Bosch ICONs for rear window
 

Even though it says they don't work, the 418B works for the rear window wiper.

JV

Catching up on posts. Thanks for the info. I'm off the Autozone. I am so fed up with the hopping,smearing the OEM blade does.

....be patient with them....mine took a couple of days to conform to the glass contours...still having ever so slight issues with the back one...:confused:

what are
 

the model numbers for the front 2? thanks!

424A Driver Side
422A Passenger Side
418B Rear (newly added per this thread)

Thanks!
 

and its perfect fit. any modifications you had to do on it?

None whatsoever. There is the plastic piece that holds the OEM wiper in place, and you just want to make sure it's not interfering with the Bosch when you install it.

JV

Word of caution - early X5 rear wiper arm is not the hook type common today - Went to see my dealer (and to check out what was actually on the rear of a new X5) - seems there is a new wiper arm available - my dealer is installing mine tomo...,er, today - free install, just charging me for the wiper arm - I'm supplying the 418B ICON wiper.

I went to Pepboys and Autozoen and could not find those wipers?

Any advise on locating Bosch ICONS ?

thanks.

Advance Auto has them. I got them from their store on Route 1 in Alexandria.

JV

Thanks JV !

Can't wait until the meet !

Is anyone getting these Bosch Icons online? I can't find them anywhere locally and only at Amazon.com online. Are there any other online vendors?

I got mine at Autozone. Ask them were the rack is because they don't display them near the Anco and other Bosch wipers. My first time there, I ended up walking out empty handed because I could not find them on my own.:tsk:

Amazon is the only place that I found them as well. I still don't understand the true need for these. I just bought a set of 3 replacement blades at the dealer for ~$13.00, and they work perfectly. What is the upside when buying these and spending more? Just curious.

Well my dealer wipers tended to streak, hop, and smear, especially the rear one. :swear: In talking with my dealer, I learn the old style rear wiper arm will twist with age, causing the wiper to not do its job properly. The new replacement arm is metal vs plastic and now has the hook design vs the old style pin design. My ICONs wipe completely clear with one wipe now without a sound.:thumbup:

I had the replacement arm put on yesterday (with the 418B blade I supplied) and the weather cooperated in testing it out with a nice steady rain. Worked great!

My OEM blades work just fine, I just wanted to try the Icons cause I've heard so many praises for them. So far they're working great!

JV

I think it's the car wash that causes the twisting of the rear arm. I guess that makes sense for the rear wiper now. Not for the front though.

First, our local Kragen auto store has the Bosch ICON wipers in stock and they carry sizes for the X5.

SG, you live in the Phoenix, AZ area, it never snows. However, the stock wiper blades on the X5 really suck when it snows and the temp drop to freezing levels. What happens is that the snow/ice gets stuck in the wiper blades' bracket area and renders the OEM wiper blade useless. The OEM wiper blade will be stiff as a board and won't be able to follow the contour of the windshield.

The Bosch ICON and Valeo bracketless wipers are not affected by snow & ice and thus, you can use these wipers through all seasons.

Next time you visit your bro @ Colorado during the winter time, you should get your brother a set of those bracketless wipers for his Audi.

Besides, all the new BMWs, Mercedes, Audi/VW have these bracketless wipers now.

Ok, that all makes sense now Kewlio, thanks. I'm also impressed that you remembered that my brother has an Audi.

I got a set for my father-in-law's Audi as well and he loves 'em!;)

Boy, you are up early!

I bought the icons today. :dancing:

One question...do I need the metal arm for the rear wiper?

Yes, you need to update the rear wiper arm - I believe I posted a part # in an earlier thread - will try to repost it here over the weekend - the old arm does not have the 'hook' configuration the latest wipers require - about $60-$70, if I remember correctly, installed - Of course that was my Idaho dealer - NO promises that east coast dealers will come close to that price!

Just priced it at Russel BMW for $35.75! Heading there now!

Part #'s:
61-62-7-068-076 (metal rear wiper arm)
61-62-7-113-603 (button/cover)

after seeing michelle post this afternoon i was on my way to find these bosch icons... but had no luck.. i found them online but a lot of places did not have all 3 in stock.. i did find them at Summit Racing - High Performance Car and Truck Parts | 800-230-3030 ... now i just need to get the rear arm from bmw ... thnks michelle...

