What wiper refill fits the stock blade? - LotusTalk

SweetDaddyD · 04-10-2007, 11:54 AM

So, I've searched and read through all the wiper threads (so I think) to not arrive on a very solid conclusion on what works and what doesn't. The stock wiper was fine for quite a while and I see no need to change the frame.

What variation of Bosch is the stock blade, or what refill(s) have been found to fit the stock frame and who had them in stock?

Thanks.

babak · 04-10-2007, 12:04 PM

I bought a refil from autozone for $5, fit perfectly.

SweetDaddyD · 04-10-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babak

I bought a refil from autozone for $5, fit perfectly.

Just a Bosch refill? Did it have any special name, Excell or anything? Last time I checked Autozone (a long time ago though) they didn't have any listed or that big. Guess I'll check again.

glb · 04-10-2007, 12:13 PM

IIRC, Consumer Reports liked the Anco Premium, which costs about $10 and work fine.

®ob · 04-10-2007, 02:16 PM

Toyota Celica refill from the driver's side. I told them an 03 model. Got it from the Toyota dealer.

LARRY · 04-10-2007, 02:19 PM

I tried EVERY refill and every blade replacement.

Nothing worked right.

So once a year----I get a new Lotus wiper.

Works fine.

lpmnorth · 04-10-2007, 03:51 PM

I replaced the whole blade with a Trico 26-1 from Pep Boys.

The ends needed a little tweak to fit the curvature on the windshield. Works Great!

And with the holes drilled in it I probably save an ounce or two of weight.

TimMullen · 04-10-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetDaddyD

Just a Bosch refill? Did it have any special name, Excell or anything? Last time I checked Autozone (a long time ago though) they didn't have any listed or that big. Guess I'll check again.

Measure the length of the rubber part. Then go to the auto parts store and get a refill that is that long (usually two to a pack). They normally come in two "widths", regular and narrow. Ours is regular I believe.

Just make sure that when you install it, that you slide it into the frame from the center of the car so that the retaining "clip" is toward the center.

babak · 04-10-2007, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetDaddyD

Just a Bosch refill? Did it have any special name, Excell or anything? Last time I checked Autozone (a long time ago though) they didn't have any listed or that big. Guess I'll check again.

He had it in his database and gave me the proper one off the rack.

®ob · 04-10-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LARRY

I tried EVERY refill and every blade replacement.

Nothing worked right.

So once a year----I get a new Lotus wiper.

Works fine.

You clearly didn't try the Toyota refill. It works great.

Smitty · 04-10-2007, 05:09 PM

I went to Autozone and bought a 26-inch Bosch. I elected to get the type that BMW has been using for years and is appearing on most new German vehicles. It works very well.

<img src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7417/wipercg2.jpg">

RoadDad · 04-10-2007, 05:15 PM

Threadjack.... Smitty, what is that white mass near your rear view mirror?

Smitty · 04-10-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadDad

Threadjack.... Smitty, what is that white mass near your rear view mirror?

It's an RFID pass for toll booths.

TimMullen · 04-10-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smitty

I went to Autozone and bought a 26-inch Bosch. I elected to get the type that BMW has been using for years and is appearing on most new German vehicles. It works very well.

Except that it doesn't make contact at the far end of the windshield.

The stock blade works great for most people. Make sure that the clip is toward the center - if it is at the outside, the rubber will bunch up and not do a good job.

RoadDad · 04-10-2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smitty

It's an RFID pass for toll booths.

Thank you, sir. Please excuse the ignorance of those of us who haven't seen a toll booth since typing a college term paper on a Smith-Corona.

lucksta · 04-10-2007, 06:49 PM

24" Bosch Icon or Valeo both work well. Here's a good comparison. I've had the Bosch for two years now and it still works like a dream.

-Chuck

buzzy · 04-10-2007, 08:04 PM

I ditched mine and went back to the Lotus Blade. The 24in Icon doesn't touch the screen for the full wipe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucksta

24" Bosch Icon or Valeo both work well. Here's a good comparison. I've had the Bosch for two years now and it still works like a dream.

-Chuck

RoadDad · 04-11-2007, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzy

I ditched mine and went back to the Lotus Blade. The 24in Icon doesn't touch the screen for the full wipe.

I think that's why SweetDaddyD wants to find a replacement blade for the Lotus frame without paying $24 for a new Lotus wiper frame.

It's almost impossible to get my rubber out of my frame and find something that fits. I've tried Rain-x, bosch, anco or something like that from walmart, and a Michelin refill. All with no luck. I may just break down and buy a whole new Lotus wiper.

