Rear wiper delete?

[markboris]

As a driver, seeing out the back window is so overblown.... with properly adjusted side mirrors, and a BUC, there is really no valid reason for a interior mirror, Rr wiper, etc... It's completely unnecessary. People just think they need it, because they've always had it.... ?

You know Dave, I think it really does depends on the weather where you live and maybe places you drive. In over 50 years of driving and just over 50 vehicles I have owned, only 4 had rear wipers. XR4Ti, Escape, Focus RS and Mach-E. Granted they were either hatchbacks or SUV's but if any car should have one, should be my ICE Mustang with a virtually flat rear window. ?

Where I live and drive to most of the time average rainfall is 15-30 inches per year and no snow (unless I drive up in the mountains). Like you said with good side mirrors (I have the SUMA's) and back up camera, I've never had an issue in any of these cars with rear wipers. I completely understand how it is an absolute must for many if not most people but I've just never used them. Don't feel like I am missing anything.

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[Ahlarict]

Here in the PNW, even the backup camera is hit and miss. That is one thing I really miss from my VW eGolf - it's BUC was hidden under the VW emblem on the back, so it kept the camera clean and dry until you put the car in reverse, when it would flip up to reveal the camera! Whenever I walk by the rear of the MME, I try to remember to wipe the BUC lens with a finger because it gets so grimy so fast around here...

 

[AliRafiee]

No need to use Photoshop. I used Photos on my iPhone (default photo app) to erase the rear wiper. The car does look much cleaner without it. Looks like I may have another project to work on down the road...

Me too. I love that feature

 

[dmitry]

I deleted the rear wiper as soon as I bought the GT back in '22. No issues at all without it all these years — and it looks so much cleaner!

 

[circatee]

I deleted the rear wiper as soon as I bought the GT back in '22. No issues at all without it all these years — and it looks so much cleaner!

That does look nice. I take it you mainly use it in whisper mode ?

 

[markboris]

I deleted the rear wiper as soon as I bought the GT back in '22. No issues at all without it all these years — and it looks so much cleaner!

Dmitry, you really take great photos and there is just something about a black Mach-E that looks like no other. Thanks for posting.

 

[dmitry]

That does look nice. I take it you mainly use it in whisper mode ?

Exactly…. I love how the car glides in Whisper mode ?

Dmitry, you really take great photos and there is just something about a black Mach-E that looks like no other. Thanks for posting.

Thanks ? ? DMG not black?

 

[markboris]

Thanks ? ? DMG not black?

Well, in the dim lighting that you took those photos, it certainly looks black but then DMG does that. The real issue here though, is I've seen your car in person and forgot what color it was. Just shows how bad my memory is. ?

 

[markboris]

I deleted the rear wiper as soon as I bought the GT back in '22. No issues at all without it all these years — and it looks so much cleaner!

Dmitry, like you, finally got around to removing that rear wiper, although three years later! However, instead of using a plastic cap to cover the hole, spent some time trying to figure out the best way to make the hole disappear.

This post is NOT about having or not having a rear wiper. Some people need it and some don't and that has been discussed. It is about what I did to make the hole disappear.

I used heavy foil tape on the back side of the hole to block it off. Then slightly over filled the hole with Gorilla Ultimate Epoxy. This epoxy is not your typical runny type but more of a thick paste after mixing. It is also a charcoal color when dry.

After the 24 hours of curing, it was hard enough to start wet sanding it flat with the glass. I taped around the hole leaving about 1/4" of glass showing. Using a one inch square flat piece of metal I had laying around as a flat sander, I started with 600 grit. Then went to 800, 1000, 2000 and finished with 3000. In order to get the epoxy perfectly smooth and flat, you end up scratching a little bit of glass around the edge of the hole.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos during the process of filling or sanding. I then took a large black magic marker with a wide tip and went over the smooth flat epoxied hole. For some people, that might have been enough but I wanted that hole to completely disappear. The only way to do this was to cover the entire rear window with tint. I tested all level of tints between 5% and 70% and settled on 35%. That was the lightest tint I could use that would completely mask the the hole.

After tinting the glass, when looking at that area up very close, you can see there is a very slight impression on the tint around the edge of where the hole is but there is. It is so slight that it does not show up when I take photos. You can only see it in a certain light and when up very close.

I am very happy with the results. I have not taken photos with the car outside but will next week after I return from a trip and add them to this post. What I really like after doing this is how much better the rear window looks with the rest of the car. With my black wrapped roof and the black spoiler the dark window continues that look.

After sanding but before coloring it black with magic marker (window was dirty).

After coloring with black magic marker. You can still see the epoxy but just barely.

Had to remove spoiler in order to be able to tint the entire window

Finished

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