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Screenshot_2021-03-22 Valeo Silencio Hydroconnect 2018 - 953317.png
SUCCESS.....
This is the Valeo reference for the actual parts but it seems there is no way to obtain them in the UK apart from handing £250 to a dealer.
So...I looked at the other vehicles mentioned and saw that a Volvo V60 uses the same type of blades (Ref 572310 - these are unheated).
A bit more googling and I convinced myself these were the ones to go for. They were slightly longer but there seems space for them.
Alas, when I opened them I noticed that the connection to the water pipe is different - Volvo has a hole for a plug to connect to as so:
IMG_9286.JPG
Whereas the Alpine has a nipple the pipe slides over
Boo! I had been hoping for a completely new wiper unit- it would otherwise fit ok.
Move to plan 2 - Underneath the end cap there is a little clip. Press this and the end cap slides off and the blade slides out. These are clearly designed to be replaceable and to be done so very cheaply.
I simply removed the existing blade, cut the new one to size and slid it in. I used the Volvo end-cap to replace my missing end-cap like so:
I now have a volvo-badged end cap on my car with a brand new wiper blade and a spare for the other side.
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Cost :
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Here are the Volvo references -
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IMG_9285.JPG
I accept that my particular circumstances are unusual but I know of 2 vehicles where the wiper clip has failed/fallen off. This is a cost effective solution to replace the clips and the blades for £190 less than Alpine are asking.
I haven't examined the remaining Alpine clip yet but if they are designed for single use the Volvo parts could be used in their place and I'm sure I heard of Volvo having cheap blade refills available.
Hope this helps somebody
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