Passat Aero Wipers - retrofit

**randall977** · 23-03-2007,09:44 AM

Is it possible to upgrade my 2001 passat estate wipers to aero wipers? I'm guessing I need new arms front and back - of course I can get the blades else where. Anyone know how much and where from? Thanks

**Lex Luthor** · 23-03-2007,09:55 AM

You can buy Aero blades to fit standard arms here:
http://www.wiperblades.co.uk/
Just fitted then to my '98 and they work fine.

As regards the rear, the wiper arm and blade from a late Polo (rear) fits fine.
The blade is a little shorter but it is a nice look.
Not too bad a price from VAG.

**TDi_B5** · 25-03-2007,11:36 PM

I've just ordered a pair for my 97 passat from ebay, they cost £11.99 a pair with a couple of quid for p & p. This is the item number of the blades, mine were the only ones at £11.99 for some reason, but still, they're quite cheap I think! 170093204229

**snapdragon** · 26-03-2007,11:29 AM

Yes but I recommend the Valeo X-TRM ones from the wiperblades site above.(or elsewhere) make sure you get the 1997-2002 retrofit ones, not the later 2002- replacements.

**Sam** · 26-03-2007,11:32 AM

Right, I'm going to do what I hate and partially hijack this thread

Is this purely a visual upgrade? Is there any proven benefit to having Aero wipers over standard <2001 wipers?

I have normal wipers, so far I'm happy with how they, er, wipe, no noise, no squeak, no smear.

If I buy and fit Aero wipers am I going to be ecstatic? Will my screen be even clearer? Or will they judder and squeak?

**snapdragon** · 26-03-2007,11:41 AM

They just make the car look newer, and cause less visual disturbance. They don't wipe any better other than the fact they are new making the wipe bteer than worn out ones.

**Lex Luthor** · 26-03-2007,12:09 PM

Originally Posted by mycarsavw

Right, I'm going to do what I hate and partially hijack this thread

Is this purely a visual upgrade? Is there any proven benefit to having Aero wipers over standard <2001 wipers?

I have normal wipers, so far I'm happy with how they, er, wipe, no noise, no squeak, no smear.

If I buy and fit Aero wipers am I going to be ecstatic? Will my screen be even clearer? Or will they judder and squeak?

I think they do wipe better and you can buy refills and unlike normal blades there are no metal bits to wear out.
Wait till your regular wipers give up the ghost and change.

**TDi_B5** · 26-03-2007,12:32 PM

Its not just the fact that they look better, the wipers on my passat are quite large and when they're down, the passenger one has a tendancy to flap a bit in the wind. Regular blades have between 4 and 8 points of pressure on the screen and these new blades have over a 1000. So as well as reduced air resistence, noise, and a better wipe, you can't go wrong. They have no metal in them, so they won't freeze or stiffen in the cold, or worse, scratch the screen if they break. I've never tried them before, but they cost me no more than standard baldes so I thought why not. And I'm sure Valeo make very good blades, but I'm confident that the ones I bought will do just a good a job! I'm sure many of you are thinking a wiper blade is a wiper blade, but virtually every new car has them which says something and I'm happy to try something new. Search 'passat blades' on ebay and a whole host come up, price varies hugely.

**Carps** · 26-03-2007,05:39 PM

I have no doubt they are cheaper to manufacture, which means it is a mystery how the justify the higher cost of the blades.

The lower profile does look better, and certainly doesn't get lifted by the wind so much at high speed. However, mine miss a small section on the drivers side, and whereas with 'normal' blades I could have tweaked them by bending the metal slightly, I cannot do anything about it with these blades.

2 steps forward, 1 step back...

**randall977** · 27-03-2007,08:14 AM

I bought some retro Bosch Aero wipers - I was going to replace the arms as well but who's really going to notice that they are not the correct arms. The only reason I got these aero wipers is I needed new wipers and the aero ones look much better. they work fine - though I do agree they are over priced as they must be cheap to produce. I'm really please with the result though - thanks for the link.