What did you do to your mini today?
02-15-2015, 04:37 PM
The BMW J hook style replacement blades I've been using meant for the E-series Bimmers are nice, but they were expensive and somewhat cost prohibitive at $40 dollars a set.
It was time for new blades and the arms on my 03' were looking somewhat tired so figured now was a good time for the 2013 MINI Wiper Arm/blade swap. Beginning in 2013 MINI models MINI developed blades very similar to what are on the BMW's. The arms are exactly the same as ours, but instead of a J-hook design they have a straight end at the blade attachment
Purchased new L/R arms #61617352525 and # 61617352526 and the OEM MINI blades: #61610039343. Everything came to about $120.00.
And just in time too for ride home for the first three hours of a blizzard....They are super quiet and work fabulous. And since these blades are a one piece design, ice and snow cannot accumulate between the blade suspension and blade itself making for streak free clearing of the windshield even during winter months.
A bang for the buck mod IMO.
It was time for new blades and the arms on my 03' were looking somewhat tired so figured now was a good time for the 2013 MINI Wiper Arm/blade swap. Beginning in 2013 MINI models MINI developed blades very similar to what are on the BMW's. The arms are exactly the same as ours, but instead of a J-hook design they have a straight end at the blade attachment
Purchased new L/R arms #61617352525 and # 61617352526 and the OEM MINI blades: #61610039343. Everything came to about $120.00.
And just in time too for ride home for the first three hours of a blizzard....They are super quiet and work fabulous. And since these blades are a one piece design, ice and snow cannot accumulate between the blade suspension and blade itself making for streak free clearing of the windshield even during winter months.
A bang for the buck mod IMO.
02-15-2015, 04:53 PM
02-15-2015, 05:14 PM
Thanks ! I got rid of my rear wiper about 10 years ago and the fronts about 4 years back . A little rainex and the lack of rain goes a long way. I do feel for Grey Raven and other friends and family I have in the Northeast, they are getting hammered weather wise. Its supposed to be -4 degrees before wind chill at 3 am this morning with 20 mph winds in New London and that is on the coast.
02-15-2015, 05:25 PM
Thanks ! I got rid of my rear wiper about 10 years ago and the fronts about 4 years back . A little rainex and the lack of rain goes a long way. I do feel for Grey Raven and other friends and family I have in the Northeast, they are getting hammered weather wise. Its supposed to be -4 degrees before wind chill at 3 am this morning with 20 mph winds in New London and that is on the coast.
02-16-2015, 03:12 AM
About 3 minutes. A nut and washer for each side. Extend the blade to a right angle upright from glass and with a constant tug / release working arm end against the threaded post at an angle a 8-10 times and arm comes right off the post.
02-16-2015, 03:21 AM
I really liked the oem leather, so just threw in a set of leather Recaro's while the oem leather seats are redone with better lateral support. So I'm having a shop rework new foam padding adding side bolsters for bottom and back of seat then leather with some diamond stitch patterns.
02-16-2015, 03:28 AM
I've often wondered why ECS sells a "conversion kit" for this. I had no problem fitting the Amco and Bosch blades they sell at Advance Auto to my 2004 Cooper for the entire time I owned it from '07 to just last year. I never needed to replace the arms to fit this style blade, since the blades always come with universal adapters. Is it just a matter of not wanting the little extra bulk that some of the universal designs have? Because as far as I know, there's nothing preventing older Minis from using the 1 piece blades that are widely available.
02-16-2015, 03:33 AM
02-16-2015, 07:54 AM
The BMW J hook style replacement blades I've been using meant for the E-series Bimmers are nice, but they were expensive and somewhat cost prohibitive at $40 dollars a set.
It was time for new blades and the arms on my 03' were looking somewhat tired so figured now was a good time for the 2013 MINI Wiper Arm/blade swap. Beginning in 2013 MINI models MINI developed blades very similar to what are on the BMW's. The arms are exactly the same as ours, but instead of a J-hook design they have a straight end at the blade attachment
Purchased new L/R arms #61617352525 and # 61617352526 and the OEM MINI blades: #61610039343. Everything came to about $120.00.
And just in time too for ride home for the first three hours of a blizzard....They are super quiet and work fabulous. And since these blades are a one piece design, ice and snow cannot accumulate between the blade suspension and blade itself making for streak free clearing of the windshield even during winter months.
A bang for the buck mod IMO.
It was time for new blades and the arms on my 03' were looking somewhat tired so figured now was a good time for the 2013 MINI Wiper Arm/blade swap. Beginning in 2013 MINI models MINI developed blades very similar to what are on the BMW's. The arms are exactly the same as ours, but instead of a J-hook design they have a straight end at the blade attachment
Purchased new L/R arms #61617352525 and # 61617352526 and the OEM MINI blades: #61610039343. Everything came to about $120.00.
And just in time too for ride home for the first three hours of a blizzard....They are super quiet and work fabulous. And since these blades are a one piece design, ice and snow cannot accumulate between the blade suspension and blade itself making for streak free clearing of the windshield even during winter months.
A bang for the buck mod IMO.
[IMG]www.taurusclub.com/forum/uploads/monthly_10_2009/post-6657-1255810223_thumb.jpg[/IMG]
02-16-2015, 08:01 AM
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02-16-2015, 08:01 AM
Thanks ! I got rid of my rear wiper about 10 years ago and the fronts about 4 years back . A little rainex and the lack of rain goes a long way. I do feel for Grey Raven and other friends and family I have in the Northeast, they are getting hammered weather wise. Its supposed to be -4 degrees before wind chill at 3 am this morning with 20 mph winds in New London and that is on the coast.
02-16-2015, 08:23 AM
I don't drive a Ford Taurus as that image shows, and don't like the bulbous multi fit connector set up those generic ones have. Besides, it's always been my experience, " you get what you pay for" and going cheap on blades to save a few dollars vs being able to see out when I want to isn't on my bucket list.... 🚑 🚧 🚦
02-16-2015, 02:58 PM
02-16-2015, 03:26 PM
3rd Gear
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02-16-2015, 04:30 PM
02-16-2015, 05:59 PM
02-17-2015, 05:59 AM
02-17-2015, 06:10 AM
02-17-2015, 06:10 AM
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Very nice job and very clean.
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Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
02-17-2015, 06:48 AM
02-17-2015, 10:29 AM
Thanks!
Thanks! They're actually the stock tail lights... I just finally had the time to split them and remove the chrome. Kinda nerve racking to be cutting them up. But the chrome came off easy with rubbing alcohol.
Thanks! They're actually the stock tail lights... I just finally had the time to split them and remove the chrome. Kinda nerve racking to be cutting them up. But the chrome came off easy with rubbing alcohol.
02-17-2015, 10:57 AM
No way that's legit, how exactly do you do that? Is there a tutorial or link that explains this? I wanna do mine now.
02-17-2015, 11:12 AM
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Yea, it looks really cool. Do you have a close up. This can be done to the Euro taillights also as the share the same chrome. Seen the Red Laminx X taillight film almost do the same thing, but this is better.
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MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172