For my Mondeo I was buying the Ford dealer supplied ones. I think it was something close to £15 for both front wiper blades (not just the rubber). And they have a dot for idiots to say when you should replace - dot changes from black to yellow. I was surprised how cheap after the VWs.... even the rubber was not cheap from VW.
Of course I can claim back on expenses as it's a company vehicle and the wipers are something I'd not risk saving even my own money on.
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RT
well it doesn't work then, the yellow dot that is. This idiot didn't know until 30 seconds ago that's what it means. The wipers are fine. So some coating has worn off a yellow dot. So what.
JH
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RT well it doesn't work then, the yellow dot that is. This idiot didn't know until 30 seconds ago that's what it means. The wipers are fine. So some coating has worn off a yellow dot. So what. JH
Correction JH.....
The yellow dot turns from black to yellow from UV light actually. Something developed by Valeo to remind drivers to check the condition of their wiper blades. Quite a good idea in my opinion.
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I use the ones in Tesco and they're fine - £3.47 a pair. Euro Car Parts aren't much more expensive either and their stuff is generally good quality.
I'm sure Lidl will be just as good, slightly cheaper, although the Tesco ones are available all year round.
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As already pointed out, Lidl offerings are generally very good value for money - I wouldn't hesitate to buy wiper blades from my local store.
The only snag is that I have a VW Bora and the two blades are completely different.
There seems to be a general lack of appreciation in the UK that manufacturing on the Continent is geared towards massively larger consumer bases than in the Uk, hence manufacturing costs are much lower.
That's one of the reasons why Lidl, Aldi and Netto can offer excellent products at remarkable prices, whether it relates to food and drink or more generalised goods.
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There seems to be a general lack of appreciation in the UK that manufacturing on the Continent is geared towards massively larger consumer bases than in the Uk, hence manufacturing costs are much lower.
But most of our cars are european, so the manufacturing costs argument does not stack up as we are the same market as europe. (except unique UK things like three pin plugs)
It still does not alter the facts that some of the cheap things sold in all those named stores are utter rubbish, I know I have bought some. It has to be said that some of them on the other hand are extremely good value I know because I bought some.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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>>hence manufacturing costs are much lower.>>
I was meaning, in fact, food products although admittedly didn't make it very clear.
One very simple example at Lidl's are the yoghurts, especially the Milrova versions; they are cheaper than Muller, for instance, yet there's 25 per cent more in each carton, the taste is first class, and they are brought in from the Continent.
It's well worth the petrol to specifically buy them each week at the local Lidl store.
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The coating on my yellow dot wore off within a few months on one wiper, is still black on the other. Both wipers still wipe.
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Although I stand by what I said about Lidl windscreen wipers, I see further down the brochure they are selling a 'car starting set' for eight euros that comprises what looks like a piece of five-amp flex with a cigar lighter plug on each end. The instructions tell you just to connect the cars together with it to start the car with the dead battery. Looks highly dodgy to me.
Can I repeat the request above? Has anybody bought a car cover from Lidl and can tell me if it's any good?
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Mike,
Re: the car starting set. These aren't exclusive to LIDL - I've seen them advertised in various tabloids, Inovations, and fliers that come with the CSMA magazines.
I believe work on the principle of slowly charging the flat battery, rather than delivering the same sort of current jump leads can manage. In other words you have to leave connected to both cars for 10 to 20 mins.
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Thanks for that DD. Just as well I didn't buy any and give 'em a try without reading the instructions!
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I would imagine if you to tried to start the car immediately using this kit the only you would start would be a fire!
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I'm sure that the connectors will be fused, thereby cancelling any risks of fire. The fuse will just blow if you attempt to jump-start using the lead.
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Just to stir the pot a bit harder, I've now received a flyer from the LeClerc hypermarket auto section, which is a bit like the UK fast-fit chains, offering a twin pack of wiper blades (not just rubbers) for 1.5 euros - just over a quid.
I know consumer protection is practically unheard of in France but LeClerc is a big firm with a reputation to protect, so I guess they can't be complete rubbish.
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Just had a look at these on the Lidl website because my daughters car could do with a pair.
I noticed in the picture a TUV logo. Now correct me if I am wrong,but doesn't the German TUV approval mark mean a product has passed rigorous testing and is certainly fit for purpose.
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Look, for £1.99 why don't you try them? I bet they're really good too.
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>>but doesn't the German TUV approval mark>>
Lidl is a German company and has distribution rights/connections with a number of that country's businesses such as SilverCrest (computer products) and Targa (computer systems), just as Aldi has with distributor Medion which rebadges products under its own name or Tevion.
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,but doesn't the German TUV approval mark mean a product has passed rigorous testing and is certainly fit for purpose?
No it means they wont electrocute you, poison you, catch fire. cut your fingers or choke a child..
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Mike, I bought the car cover for the Barchetta from Lidl and it was fine, quality was OK, think it was less than 12.99 though.
I have a couple of the wipe-it thingie packs from Lidl, dirt cheap and do the job. One is for the windows, the other for the interior surfaces. 2 euros each I think.
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Doesn't sound like they're any fun at all then.
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Tks barchettaman - guess I'll have to get up early on Monday morning if I want one. Whenever there are any good offers at Lidl round here the expat Brits go through the place like locusts at 1 second past opening time!
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My folks in Castelnaudary have noticed the same phenomenon.... Looking forward to the next trip down there in December, if only for the country lanes/Fabia vRS combination. Oh, and the vin rouge.
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Just been to Lidl to get 3 sets of blade for the daughters Fiat and some for my HiAce and a couple of spares.They come boxed in pairs and the price is for a pair of complete blades.The boxes are marked,indicating that they are of OEM quality and I have to say they look good to me.
I compared it to the old rear blade from the Toyota and it looks as good if not better.
Time will tell,but for £1.99 per pair and a money back guarantee,they are a bargain.
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Oh yes,they are also manufactured in the EU.
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Oh yes,they are also manufactured in the EU.
what the packaging?
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Long cardboard box with a fitment guide on the back,but the fitting itself is of the universal type so should fit most cars.
The only downside is that the maximum length I coumd find was 21 inches so no good if you need 22 inches.
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I bought a pair for swmbo's pug 405. Their chart said drivers side 21" passenger 19" ( they came as a boxed pair), however the car has 21" both sides.The reason for their saying 19" on passenger side is that their manufacture does not allow the same flex and on a curved screen with a 21" the ends do not touch the screen. I took them back and refunded no problem.
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Why didn't you just buy a pair of 21inch blades then.
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Just an update: I managed to beat the expat locusts and get a couple of car covers, that seem reasonable quality and fit the Accord and Prelude, no problems.
I noticed they also have German-made H1 bulbs, white or blue! at 4.95 euros, which seems good value. Probably better than the Carrefour ones I have in my legal requirement emergency packs.
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I bought one of the car covers last year and it's excellent. Went back to get some more and the offer had ended, so none.
It's taken 10 months of me checking their offers website twice a week for the covers to reappear so I've got another couple for the other cars. They're really good quality (esp for £7.99) and do the job every bit as well as something similar from elsewhere for £40.
-- You know, it's not like changing toothpaste
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As I said in my post their 21" blade is no good for the passenger side as it does not flex as much as the original and the end does not touch the curved part of the screen.
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