Wiper Review: Bosch Icon Beat Valeo Ultimate

[GenesisCaptain]

I bought my car in August 2012. By July 2013, the original wiper blades that came with the car were done. I read all the reviews here and on other sites, and I settled on the Valeo Ultimate blades.

The Valeo blades started showing signs of streaking within a couple months. After about four months, they were mediocre. By the end of the year, they were cooked-- just 5 months. And, most of those five months were sub-standard for any quality of wiper blade.

So in January 2014, I bought a set of Bosch Icon blades. I am just now replacing them. They lasted a year, and they really only started streaking in the last month of use, the rest of the time they were crystal clear.

For me, Bosch Icon totally crushed Valeo Ultimate. They big question is whether Bosch Icon is worth the premium over the factory inserts. I cannot remember the cost, but I got a year out of those too.

I cannot recommend Valeo blades.

 

[thompithak3182]

I bought my car brand new and it was already streaking. what model and size bosh wipers did you use? I am going to by a pair this weekend. I been meaning to change mine out.

 

[GenesisCaptain]

I bought Bosch Icon 20B (20") and 24A (24"). Here are the links to what I bought from Amazon.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JU5XOO"]Amazon.com: Bosch 20B ICON Wiper Blade - 20" (Pack of 1): Automotive[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JU5VUK"]Amazon.com: Bosch 24A ICON Wiper Blade - 24" (Pack of 1): Automotive[/ame]

 

[dareckibmw]

I replaced OEM wipers with bosch icons in my car in April last year, and they were toasted after 7 months! waste of money.

 

[GenesisCaptain]

I replaced OEM wipers with bosch icons in my car in April last year, and they were toasted after 7 months! waste of money.

How many months did you get from your OE blades prior to the Icons? And, what did you replace the Icons with? How have the replacements been performing?

 

[dareckibmw]

How many months did you get from your OE blades prior to the Icons? And, what did you replace the Icons with? How have the replacements been performing?

It was a few weeks after I bought the car. I don't know if they were original from the factory or already replaced by dealer, car was a demo with 4600 miles.

I replaced the "icons" with some cheap michelin wipers from home depot, $6-7 a piece. It was raining that night and after I put them on it was like different world, I could actually see the road!
At one time I thought maybe the windshield was defected, there were so many streaks on the windshield, icons were that bad after 5-6 months.

My wife been complaining about them as well. I got her a set at the same time as me.

 

[Buford T Justice]

The Icons are such a waste of money. That whole technology is bad. $50 and they still streak and wear out the same as other blades. Michelin Stealths work much better but they aren't even worth the $30

Just have the dealership change them, it's only like $6. They don't even change the whole thing, they just replace the rubber wiping edge. Since there $6 instead of $50 you can get them replaced ever time you change your oil and still come out ahead on price, and wiping quality.

 

[Mark_888]

Although I don't drive much, and rarely park in the sun, my OEM wipers from my 2009 Genesis work fine. I clean the wipers with Rain-X Window Cleaner, and then wipe them down about a once per year with Rain-X Glass Treatment. Obviously, I also use Rain-X on my windshield.

 

[OneFunGenesis]

^ This I will be asking at my next oil change lol

 

[dareckibmw]

The Icons are such a waste of money. That whole technology is bad. $50 and they still streak and wear out the same as other blades. Michelin Stealths work much better but they aren't even worth the $30

Just have the dealership change them, it's only like $6. They don't even change the whole thing, they just replace the rubber wiping edge. Since there $6 instead of $50 you can get them replaced ever time you change your oil and still come out ahead on price, and wiping quality.

I used to do the same thing in my bimmer - keep replacing only "refills". They were Bosch brand and lasted more than a year w/o even one streak on the windshield.
Now I wonder if they would fit in.

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[CHuntMD]

I have a 2011 4.6 and needed new blades. Both online at bosch.com and the bosch lookup catalog at wally world shows the 24oe and 20oe icon will fit.

The Valeo I have been using (amazon) have been fine but a decent storm in the DC area told me I need new blades now

Squeeze and hook, fairly simple.

Icons have neither squeeze or hook nor adaptor. How do they fit?

CEH