2006 Ibiza wiper blades

[Audi_Bloke]

Afternoon folks!

Sorry if this is a dreadful n00b question, but I promise I did use the forum search ("Ibiza 2006 wiper" really returned way too much stuff) and I did look at the thread titles in here and Crtl-F search for "wiper", and in the Mk4 FAQ forums too, so sorry if I've just been stupid in lacking mad search skills.

Apology number 2 - I'm an Audi driver, like the username and avatar didn't give it away. Been in nothing but Audis for oh, years now - got my first A4 back when S plate was new. I nearly bought a Leon for the missus once, but she didn't like the Cupra (too eager to head for the horizon), much to my dismay.

Anyhoo, enough burble and on to the point. I bought my son an 06-pate Ibiza 1.4 Sport as a sort of 20th birthday present and last-year-at-Uni convenience.

Simple enough questions: What's a decent wiper blade for winter, and how simple is the back one to change?

The fronts are the push-button type flat blades, but the rear is a 335mm multi-arm under a wide plastic cover.

I found these which would appear to fit the front, and look like a good blade (did well in Auto Express reviews) and this is the right length for the back.

[EDIT: Can't post URLs until 15 posts. Darn. Well, I found the Valeo VM327 silencio X.TRM twinpack for the front and Bosch SP13 Super Plus wiper for the rear on wiperblades (dot) co (dot) uk]

Is there a simple way to swap out the rear blade? Is it easier than it first looks under that fiendish plastic cover?

If you could help an Audi-owning male chicken (As Clarkson would no doubt call me), I'd be grateful. Just not grateful that grateful, whatever you might be thinking of!

Cheers,

Chris

 

[GlanzaV]

The rear unit comes off as the whole "big ugly plastic wiper thingy-bob" - Just pop up the circular cap (where the wiper hinges) and remove the nut. You can get the blade from SEAT - or a common "upgrade" is the Polo 6L(IIRC?) rear wiper which has the same ID. They're usually about £14 from the dealers

Front blades are all pretty much of a muchness... so long as you replace them frequently enough BOSCH or Valeo would do more than adequately... if you expect him to be doing over 80mph frequently a spoilered set or Aero Wipers would be a better choice

 

[Audi_Bloke]

Thanks for that. Some Valeos for the front it is. As for 80 mph, he'd better not, not unless he's really careful to check for coppers that is - insurance is enough of a rip without him having points.

That rear is a bit odd. Will give some thought a Polo wiper then, thanks.

Chris

 

[Leigh15]

A bit rusty on this, but if memory serves the blades is just popped into the plastic trim - a firm pull whilst holding the trim should release it.

 

[Audi_Bloke]

Thanks Leigh15.

I did have a quick peek at it, and it looked like it just clipped in, but didn't seem like it would be terribly easy to click out again as the plastic shroud blocks access to it a bit. I ordered those blades I mentioned in my first post and hopefully they'll turn up today and I can get them fitted.

Chris

 

[GlanzaV]

When I went to SEAT they sold me the whole thing! Buggers!

 

[kidinspace]

My clio has a clippy-thingy rear wiper set up and can be a sticky one to get out, I found pulling downwards from the top of the blade whilst holding onto the plastics clipped it off a little easier.
Could also make life easier and polish the windscreen glass with a bit of Auto Glym Glass Polish

http://www.autoglym.com/enGB/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=FE&Range=1

http://www.premiumcarcare.co.uk/index.php/Polish/Autoglym-Car-Glass-Polish-325ml.html

.G.

 

[Audi_Bloke]

Leigh15 is quite right - all I had to do was tease the end of the blade body out, slide a finger underneath it, and while supporting the plastic holder in my other hand, slide a finger up behind the blade and it unclipped.

The Bosch wiper just needed the "easy clip" removing and it clipped right in.

3 minute job to do all three wipers.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Audi_Bloke]

polish the windscreen glass with a bit of Auto Glym Glass Polish

It'll be off to Uni at the weekend, and I am not sure it'll even get so much as a wash until it comes back at the end of term. not sure if that means I should have a good going over of it first, or just accept that it's going to get filthy and not bother wasting my time!

I have hard waxed it once this summer already, and it gets 'topped up' with wash & wax shampoo when it gets washed, so it should be fairly ready for a period of "rain wash only"...