Model S windshield wiper upgrade!

[Chadkn1ght]

Does any one know if it is possible to upgrade the model S wiper assembly to the one that is on the Model 3?

The Model S wipers are not that great during the winter. Overspray and spraying at the wrong spot is a huge problem and it makes the car less safe in the winter. For this I want to switch to the Model 3 system where the nozzle is on the wiper arm and it sprays more direcydito the windshield and cleans the blade.

 

[dgpcolorado]

Does any one know if it is possible to upgrade the model S wiper assembly to the one that is on the Model 3?

The Model S wipers are not that great during the winter. Overspray and spraying at the wrong spot is a huge problem and it makes the car less safe in the winter. For this I want to switch to the Model 3 system where the nozzle is on the wiper arm and it sprays more direcydito the windshield and cleans the blade.

My washer sprays didn't hit the right part of the windshield when I bought my car, so I just adjusted the nozzles with a pin, much as one does with many cars nowadays.

 

[Vinc]

My washer sprays didn't hit the right part of the windshield when I bought my car, so I just adjusted the nozzles with a pin, much as one does with many cars nowadays.

I was about to do that, but the user manual goes out of its way to say that the washer should not be readjusted, period.

 

[ArbitrageMan]

Good wipers are a big deal for me, and my model S' wipers are a huge disappointment, though it seems like not everyone has the same issues I do. The drivers side washer on my car sprays directly into the back of the wiper blade itself! So the windshield only gets cleaned on the down-stroke. And then the wipers chatter like crazy. I tried RainX and it did not help at all. I had a mobile tech come and adjust the wipers, but all he did was bend the wiper arm so that it applies more pressure to the windsheild. It helped, but only a little.

I'm going to try new blades, and manually adjusting the sprayer.

 

[cartwright]

Once when I dropped my car at the service center I asked them to adjust the washers. They did and the work much better.

 

[Oldschool496]

Good wipers are a big deal for me, and my model S' wipers are a huge disappointment, though it seems like not everyone has the same issues I do. The drivers side washer on my car sprays directly into the back of the wiper blade itself! So the windshield only gets cleaned on the down-stroke. And then the wipers chatter like crazy. I tried RainX and it did not help at all. I had a mobile tech come and adjust the wipers, but all he did was bend the wiper arm so that it applies more pressure to the windsheild. It helped, but only a little.

I'm going to try new blades, and manually adjusting the sprayer.

Your car is under warranty. They will replace and adjust these things for you if you ask. While under warranty you should not have to do a thing. I get my car serviced also. Last 12,500 they replaced the wipers. I took it back as the factory wipers worked great I said. They replace the ones they just put in and got them to work perfect. The washer has always worked perfect. Let them adjust these things like sprayers. Make life easy on yourself, you paid now let them do what they do. If its not right, take it back.

 

[quickstrike12]

Maybe a dumb question but do aftermarket blades work on the MS? Or are they something specific to our cars ?
There are some better built blades out there that might help with the chattering in light rain. This is annoying as hell to me.

 

[brkaus]

Maybe a dumb question but do aftermarket blades work on the MS? Or are they something specific to our cars ?
There are some better built blades out there that might help with the chattering in light rain. This is annoying as hell to me.

Wiper blade options for Model S

 

[bob_p]

The early Model S came with the dual spray nozzles on both sides of the windshield. Our 2012 S required frequent adjustment to keep the spray hitting in a usable place on the windshield, and periodically requiring manual adjustment to get them back to a usable spot.

Later Model S come with fan spray nozzles, that don't appear to require any adjustment, since they hit such a wide area on the windshield.

If you have one of the early Model S with the dual spray nozzles, you can have the Service Center replace those nozzles with the newer fan spray versions. Did this on our 2012 S - and after that, never had any issues with the sprays.

 

[brkaus]

@bob_p and idea when the fan nozzles started? I have Mar 2017 and there are two streams on each side.

 

[quickstrike12]

Wiper blade options for Model S

Great thread about the wipers.
Almost ordered them then realized the add says DOES NOT FIT 2017 S.
so that thread is old and those guys had 2014 models etc. maybe they changed them for later 2017 models.
so now I’m not quite sure again. Need a bit more reading I think.

 

[Doanster1]

Wiper blade options for Model S

Just installed PIAA Si-Tech blades last week and true-to-form (has be always used PIAA when possible), they are stellar. Included Type A adapters made install a 5min job.

 

[Doanster1]

Great thread about the wipers.
Almost ordered them then realized the add says DOES NOT FIT 2017 S.
so that thread is old and those guys had 2014 models etc. maybe they changed them for later 2017 models.
so now I’m not quite sure again. Need a bit more reading I think.

Strange, but you are correct, at least for PIAA. Their fitment guide lists part numbers for 2012-2015, then only 2018, skipping 2016/17.
Older cars were 28”/18” (driver/passenger) and 2018 cars are 26”/18”. Can you take a pic of your current blades to show what type of adapter/mount is used? Maybe that’s the limiting factor.

 

[quickstrike12]

Strange, but you are correct, at least for PIAA. Their fitment guide lists part numbers for 2012-2015, then only 2018, skipping 2016/17.
Older cars were 28”/18” (driver/passenger) and 2028 cars are 26”/18”. Can you take a pic of your current blades to show what type of adapter/mount is used? Maybe that’s the limiting factor.

Yeah now I’m a bit confused here is what they look like on a 2017 S.

 

[Doanster1]

That’s just a Type A mount. Measure the lengths and see if you have 26” or 28” for the drivers side. I’ll bet you won’t have any issues with the PIAA.

 

[Doanster1]

Just used Bosch’s fitment guide for the Icons and the same part numbers are called out for 2014 as well as 2017 (28AOE and 18OE), so again, I’ll bet you’ll be fine.

 

[brkaus]

Humm. I was about to order the 28aoe for my March 2017 S. Now I’m going to have to look at this more.

 

[quickstrike12]

Just used Bosch’s fitment guide for the Icons and the same part numbers are called out for 2014 as well as 2017 (28AOE and 18OE), so again, I’ll bet you’ll be fine.

I feel like it will work.
Thanks for the help everyone

 

[quickstrike12]

That’s just a Type A mount. Measure the lengths and see if you have 26” or 28” for the drivers side. I’ll bet you won’t have any issues with the PIAA.

Yep 28”

 

[David29]

The early Model S came with the dual spray nozzles on both sides of the windshield. Our 2012 S required frequent adjustment to keep the spray hitting in a usable place on the windshield, and periodically requiring manual adjustment to get them back to a usable spot.

Later Model S come with fan spray nozzles, that don't appear to require any adjustment, since they hit such a wide area on the windshield.

If you have one of the early Model S with the dual spray nozzles, you can have the Service Center replace those nozzles with the newer fan spray versions. Did this on our 2012 S - and after that, never had any issues with the sprays.

As I recall, there was another thread about the nozzles a couple of years ago, and it was pointed out that the nozzles are different depending upon whether or not you have the sub-zero winter package. If the car has that package, the nozzles have the heaters in them, and can't be interchanged with the type that "fans" out the spray. So the conclusion then was, as I recall, that the fan spray was not an option for the heated nozzles. (I remember it that way because I have the heated nozzles so i concluded I could not get better nozzles and relied on the SC to adjust the nozzles.)

Anyone know if the situation is any different now?