Waetherman

I replace my blades every year. I definitely notice a degradation of effectiveness after that time, and during the winter especially I don't want to have underperforming wipers. I usually go premium on wipers. This time it was Bosch Icon @$40 for the set. Good tires, good brakes, and good wipers are all part of a safe car, so I think it's worth the price.

JB in AZ

Ditto

russianDude

If your car sits in the garage and you dont drive a lot, the blades can go more than a year. I am 1.5 year
on original blades, I clean them, and they are in great shape

Cuzz

The Honda dealer near me had both front wipers in stock for $18 total. The guy at the parts desk asked if I had changed them before. When I said no he came outside and changed them for me in less than 5 minutes while showing me what to do.
My RDX is 2.5 years old and hit 30k miles today. From now on, I’ll do them every year at this price.

anoop

Here in CA, the hot, dry summer tends to dry the blades out which hardens them. Then in the winter when it starts raining we notice streaking. Pretty much need new blades every year.

NooYawkuh

I'd like a tech to show me the "trick" to changing the rear refill. The fronts are easy.

russianDude

Here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-OEM...EAAOSwuvFcWF~y

Genuine OEM Acura RDX 2019-2021 Wiper Insert Replacement Set (ALL 3!) Front and Rear $19.95 shipped, from Curry Acura. No need to visit dealers.

Jfkmk

Thanks, RussianDude! Just placed an order.

Waetherman

It surprises me that people who think OEM tires are crap would expect OEM wipers to be acceptable.

Jfkmk

I’ve used Honda blades on all my Honda vehicles since 2003, and have found them to work well and last at least as long as the more expensive aftermarket blades I’ve tried. As a bonus, they are reasonably priced for Honda branding.

russianDude

I agree, for past 20 years I’ve been using Honda wiper inserts. If you buy after market inserts they might not fit perfectly, so you will need new blade.
I always bought them and installed myself, and they last good for at least a year, and price is good also.

Cuzz

I don’t necessarily think OEM tires are crap, I just know that a Mfg chooses the tire they will used based on cost, and tire mfgs know that most people replace their tires with OEM, so it’s worth it for them to sell cheap to car Mfg.

when it’s time for me to buy tires, I don’t give preference to OEM, but do my own research.

Until this most recent experience it never occurred to me to just replace the insert with OEM. I always went out and bought the best wiper arms I could get, and they were a bit costly. Since I liked the style of the OEM wipers that came with my RDX I figured I’d try the OEM inserts and I was pleasantly surprised. They worked great. so, at least for this vehicle, as long as the inserts continue to perform, I will continue to use them. If they let me down, I’ll dump them and go back to my old way.

NooYawkuh

One thing has nothing to do with the other. Using that logic, you would never opt for OEM parts, given the choice.

Then, there's this guy, who claims to have been an engineer for Chrysler and makes the case for OEM tires being the righttires for the car. Not just the same make and model tire, but get them from the dealer. Maybe that's true in some cases but how would I know? I don't buy it.

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...acement-tires/

Waetherman

I think the logic is sound. If such a thing exists as better wiper blades, and they cost more, then you can bet car makers aren't putting them on new cars. Honda is just sourcing from the lowest bidder that they can get away with. Just like they do with tires.

OEM parts are a different story because they're actually made specifically to fit the car and only that car. And sure there are non-OEM parts that are cheaper, but there are also non-OEM parts that are more expensive and better, like brakes, turbo, exhaust, wheels... if I have to replace the bumper, I'd go with OEM, but if I have to replace the brakes, I'm buying the better ones.

NooYawkuh

Just from my own personal experience, I've gone through two sets of OEM inserts in 2 years (just put on the 3rd) and they work as well as any wipers I've had.

OTOH, I had a set of Bosch blades years ago that were twice the price of ordinary Ancos and the Bosch wipers worked like shit from day one. They streaked and chattered. I'm not sure but they may have been synthetic. That doesn't necessarily mean to me that all Bosch blades are shit but that's my experience. I give some credit to the testimonials here in this thread.

So, what I'll probably do is keep replacing the OEM inserts until the blades themselves become oxidized and then give the Bosch Icons a try. What's the worst thing that could happen?

Jfkmk

On a previous SUV I tried Bosch and didn’t care for them for the same reasons. I just put the Icons on my truck and they seem to work well. I like the looks of the OEM blades better on the truck and may go back to the inserts next year.