Wiper Blades Ah Astra

[ROCCO]

Any one had any probs getting replacements? here in vic not one dealer has them in stock..apprently eta is 4 weeks and they cost $70 for a pair...WTF??? Any ideas as to wht to do? getting sick of having to clean
the blades all the time

[EL BURITO]

bose ones from super cheap $12 same as the ones holden sell any way

[MK]

are the one from supercheap fit our Astra H? i went there and the whole wiper blade looks totally different to the one i have...

since Holden quoted me $99 for a pair i have purchased a normal (good quality) Aunger wiper inserts...have taken the original Astra wiper blades apart and inserted the Aunger one...its a little "fiddly" job but it works ok for me and all for a total of $20 and about 30minutes of work

[ROCCO]

There the same as the AH ones? There not like the other wiper blades where they have the metal plates running up either side these are just rubber.

[ROCCO]

Where did you get the aunger ones from? Super Cheap?

[EL BURITO]

There the same as the AH ones? There not like the other wiper blades where they have the metal plates running up either side these are just rubber.
i will stand corrected.

there must be somone in UK that dose a after market one then.

[ROCCO]

Apprently the Neofrom Blade from Trico is the same ones as the holden ones but they cost $30 for the pair...prob is no one has bloody stock

[SIMid]

UK owners are saying it costs them around 20-30 pounds. They are an expensive item. Will drop in price when all new cars will have them.

[oneightoo]

got some from k-mart for the cali, cost me $5.. they work perfect and have for the last 8 months..

[MatsHolden]

got some from k-mart for the cali, cost me $5.. they work perfect and have for the last 8 months..

But the Calibra wouldn't have the aero blades like the AH would it? There's no metal, all rubber on these ones.

[MK]

yes, that's correct...these are totally new design...only few car companies have been using them lately...few european companies make them for aftermarket sales.

Valeo, Champion and Vcap are one of the companies, here...some pictures (yet again, dont mind the Polish language)


http://allegro.pl/item215002177_plaskie_wycieraczki_v_cap_opel_astra _iii_h.html

http://allegro.pl/item211273530_wycieraczki_plaskie_champion_astra_h _iii.html

http://allegro.pl/item213358790_opel_astra_h_iii_komplet_wycieraczek _champion.html

http://allegro.pl/item210929815_wycieraczki_valeo_xtrm_citroen_picas so_.html - ok the last one are for citroen but they are the same :)

if some members want i will find some time this weekend and make a "how to" for changing the blades on a "budget" approach...let me know if you are interested, ok?


:)

[Petey]

marcinkozinski,
That would be really good if you could do that, a how too.

It's been raining here in melbun a fair bit & i noticed one of my wiper blades is torn & they aint workin too good.

The blades are still original 5 years old!!!!!! (i'm sure somewhere along the line holden was supposed to replace them at a service!!!)

Anyways, there a Holden dealer 8 minutes away & so i dropped in this morning & asked for a couple of replacement rubbers, thinking they'd cost $6 or $7...

The guy there said Holden don't sell just the rubber blades, only the whole blade/frame as a kit & it was $55 for the TS Astra... I said thanks, but no thanks I'll have a look elsewhere. He said your pretty nice about it as everyone else swears at me after I tell em the price and storm off!

Later went into my local Supacheap shop & saw they had both the complete assemblies & just the rubbers for sale. The complete assemblies were about $15 each for the Bosch brand, they had some Aunger new "flat" blades at about $18 each & they were putting up new Bosch "flat" blades on display at $23 each.

I have thought about trying out the new flat blades as they're supposed to be better at their job & I like the look of them on the AH astra. BTW the Holden guy said you could'nt use the AH blades on a TS as "the windscreen is different"!!! No I'm not kidding...

I'll pop into my local Autobarn tommorrow & get a couple of replacement wiper rubbers for a few bux.

I did measure the length of the blades if anyone is interested & the drivers wiper is 500mm & the passenger wiper is 475mm long.

Would like to get those Bosch flat blades, but can't justify the price.

It is time for a change though...

[digifish]

yes, that's correct...these are totally new design...only few car companies have been using them lately...few european companies make them for aftermarket sales.



I have the same blades on my Passat, I remember a post from the B5 Passat forum showing how to dismantle them and replace the rubber wiper part. Thet are really just some extra plastic around a standard rubber.

...let me find it back :)

Here's the first link...

http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198302

BUT see my post below...

They are BOSCH Aerotwin Wipers.

digifish.

[ROCCO]

Hey Petey which supercheap did you go to?? Where bouts in melb?

[digifish]

From the B5 Passat Forum...

First thing to do is pull out the Astra rubber so you can find the same profile at the shop. It won't be exactly the same as the shape shown in the pics below....


