What are my wiper blade mounts supposed to look like?

[otter74]

Yes, it’s an E12, but I suspect this is the same as an E3. My car came with sort of hinky wiper blade mounting. Blades are the typical modern type, designed to fit into wiper arms with a flat end wrapped into a U shape. The arms are…not this. Clearly something was improvised here, but I don’t know how modern blades are supposed to mount, what part is missing, etc. Knowledge is appreciated.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Hi, David
Here are mine (1972)

The arms are argent silver and the driver's side has an airfoil on it to hold it against the glass at speed. The blades are dull stainless and simple and delicate compared to what is on your E12 now. They are a bayonet type mount not the "hook" like you show. My guess is that yours probably should be flat black.

I think @HB Chris has an original E12 and could tell you exactly how they should look.

 

[otter74]

Thanks for the photo, Dick. I subsequently learned that prior to 4/79, E12s used arms that used pin-style blades, like this:

BMW 61611365883 WIPER BLADE ( Set of 2 ) E12 E23 E24 E26 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for BMW 61611365883 WIPER BLADE ( Set of 2 ) E12 E23 E24 E26 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

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From what I can see in your photo, that’s the same style the E3 has. Where did you get blades, Dick?

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Mine are not the pin style. They push on the end of the wiper arm. Mine are 1965 Mustang The closest I could find to the originals...

1965 1966 1967 1968 Ford Mustang 15” Original Style Wiper Blades | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1965 1966 1967 1968 Ford Mustang 15” Original Style Wiper Blades at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[otter74]

Ah, I see. I may drill out the plastic bracket on normal blades and use one of the existing holes to mount to the factory arms, until I get E28 arms.

 

[HB Chris]

Mine is March 1979 so it has the pin style mount which changed in April. These were shared with Porsche 928 I believe.

 

[otter74]

Interesting - I’m surprised the way mine are mounted is the way they’re supposed to be mounted, even if the blades are wrong. There’s a fair amount of play (that part is probably down to mine having the wrong blades) and I assumed the original way was with the pin in double shear.

 

[Markos]

Mine is March 1979 so it has the pin style mount which changed in April. These were shared with Porsche 928 I believe.

Wow interesting single shear design. I had no idea.

 

[HB Chris]

And the plastic cap breaks making me worry it could come off!

 

[JFENG]

single shear design. I had no idea.

My workhorse E70 diesel wipers mount the same way, single-shear metal pin. However, there is a thin plastic ‘bracket’ that provides a bit more support against twisting. To change them is as easy as raising the arm, rotating the wiper 90 degrees and they slip right off. It has been strong enough to handle Nee Wngland snow and slush for nearly 170kmiles and 12 years without becoming loose and rattly.

It is a weaker design that the “U” but apparently good enough.

John

 

[Frederick]

I’m going to do a wiper delete

 

[CSteve]

Dick S. thanks for the Pony Car wiper tip. Handsome and "BUILT Ford TOUGH."