SweetDaddyD · 04-11-2007, 07:52 AM

RoadDad, you are correct. Well I went with the 26" Bosch Icon after stopping at 3 autoparts stores, none of them having any refills at all. And all talking up the Icon as the greatest wiper to ever grace a windshield. It does wipe quite nicely in fact, as it should for $25.56. The outside 3 inches or so don't actually sit on the windshield, nor does about the first inside inch. Even the stock one didn't sit on the glass at the outside. It wipes very clean and misses the very outside corners, about 3 inches wide by 4 tall on the pass side and a smaller different shape triangle on the drivers. Overall a huge improvement of my 22 month old daily driven wiper.

buzzy · 04-11-2007, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadDad

I think that's why SweetDaddyD wants to find a replacement blade for the Lotus frame without paying $24 for a new Lotus wiper frame.

It's almost impossible to get my rubber out of my frame and find something that fits. I've tried Rain-x, bosch, anco or something like that from walmart, and a Michelin refill. All with no luck. I may just break down and buy a whole new Lotus wiper.

i recall only paying 15 for mine.

04-10-2007, 11:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
SweetDaddyD BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 7,644 Images: 2	What wiper refill fits the stock blade? So, I've searched and read through all the wiper threads (so I think) to not arrive on a very solid conclusion on what works and what doesn't. The stock wiper was fine for quite a while and I see no need to change the frame. What variation of Bosch is the stock blade, or what refill(s) have been found to fit the stock frame and who had them in stock? Thanks.

04-10-2007, 12:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
babak Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 8,269 Images: 23	I bought a refil from autozone for $5, fit perfectly. __________________ Babak Club111 Central Plains Coordinator '05 Elise - Touring, HT, StarShield '99 Ducati 996 Bip '05 Freelander SE

04-10-2007, 12:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
glb Unattractive Nuisance Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chester, NJ Posts: 4,509	IIRC, Consumer Reports liked the Anco Premium, which costs about $10 and work fine. __________________ 05 elise (PES chip, SSRs, shift tower mods, Multivex; HID low beams); 05 Corolla XRS; 72 Elan Sprint, 170 hp (Sold) "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable." G. Orwell. 6. "A bore is a man who deprives you of solitude without providing you with company." - Gian Vincenzo Gravina

04-10-2007, 02:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
LARRY It's a Lotus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beverly Hills, Ca. Posts: 16,986	I tried EVERY refill and every blade replacement. Nothing worked right. So once a year----I get a new Lotus wiper. Works fine. __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise. Stage II Exhaust. 2007 ProBax seats. "We know they're magical and worth every minute we spend on them. The whole Lotus owners' world is like a secret handshake among people who understand that." (R&T)

04-10-2007, 05:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
RoadDad perfututum futūtor Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,989	Threadjack.... Smitty, what is that white mass near your rear view mirror? __________________ "Really, you want to maintain a semblance of professionalism since you represent Lotus. Me... I don't need to. Bite me." -Randy

04-10-2007, 02:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
®ob What's a registered user? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Austin Posts: 1,108	Toyota Celica refill from the driver's side. I told them an 03 model. Got it from the Toyota dealer.

04-10-2007, 03:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
lpmnorth Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Porter Ranch, CA Posts: 118	I replaced the whole blade with a Trico 26-1 from Pep Boys. The ends needed a little tweak to fit the curvature on the windshield. Works Great! And with the holes drilled in it I probably save an ounce or two of weight.

04-10-2007, 05:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
Smitty Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Leesburg, Virginia Posts: 305	I went to Autozone and bought a 26-inch Bosch. I elected to get the type that BMW has been using for years and is appearing on most new German vehicles. It works very well. <img src="http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7417/wipercg2.jpg">

04-10-2007, 06:49 PM	#16 (permalink)
lucksta #0757 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 175	24" Bosch Icon or Valeo both work well. Here's a good comparison. I've had the Bosch for two years now and it still works like a dream. -Chuck __________________ "Fill what's empty, empty what's full, and scratch where it itches." - Wallis Simpson, Dutchess of Windsor 2005 Magnetic Blue

04-11-2007, 07:52 AM	#19 (permalink)
SweetDaddyD BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 7,644 Images: 2	RoadDad, you are correct. Well I went with the 26" Bosch Icon after stopping at 3 autoparts stores, none of them having any refills at all. And all talking up the Icon as the greatest wiper to ever grace a windshield. It does wipe quite nicely in fact, as it should for $25.56. The outside 3 inches or so don't actually sit on the windshield, nor does about the first inside inch. Even the stock one didn't sit on the glass at the outside. It wipes very clean and misses the very outside corners, about 3 inches wide by 4 tall on the pass side and a smaller different shape triangle on the drivers. Overall a huge improvement of my 22 month old daily driven wiper.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode