Wiper blades are often overlooked when it comes to car maintenance. You only realize how crucial they are when they aren’t working as they should be. Driving in the rain with faulty wiper blades is not just inconvenient — it’s downright dangerous! The older they get, the more brittle the rubber becomes. At one point the blades no longer move water. Instead, they begin to smear it.
When it’s time to get your car a new pair of wiper blades, you’ll find that there are several options to choose from. While most new pairs should perform better than worn-out ones, some do a better job than others and will also last longer. We’ve put together a list of what we think are the best 5 BMW wiper blades you can get right now.
How to Choose BMW Wiper Blades
The most crucial factor when deciding on replacement BMW wiper blades is the dimensions. Your Bimmer will have a particular specification for the windshield wipers. You can find this in the owner’s manual.
This is just the first step of the process. Since the wiper sizes will vary from one Bimmer model to another, most BMW and aftermarket options are available in multiple sizes. The two factors to consider here will be the design of the wiper blades and the material they’re made of.
Wiper Blade Design
Most replacement wiper blades in the market fall into three design categories — traditional, hybrid, or beam.
Traditional wiper blades feature a conventional design that’s been around for ages. With a pivoting steel frame attached to the main wiper arm, this type of wiper typically carries a detachable rubber blade that comes in contact with the windshield.
Beam-type wiper blades are more effective and durable but are priced higher than conventional wiper blades. Unlike traditional wiper blades with a steel frame, these beam-type units are usually made of a solid piece of polymer that is flexible but strong. This type of wiper most often comes with integrated blades, which are difficult if not impossible to replace. Instead, you’ll have to replace the entire wiper when the blade fails.
Lastly, there is the hybrid wiper blade. As the name suggests, it combines the traditional design’s cost savings with the beam design’s durability and efficiency. These are fairly rare, but people still use them. It’s a personal preference for the most part.
Wiper Blade Material
The blade is the part that rubs against the windshield and clears away water. Over the years, wiper blades have seen several changes in form and construction material. Today, most options feature blades made from vulcanized rubber or silicone. Which one you choose will come down to factors like compatibility and cost.
Rubber BMW Wiper Blades
Rubber wiper blades have been around for longer and are the more affordable of the two material options. They are also easier to manufacture and, thus, widely available. On the flip side, they aren’t as effective or durable as a silicone wiper blade.
So, rubber wiper blades make sense if you’re looking for cheaper BMW wiper blades or have an older car that doesn’t support many silicone options.
Silicone Wiper Blades
Silicone wiper blades are slightly more expensive than rubber wiper blades. That said, you get what you pay for. These wiper blades give the windshield an almost hydrophobic property as they clean it, allowing water to slide off more easily.
Silicone remains malleable in extreme temperatures and often lasts twice as long as rubber when subjected to regular use. However, silicone isn’t necessarily more durable. For instance, it doesn’t do well with pitted windshields. In most cases, to get the most out of it, you should treat the windshield with a hydrophobic compound. Think RainX or similar. Something that will help the silicone blade glide over the windshield a little smoother.
That being said, the same will work for standard rubber blades. At the end of the day, silicone or rubber is a matter of personal preference.
Genuine or Aftermarket?
One of the most common questions owners have is whether they should go with genuine BMW wiper blades or opt for an aftermarket option. Genuine BMW wiper blades carry the same pros and cons as other genuine parts. You get a perfect fit, and decent performance, but all of that comes at a cost. On the other hand, the aftermarket is cheaper, but aftermarket blades aren’t always a good fit. The key is to know what to look for and which brands to prioritize during your search,
We urge you to stay away from cheap aftermarket options. They may seem great initially, but it won’t be long before they start leaving streaks and damaging your windshield. That said, there are reputed aftermarket companies that make some excellent wiper blades. In many cases, these outperform the genuine BMW wiper blades while costing less.
Top 5 Best BMW Wiper Blades
If you do decide to get aftermarket wiper blades, there are multiple options that you can choose from. We’ve done the research, figured out what customers are happy with the most, and put together a list of the best five. All these BMW wiper blades come from some of the most reputable brands in the automotive industry, so you don’t have to question their performance or reliability.
Bosch
Bosch is a global leader in manufacturing aftermarket automotive parts, and its extensive portfolio includes multiple options for BMW wiper blades. Two of the more popular offerings are the Bosch AeroTwin and Bosch MicroEdge.
The Bosch MicroEdge is one of the more affordable Bosch models, and it features a traditional wiper blade design with a steel frame and rubber wiping element. Thanks to the Bosch DirectConnect system, they are also a direct fit on many cars and don’t require an adapter.
Meanwhile, the Bosch AeroTwin is an OE part that occupies the upper end of the company’s windshield wiper portfolio. Sometimes costing thrice as much as the MicroEdge models, the AeroTwin features a patented beam design and graphite coating. They provide excellent wiping ability and long-lasting durability.
Valeo
Valeo Service is a French automotive supplier with a portfolio that comprises air conditioning systems, electricals, wiper blades, and more. While not as popular in the domestic segment, Valeo’s product range is dedicated to European vehicles, including BMW.
Being an OEM, Valeo offers the closest thing to a genuine BMW wiper blade, at a very reasonable price. That said, this company also offers more advanced wiper blade designs, ranging from economy-oriented models to more advanced ones.
PIAA
PIAA Corporation is an automotive parts and supplies manufacturer with its headquarters in Japan. PIAA is a subsidiary of Valeo. The company claims that its Super Silicone series of wiper blades last twice as long as traditional blades and also gives buyers the option to replace just the silicon insert when it wears out.
Other than durability, the PIAA Super Silicone series deliver silent performance. The silicon compound that PIAA uses for these was specifically designed to reduce the amount of noise the wipers make when they cross the windshield. As far as silicone models go, these are pretty decent.
Rain-X Latitude
The Rain-X Latitude is another top choice for replacement BMW wiper blades. Like the PIAA Super Silicone models, these featured a beam design and superior wiping. The Latitude also features a unique aerodynamic spoiler that reduces drag and lets it glide across the windshield quietly.
When combined with the Rain-X windshield treatment compound, you get a system that efficiently keeps the rain and other stuff away from your field of vision as you drive.
Trico Ultra
The Trico UItra is another high-performance option if you’re looking for a reliable and effective set of BMW wiper blades. These made-in-USA wipers feature a traditional design but still offer impressive performance. The steel frame is galvanized and corrosion free, while the rubber elements are specially treated to increase durability.
Find the Best BMW Wiper Blades In Our Catalog!
Finding the best BMW wiper blades for your car can be time-consuming if you don’t know what to look for and where. This article should answer the first part, while the Bimmers.com store should address the second. With one of the most comprehensive portfolios of BMW aftermarket and OEM spares, Bimmers.com has everything you’ll need to keep your car in excellent running order!
