Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 19:20:42 -0500 From: "Vince" <nospamnospamo> Subject: Re: Wiper inserts for 9-5
"ma_twain" <ma_twainnospamo.com> wrote in message news:4207E030.300nospamo.com... > Vince wrote: > > > I have a 2002 9-5 Wagon and am having a hard time finding rubber wiper inserts. I don't want the whole blade, just the inserts. > > > > My mechanic says that Velco has made the wiper blades a non-standard size (22.5 inches instead of 22, and a little thinner than > > most) to force me to replace the entire blade whenever the rubber insert needs to be replaced. > > > > I did manage to get an aftermarket 22 inch insert into the driver's side blade, but it was a real chore because the insert is wider > > than the blade. And it does not wipe as well as I would like. > > > > Has anyone found a good source for inserts? > > > > Thanks. > > > > Vince > > > > This is good timing - I asked the independent Saab shop the same > question (different year Saab). The advice was not to replace the > rubber insert - because of the reason you listed( poor wiping) and these > tends to break sooner and result in metal to glass (scratches). You may > think, this is get me to buy the wiper blades from the shop, but I don't > think so. They did not try to sell me the wiper blade. There are many > places that sell wiper blades, so the prices are competative. I suspect > you could find what you need on the web at less than what the dealer price. > > This also raises the question of if you can afford a 9-5 wagon, why is > the cost of the wiper blade an issue? Are other services considered "too > expensive" being skipped? No services are being or have been neglected on any of my Saabs. I just resent what I feel is a thinly-veiled attempt to nickle and dime me. Vince