Rain-X/Mer/Ombrello

[leeland]

Keep seeing Rain-x + Mer equivalent in Halfrauds, anyone enlighten me, do these
products work?
Are there any issues people have had with them?
How do you apply them?
I tend to wash my car most weekends weather permitting, do you avoid washing
windscreen when (Rain-x) is applied? Do they effect wiper-blades?
Which one would you recommend?
Lots of questions, any feedback appreciated, cheers

[anewman]

There was a group buy on aquapel somewhere on here which some believe to be better.

They do work, they fill in microscopic gaps in the glass and water tends to bead and work up the windscreen with aerodynamic force.

[Mr Grumpy]

Of all the water repellant products I have tried, Aquapel , for me, works the best.

[cheezemonkhai]

I very much dislike rain-X as it smears and fades very quickly after application.

I haven't tried the Mer stuff so can't comment.

Currently running the aquapel and might replace it with a new application in a month or two.

It was applied in september last year and is still doing quite well. Has covered about 20k in that time I think.

[Baker21]

Haven't tried anything apart from Halfords own 'Rain Repellant' and that works fine for me at the moment but I will be trying something new once it's finished........

[cheezemonkhai]

Originally Posted by Baker21

Haven't tried anything apart from Halfords own 'Rain Repellant' and that works fine for me at the moment but I will be trying something new once it's finished........

What you got lined up?

[anewman]

I got tubs of RainX wipes from a store called home bargains for 99p, think they're about £6 in Halfords. They seem to work quite well.

[dan_the_v8man]

does it have any effects with insects on the windscreen? i.e. can you then wipe them off with the wipers and screen wash?

[Baker21]

Originally Posted by cheezemonkhai

What you got lined up?

Nothing lined up mate, just want to try somethind different............always happy to try different products upon recommendation........

[cheezemonkhai]

If they stick it isn't massively different, but I do find they stick less.

a Huge bee met an untimely death on my windscreen and it was quite disturbing watching it's bodily fluids shooting up the screen and over. The body hadn't stuck and a quick wash I couldn't see it in any significant way.

[cheezemonkhai]

Originally Posted by Baker21

Nothing lined up mate, just want to try somethind different............always happy to try different products upon recommendation........

I said on the Aquapel thread that I have 1 spare but I can't see the point in posting as that would make the single application cost about £7. If you're at a meet that I'm also at you're welcome to have it for £5 if you want to try.

[Baker21]

Originally Posted by cheezemonkhai

I said on the Aquapel thread that I have 1 spare but I can't see the point in posting as that would make the single application cost about £7. If you're at a meet that I'm also at you're welcome to have it for £5 if you want to try.

Thanks mate, Tom mentioned that he had some when I did his car but thought it was a little expensive for what it was..............

[cheezemonkhai]

Tom bought 4 of them through the GB.

In my experience one of them will do a whole Octy II screen, rear screen and windows if you are careful. I've also seen the mirrors done.

I agree that £5-7 isn't cheap for a single application, but then it has lasted me for 8 months of use and only recently has it's performance reduced.

On the side windows it's good as new still, but on the screen it needs you going at 50-55 to blow over in light rain.

In heavy rain it works really well still though

Only down side, make sure you clean your wipers with vinegar etc before you use it or it will smear if the screen is only just damp.

[leeland]

Cheers for all your comments, sounds like Aquapel will be the one for me.
Was going to ask the question about 'bug smears' too, having just got home, loads
of them flying about now + loads of annoying streaks and blobs on my screen.

Cheers..

[gazza247]

Guy's with Rain X I ve found you need to use the actual foam cleaner 1st before you apply the rain x. And buy from Wilko's nice and cheap

[Decron]

These beat the pants off any potions

PIAA WIPERS

[cheezemonkhai]

Oddly you will notice they don't do the floppy windscreen wipers (Aero Type) in the range and sell a liquid instead

That plus IMHO £10 (ebay price) for all the side windows for 12-18 months and the front + rear for at least 8 months is pretty reasonable bearing in mind the price of the PIAA blades.

I won't deny they are good, but not what I'd call cheap

What I will say is that unlike the PIAA blades or Rain X the Aquapel isn't a silicon solution that coats the screen.

[leeland]

Originally Posted by cheezemonkhai

What I will say is that unlike the PIAA blades or Rain X the Aquapel isn't a silicon solution that coats the screen.

In your opinion (or anyone else's) is that a good or bad thing?

[cheezemonkhai]

The silicon works well, it just doesn't last as long as things that actually make a chemical bond to the screen.

That is my opinion. I do find Rain-X and other silicon based ones smear badly when they start to wear out.

Other people will probably have other opinions.

[Decron]

I had a set of PIAA's on my Fabia. They cost £50 and were worth every penny.

I had them on there for 46k and they went with the car still as good as the day they went on, no lotions or potions were used in addition, I think the reason the last so long is they get very little use. You don't need the wipers at 70mph, the water just beads off.

I miss them terribly and if they did aero style I would get another set. Unfortunately I am now stuck with comparatively crap aero blades which I have to replace every 10k (Because they loose their damn shape) at a cost of £25 a set.

In reality the PIAA blades are a bargin.