Geez this was THE topic of discussion during the dinner :rolleyes:

I got my metal rear arm from Crevier BMW for about $30 (including the cap) and Joe Hernandez at WF4 brought it to me personally. Installed it right away.

Now, in our neighborhood, we got our first small snowfall. Went to Christmas party about 5 miles away and 1000 feet higher and they definitely got a few inches of snow. The Bosch ICONS for the fronts and rear worked great to move the accumulated snow on the windows. Of course, the X5's AWD got me out of a steep driveway with no problems (of course, using Pirelli Scorpion Zero A: high peformance all-season tires in 19" wheels) :)

Don't knock it 'til ya try it! :nanana:

Yeah...we went to three different stores to try and find the 424A...not many stores keep the largest ones in stock. Once we found them, I was like a kid on Christmas morning!!!

Looks like you guys have convinced me to do this mod any ideas if the front wiper will be the same as I know you fit different ones to driver side and passenger side as my car is right hand drive so will I need a passenger one on my side ?

I spoke to Bosch today after reading good things about them on this site about them and they are not available in the UK :-(

PM sent! ;)

Ok, I just jumped on to the Icon bandwagon. I just ordered the new metal arm from Kevin at Crevier's Internet parts dept. Here are the X5world prices for the new arm:

61-62-7-068-076 REAR WIPER ARM 1 28.60

61-62-7-113-603 COVER 1 0.51

Shipping to AZ is ~ $8.00

I also found a pretty cool article describing how the Icon blade works: LINK

http://www.autohausaz.com/assets/images/IconBlade2.jpg

Would you like me to buy you a set and just mail them to you? Have you tried to just order online?

:chair:
:throw:
:hammer:

IDEA STEALER!!! You only asked him that AFTER I told you I sent him a PM offering the same thing! DON'T TRY TO TAKE CREDIT FOR MY IDEAS!!!!!!!!!

Ok darling :hug:

Henpecked!:thumbup: :rofl:

Here is an alternative at a better price: Valeo Ultimate wiper blades. They have a deal with Tire Rack right now for "buy 1 get 1 free". So that's $19.99 for 2. I ordered a set. I'll let you know what I think when they show up in the next few days.

I SMELL A
http://opossumsally.homestead.com/guinea-pig-0276.jpg

You smell a guinea pig ?? Sounds pretty fetish like to me :confused:

Eww! I thought you were washing your windows! :confused: :confused: :confused:

Shud up biatch :chair:

Come over here and make me, Mudder Trucker!


:hijack:

:wow: :sw:

LOL I knew it wouldn't be long before you or noncom posted in here!! LOL

who? me? :popcorn:

darn that 30 second rule ;)

Look up above.:rofl:

AHHH HA HA HA HA!! I missed it!!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Thank you Michelle & Super Greg for you kind offer :thumbup:

I have spoke to Bosch UK and they have no plans to bring them in at all, So I told the guy at Bosch that I would get them sent over from the States but he told me that this would not work as because of the left hand drive X5 would have different wiper blades because your blades go the oppersite to mine so If I fitted them they would be upside down! So might just have to get the rear one. Which if that parks up on the drivers side on a US car. will be the same as mine.

Yep, that makes sense to me ;)

That doesn't make sense to me. They would just be facing the other way, right?

BTW, I have 418A as the rear wiper, but it probably doesn't matter for the rear to use 418A or 418B.

Basically the rear wiper is about 18" long and I'm just wondering if the A vs. B is the shape of the connector....or if the "B" type wiper is a little more flexible (I noticed in most BMW front wiper application, the "A" type wiper is for the driver's side & the "B" type wiper is for the passenger side).

Cute new avatar Chelle ;)

Thank you! ;)

I think the spoiler would be backwards.

What's the spoiler?

The airfoil that the wind blows against to keep the wiper seated against your windshield.

Oh. Gotcha. :thumbup:

Does your avatar have a name??

Of course he does, silly!

GREGGIE BEAR is his name!

OMG, here we go...:rofl:

You wanted it to go there, obviously.

Pass the :popcorn: please!

