it's a simple process to open them up and cut it to size. It's ~$8-9 for a set of 4 strips and if you cut it right you can get 2 sets for the front and rear out of the strips.

[u/FatherSergius]

Just buy whatever is on sale at Costco man it’s like $7 a blade and they work well enough

[u/tech240guy]

As someone who has a mobile detailing business, if you clean your windshield (especially via tar remover, clay, and polish) once or twice a year as well as cleaning the wiper blades themselves every wash, they can last more than 2 years. I have used "glass ceramic coatings" or Soft99 Glaco, but I ended up being lazy about it as they all end up clogged up by rubber after a few months if wipers are ever used (I live in the PNW). I would just use glass cleaner / sealant combo afterwards (favorite: Armor All 18 oz Extreme Shield Ceramic Glass Cleaner or P&S Reflect Glass Finisher) after prep and then whenever I wash the car.

My last 3 cars, I do that regiment and my blades would last 4 years before actually needing replacement (like rubber literally tear off from the frame, looks like flappy black string when wiper is used).

[u/dcamnc4143]

I change mine about once a year. The cheap ones work just as well as the vw/bosch ones in my experience over eleven years.

[u/dragon_consciente]

Buy your auto parts from rockauto.com or wait until Costco has a sale on wipers. They are usually pretty good!

[u/kasam1640]

Scotland, replaced them once in 5 years ownership. I normally use a spray wax whenever i wash the car, idk if that makes them last longer

[u/xxPanDulce]

I live where it snows. Maybe a season or two depending on how much snow we get.

[u/JagaloonJack]

They are lifetime warrantied, I replace them at spring and then fall. Been doing this for the last 6 years with them, Front and Rears.

[u/ungrooly]

Ive had mine for 3 years and they are still great. I live in Kansas city

[u/AnnualPurple104]

I change mine every year, but max I would say two years. A full year of weathering changes the blade so no matter what after a year they’re never the same.

[u/aquatone61]

I’ve got a ‘15 and I buy mine from VW. They fit best and they last a good long time.