TinsleyC

I want to share my experience with OEM wiper blades and Rain-X blades. Summary:

- OEM wore out a bit after two years
- Replaced them with Rain-X Latitude blades
- Rain-X lasted two years, back to OEM

One thing folks don't take into consideration is the look of after-market wiper blades. The bottom line is that after-market look bad and OEM look good. Note the photos below. This is on my 2009 G37 Sedan:

With Rain-X Latitude blades, taken from driver's seat:


With OEM blades, taken from driver's seat (please excuse rain drops!):


Photo of OEM blade, outside of car:


These are the blades I purchased - top is driver's side, bottom is passenger side. They were crazy expensive at the dealer (Sewell Infiniti Dallas), $31.18 for the drivers side and $18.34 for the passenger:


Those two blades can be bought online here, for less money:

Driver's side (left) blade:
2009 G37 Journey Left Wiper blade

Passenger side (right) blade:
2009 G37 Journey Right Wiper blade

Finally, this was Rain-X's reply to my query about the appearance of their blade:


In my opinion the OEM blades work perfectly well, look a LOT better, and last just as long. The Rain-X blades began streaking and missing spots after two years, just as the OEM blades did. I paid about $18 each for the Rain-X blades so the OEM blades are only slightly more expensive.

To me, performance being equal, look is everything. OEM wins hands down.

Hope this helps.

TVPostSound

iTrader: (9)

I hear you, I just installed the same on the wife's EX35, they look like crap!!

Edward41890

iTrader: (1)

Trico makes a blade that looks exactly like oem, i got mine from advance auto parts . I see no difference between the tricos and the oem ones.

Btw trico makes like six different kinds its in the orange package


Also many oem parts are sold at aftermarket places many people dont understand. Manufactures such as BWD/standard if they dont produce them in a factory theybuy the part straight from the manufactures of oem parts

So if you are lucky you can get oem ones just have to figure out what manufacturing company makes the oem parts for the dealers

YellowJacket

Exactly?? Do they fit almost flush as in the OP's picture in the first post?

Thanks
David

TinsleyC

I've never seen anything like OEM blades except from the dealer, but I'll check out the Trico next time I'm at the auto parts house.

unknowndesi

RainX blades are just marked up crap. The extended wiper blade attachment doesn't allow any washer fluid to be sprayed onto the car, instead it just sprays against the wiper blade clip. when buying wiper blades for the G you really have to look for "lower profile" blades Like OEM or trico

YellowJacket

I ordered a set of OEM wiper blades from OC Infiniti and they should be here in a couple days. I spoke with Phil at OC and he assured me that they are the original low profile that came on the car, not the newer "OEM infiniti" that most dealers are now selling.

At $52.00 for a set shipped, it is a bit expensive but they will sit much lower than the rainex ones that are on the car now plus, I can refill the blades for much less than buying new sets once they are installed.

I will post some before and after pics once they are on the car.

david

YellowJacket

OK, so the blades I ordered from OC Infiniti came today ad they are perfect. Total cost was $52.00 shipped, again a bit pricey compared to the RainEx and Bosch, but in the long run quite inexpensive ad I just need to replace the inserts now and not the whole blade.

If you are interested, you can contact Phillip Tran at OC Infiniti at ptran@ocinfiniti.com .



Some additional pictures:

This is what the connection point should look like.


The Old Rainex


The new OEM



Much better looking!


Side by Side.



Another comparison


Ahhhh.. Much Better now.


David

TinsleyC

Yes MUCH better looking than after-market wiper blades. I'll only buy OEM.

tmmueller

great thanks. Now I need to go back to oem! I didn't even realize until you guys pointed it out for me! Ignorance is bliss.

JMS2000

I've used the Rain-X Latitude wipers before on an old Camry. Wasn't impressed either. They cost more, looked crappy, and honestly didn't perform any better or last any longer. No contest.

Mik3G37S

iTrader: (8)

okay so it looks like I should stay with my OEM wipers.... but now the question is where and which inserts should I get ?

warped ideas

I bought those same Trico blades because the rain x blades looked horrible.

mummy2

Just wanted to tell you guys that if you call Michelin at 1-800-626-4902 and tell them that you just bought some of their wipers and that you have an infiniti, that they will mail you for free these adapters they call side saddles that allow aftermarket blades to hook up on the side of our cars wiper arm like the factory blades do. This allows for a low profile oem look and allows for the washer fluid to hit the windshield.

Randy Johnson

iTrader: (1)

I replaced my oem wiper blades recently with the rain-x because I've always thought rain-x was a decent brand. Well these blades suck. They also look bad. I've only had them for maybe 3-4 months but I may get the oem from the dealer or online.