Tools required: Needle Nose Plier & Scissor.
#1 - There are two plastic end caps on the Aero Blade, one end has a metal pinch tab that secures the rubber refill, and the other has none. Look for the end with the pinch tab by grabbing the rubber blade at each end and sliding the rubber back & forth, the end that has no movement is the business end. Disregard the free moving end. BTW: You can do this on the car, you don't need to take the blade assembly completely off.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce39b3127cce9d0ba5df5f4c00000017109BasmjJy0U
#2 - Use a needle nose to pull out the plastic end cap. Note: My passat nor Astra have this cut-out on the end of the cap, but they pull off, requires a bit of force. I gripped along one edge of the cap and pulled (in the shot below moving the pliers to the left 5 mm). Note from Marcinkozinski: when using the pliers to pull out the plastic clip please make sure you wrap a cotton terry towel or such and then use pliers, this way you will prevent any scratching or damage to the clip itself.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce39b3127cce9d0ba5dcde7f00000017109BasmjJy0U

#3 - To release and slide the rubber wiper out from the Aero Blade holder. Use a needle nose to bend the metal pinch tab away from the rubber wiper. Note: Only bend it as much as necessary as it is quite fragile and may break if bent back too far.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce39b3127cce9d0ba5dede7d00000017109BasmjJy0U
#4 - Metal pinch tab should look like this after being bent.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce39b3127cce9d0ba5dd5f4e00000017109BasmjJy0U
#5 - The old rubber blade is now free to slide out.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce39b3127cce9d0ba5db5f4800000017109BasmjJy0U
#6 - Slide in the new refill blade. The blade will slide in more easily if you straighten the body. Then cut to length.
#7 - Use the tip of the needle nose to push the metal pinch tab back down to secure the new blade in place.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce39b3127cce9d0ba5dade7900000027109BasmjJy0U
#8 – Snap the plastic end piece back.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce39b3127cce9d0ba5d8de7b00000017109BasmjJy0U
Voila ... done! http://www.passatworld.com/smilies/thumbsup.gif

[MK]

that is freaky! i had the same "how to" in mind (with the arrows and all) ha ha...

well i guess i will not have to do it now ;)

one thing i can suggest is that instead or when using the pliers to pull out the plastic clip please make sure you wrap a totton terry towel or such and then use pliers, this way you will prevent any scratching or damage to the clip itself.

Also make sure you bend the metal securing clip\hook only slightly as it it quite fragile and could break...


good luck.

[digifish]

that is freaky! i had the same "how to" in mind (with the arrows and all) ha ha...

well i guess i will not have to do it now ;)



The Passat was one of the first cars to use these back in 2002, I remember watching the same thing happen on the Passat forum (mainly US) where people were outraged at paying $70 for a set of blades.

Needless to say this 'how to' appeared soon after.

digifish

[ROCCO]

You Are A Freaking Champion.....thank You So Much!!

[digifish]

You Are A Freaking Champion.....thank You So Much!!

No problem. You will probably need to buy a refill that is close (exact match is unlikely). Many refills are in their own plastic holder or have metal parts running down the sides, you will have to remove the rubber from these. I have found many refills will slip in the aero body BTW, you will note the profile shown in the picture profile is nothing like the original (the original is a wide flat T shape)....take some comfort from this...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3ce39b3127cce9d0ba5d8de7b00000017109BasmjJy0U

Please let us know how you got on and post a part number/brand of what worked for you.

digifish

[digifish]

Updated...

http://www.opelaus.com/forum/showthread.php?p=240907#post240907

[Petey]

G'day Rocco,

I saw the Bosch AeroTwin wipers at Supercheap in Maribyrnong (near Hghpoint shopping centre), Sunshine & Watergardens. (I need a life!) They were being put up on display, so they must be new items as they weren't priced & I had to ask for a price at the register.

The part numbers were (I used my mobile's pad): $23 each
BBA500 (20") - Drivers side
BBA475 (19") - Passengers side
BBA450 (18") - Passengers side

Holdens OEM part number is 1 - 92 147 934 $55 a pair/set (not flat blades)

The box on the BBA450 states it's for the TS Astra 10.98 > 08.04 as does the BBA475, but I measured my TS Astra wipers & they match exactly to 475mm (19") passenger side so they'd be the ones to get.

They really do look exactly like the photos digifish has put up. (kudos too!) I would not be surprised if they were OEM from Bosch??? Made in Belgium too like the OEM originals!

Might give em a go myself.

BTW, I did replace the rubber blades, piece of cake as you bend open one end of the assembly clamped onto the rubber, replace & tighten that end again. Voila...

: )