Yep, sitting back now :popcorn:

Are you guys sure about the part numbers that fit the X5. Going to the Summit Racing Equipment website it has the 424A which fit the X5 (though they only spec to 2004), but the 422A they say is for the X3, while the 422B they spec for the X5.

Also they have the 418A and 418B, but both are listed as front blades and not spec'd for the X5.

What gives?

I have all those on my E53 X5 and they fit. One wiper blade is longer than the other on the E53 front windshield and the rear may not be intended to be a rear wiper but it works.

:iagree:

Sure enough I spoke with Bosch tech support regarding the blades and this is what they said:

1. Icon's are not spec'd for BMW X5's newer than 2005, they only go up to 2004. He claims they've been tested and don't fit. This might have to do with the older versus newer wiper design??? or perhaps that the new wipers require modification (the clip to be removed)?

2. Up to 2004 they spec the 424A for driver's side.

3. Up to 2004 they spec the 422B for passenger's side, not the 422A. The "B" version has more spring tension for the passenger side and so must be used.

4. They do not list ANY Icon blades for the rear window. He says people can do whatever they want, but the Icons were not designed for rear window applications (windows that are flat), only for front windows (curved windshields)

5. They spec Bosch Hindsight blades for rear window applications.

Interesting info.

My X is my '05. The Icons are great. They fit, hug both the windshield and the rear window with great downward pressure. You can do what you want but these blow away the OEM wipers. My OEM wiper NEVER cleaned the rear window half as well as the Icon does.

So I take it my 06' is outta luck?

why does BMW pay attention to things like switching different foglights and wiper arms...:rolleyes:

so 422A or 422B for passenger??

421B !!!

The driver is a 24" and passenger is a 21" (bought a 22" then returned it). I prefer RainX Latitudes... best wiper blades I have ever had, period. They were put to the test during the last few semi-major rainstorms we had in California. They work great and are super quiet. BTW I have a Bosch 418b for the rear (I will swap out for a Latitude 18" when the Bosch dies).
http://www.rainx.com/

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...sL._AA280_.jpg

what's the difference between the "A" and the "B" on the icons??

Already answered in post #67 above:

wasn't sure that was the correct answer.... since there were several posts claiming the passenger wiper was 422A...

While the 422A seems to work, like I said before, I called Bosch tech support and was specifically told 422B was the correct one to use.

That being said all new BMW's seem to come with "SWF" branded wipers which are a co-brand of Valeo's not Bosch. Frankly the Valeo Ultimates look identical to the Bosch Icons to my eye. (In fact, the new Rain-X wipers look identical too...seems someone came up with a good design and everyone has been copying it). Given Tirerack's great deal on them right now, and the fact that there seems to be no ambiguity in fitment for an E53 X5, I'm going to pass on the Bosch and likely just get the Valeo's.

421B fits much better on the passenger side. The 422B hangs off the edge of the windshield too far. 418A works perfectly on the rear.

Just look at the length of the wiper rear one 450mm front driver 600mm and front passenger 550mm, just last week changed rear to no name 450mm works better then the stock one
http://www.industrial-enclosures.com..._inch_2x4b.htm (mm to inch calculator)

PS.
I used valeos single blade wipers on my X3 and they worked out mutch bettern then stock ones

I haven't fitted them yet, and maybe so the 21" Bosch fits better on the passenger side then the 22", but interestingly Valeo specs a 22" wiper for the passenger side.

It might be so that the wiper connection is not exactly in the center of the blade, bosch 21" comes as far out as valeo 22" difference is where it does not matter as mutch, on the inside

So, does the Bosch icon 422B lift off from the windshield when at rest or is the whole rubber blade making contact with the windshield?

There is still about 3/4" or so at the very end that doesn't make contact, but that is only at rest. It makes perfect contact when turned on.

Just installed the Icons today (rainy weekend in Phoenix, AZ...oh the humanity!!!)

I love the look of these things.

Now not reading this entire post first...on the rear wiper I did tear out the little plastic piece that hangs down and holds onto the OEM wiper...will I regret doing that? I don't see it's needed for these new wipers and I don't plan on puting the old ones back on.

Thanks!

Does anyone have pictures or the Bosh Icon 418A on their rear window??