F360/F430 replacement wiper blades, factory or aftermarket options

As most owners probably know, the factory Bosch wipers are not sold in North America except through Ferrari dealers or independent Ferrari parts suppliers. But are commonly found in Europe. Dealer prices are around $150+ for the pair, and if you are a stickler for keeping your car factory original, what is the frugal owner to do?

Ebay to the rescue. Bosch part numbers are SP24s for the drivers side (with wiper "wing"), and SP21 for the passenger side (no wing). If you search this on Ebay in combination with both part numbers, you can find them sold in this combination, with flat rate shipping, around $28 in total: https://www.ebay.com/itm/BOSCH-Super-Plus-Wiper-Blades-24-Drivers-with-Spoiler-21-Passenger-24s-21/132322479590

If you are not concerned about being "concours correct", you can order with SP24s and SP21s with both wipers having the "wing" on them: https://www.ebay.com/itm/PEUGEOT-4007-09-2007-BOSCH-SPOILER-FRONT-WIPER-BLADES-Peugeot/183454917447?hash=item2ab6c3e347:g:WUkAAOSwFCpbq4qu:rk:1f:0 Surprisingly, even less expensive, only $26.

Or if you are like fellow forum user and F430 Spider owner "whatheheck", perhaps you simply want a better performing and looking wiper, like the newer "beam" style Bosch Icon blade part numbers 24A and 21A. These are easily found at your local auto parts store, mass merchandiser, or online from Ebay or Amazon. Around $18 each.

Whatheheck has another of his wonderful DIYer threads on changing the wiper blades here: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/diy-360-f430-windshield-wiper-blades.574864/ You can use his instructions for the swap, whichever type you decide.

 

I actually tried that, and couldn't find them in the correct size (width) to fit. I ended up bending the channels slightly smaller on the oem frames to fit the Bosch I was able to find. Ultimately, I would like to replace the entire frames now, simply to refresh them, as they have a few nicks and marks. So all new for $28 seems entirely reasonable to me. But if someone finds the refills that fit the oem frames, they absolutely should post the part numbers here to contribute to the thread.

 

So I found there is a slight difference with the current version of these wipers compared to when Bosch made them 10+ years ago. The original version the wing was made of metal (drivers side wiper), now it is plastic. I wonder if you purchased one through the normal Ferrari parts network, if you would receive new old stock, with the metal wing? (probably this change is only a concern for those that are concerned with concours judging. I will post photos of the difference shortly.

 

So either Bosch has changed the design slightly in the intervening decade, or these are not exactly the same model used as the OEM by Ferrari. I note slight differences in the slots on the frames as well.
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Thank you Daniel. So if one wants it exactly as it came from the factory, get them from Daniel at Ricambi America. Or take Rifledriver's advice and see if you can find refills that fit.

Wait, Daniel, are you saying the metal wing is riveted to the wiper blade frame? The original one on my car (if you look closely), the wing is actually part of the frame, not riveted to it.

 

Very likely the Bosch "DirectConnect" wiper blades. They look very similar to the oem Bosch on 430s, but do not have the wiper wing. Sold at Walmart and many autoparts stores for around $7 to $12 depending on the size required.

 

So I am still obsessing over trying to find the exact Bosch wiper blades used on the 430 series, without caving to our friend Daniel at Ricambi America. Sorry Daniel

I feel bad that this thread I started turned out to be wrong. I found the info on the UK website for Aldousvoice…I didn’t look closely at his photos, I assumed he was getting the factory ones. I was wrong, they are not. In his defense, they are the ones that come up on the Bosch parts look up for 430s. But Bosch is only saying they fit, not that it is OEM to the car.

I ran that part number on Ebay and found an even less expensive source for these Bosch non OEM blades, and in the USA.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bosch-Twin-Spoiler-3397001802-Wiper-Blade-24-21-Set-of-2/333086664119?epid=75277567&hash=item4d8d8325b7:g:RkIAAOSw4~1cb1A4&frcectupt=true
They even say ‘best offer” so maybe get them for even less, but even $21.50 is very reasonable for the pair.

Anyway, I did some web searches and found the correct ones, they are sold in various sets by Bosch called “twin spoiler”. The sets are sold in pairs for specific makes of cars that come with them from the factory, and apparently the ones for Ferrari 430s are not sold on the aftermarket (go figure). But they make various pairings for Volvo, Porsche, Audi and other makes. Reading the reviews, people state “these are just like what came on my car”, so these are oem for many makes than just Ferrari.

The problem is the 430 needs 24” with the metal spoiler, and 21” without. I cannot find that pairing. And they are not sold individually, only in preset pairs, and the back of the box will list the brands and models of cars they are intended to fit (I was able to see the back of the box in some online listings).

What one has to do is buy two different pairs, to end up with the correct sizes.

So to get the 24” blade with metal spoiler, you get this:
https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-3397118306-Original-Equipment-Replacement/dp/B002ZRQ4H4/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_6?keywords=bosch+twin+spoiler+24"&qid=1554963335&s=automotive&sr=1-6-fkmrnull (unsure which cars this set is intended for, I did see Cadillac Catera mentioned on another website)

And to get the 21” blade without spoiler, order this:
https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-3397001582-Original-Equipment-Replacement/dp/B002ZRQ48S/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=bosch+twin+spoiler+22"/21"&qid=1554963791&s=automotive&sr=1-1-fkmrnull#customerReviews (intended for Porsche 911, Caymen, Audi A6/A8)

So $48 and change. Still about 2/3 less than the dealer options.

The only two issues:

1. I still need to verify the 21” blade will work on the 430, as I see it has a tiny bit more of a curve to it than the 21” one used on the 430. I took my frames off my Scuderia and compared to the Amazon listings, the 24” is an exact match, the 21” has slightly more curve, not much, but perceptible. This set is supposed to be for Porsche 911s, and Audi A6/A8 and the passenger side would definitely have more curve (on a Porsche) when arm is fully to the right than a 430 would have. But an Audi A6 or A8 has very little curve, less than a 430, so maybe the little extra curve is not consequential for a flatter windshield, but does come into play on a more curved windshield? This is probably why factory frames sometimes work better versus aftermarket, they are more closely matched to the application. And I guess why the new “frameless” style like Bosch ICON work so well universally, because regardless of the curve, they conform better than the old style metal frames.
2. Last issue is Amazon says the 24” blade set can take one to two months to deliver….not sure why that is, perhaps they don't stock them and have to special order?

Disclaimer: I have not ordered these yet, so I have not 100% confirmed that you will receive exactly what is pictured on Amazon. But for all intents and purposes, they look to be correct....but hey its the internet, so who knows?

AND, if you don't want to mess with all this, and just want factory oem blades delivered without hassle, call up Daniel at Ricambi America, he has them in stock, ready to go.

 

Yes, I received mine too. But did not install because of the different look (see my pictures in post #6). They fit and should function fine, as Aldousvoice has been installing them on 360/430s for a while.

 

Easy to correct. Remove the wiper from the arm. See the plastic piece that slides into the wiper arm? That unclips from the wiper frame at the pivot point, and you can flip it around 180 degrees so you can orient the wiper frame with the wing facing forward.
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