I don't know about you but I hate the look of the rear window wiper. I had a 1971 240z and it did not have or need one. I am not sure why they put one on the 350z but I think it looks lame. I am definately taking it out, and I am in search for what to do with the hole.

I could have a body shop fill it in and paint it. But would be costly and I hate messing with matching paint. Never seems perfect.

I could put a pop in plug of some sort that is painted the same color, so that if I sell the car I could replace the wiper.

I could have some kind of stick on badge to cover it that says Z.

I need your help thinking of something to do with the hole. Thought maybe a small antenna, but since it's on one side it will look lopsided. Iwas really thinking of two metal looking circles that look like the door handles that stick on. One on each side to balance it out. No one would know what they are, just would look like part of the design.

Your suggestions would help.

Chris

 

I sent you a reply to your PM Chris. But, to let others know, I removed mine last week when I installed the OEM spoiler.

I am currently using the stock rubber gromet filled with sealent (and upside down) to fill the whole.

I will shortly have a polished stainless steel hole cover to cover it. Problem is the covers I have are 7/8" and 1" and the hole is somewhere between. So, I am going to mod the 1" cover to fit. I will post some pics when I finish, here is a shot of the rear for now.

 

Oh, one other thing, sure enough right after I removed it there was a downpour of rain, like the streets flooded, and I had no problems seeing at all. I did put RainX on it, but that was 6 months ago...

Here is another pic, not sure if you can see it that well from the side.

 

Can you post a closeup of the wiper motor area? It's hard to see from the rear pic. I know that photo was more to show what the rear window looks like without the wiper.

 

I would probably get rid of it if it was easy to do.

Looks a lot cleaner without it IMO.

A couple of people that have looked at my car said they think I should get rid of it too -- it just kind of messes up the smooth lines of the car.

 

I will post a pic by saturday, I have to work a lot between now and then. It is very easy to remove, I will do a write up this weekend if anyone is interested....

 

Thanks Vic... you got any plans to make it back to Dallas anytime?

 

im interested in doing that also. a write up with instructions of how you accomplished it would be great. I did it on my integra, maybe its the same way. i really never though about doing it until this post.
Thanks

 

I will do write up by Monday. It is easy, here are some basics:

1. Remove the wiper from the shaft, pull the cover off the bottom of the wiper, it comes off easily. Under the cover you will see a nut (10mm I think). Remove the nut from the motor shaft, you have to lift the wiper up for clearance, and then spin it around a few times to remove it from the motor shaft.

2. Open the hatch, and remove the panel. There are some plastic tabs (orange) along the sides and back, and a few metal tabs along the front (window side). Start pulling on the left front side, and work your way around back and to the right. The panel will "pop" off. As you get to the front you will hit the metal tabs last, be a little more careful because they cannot be easily replaced, the orange ones can.

3. With the panel off disconnect the wiring harness, and unmount it from the motor assembly, you can slide the 2 tabs through the holes. Then there are 3 bolts that mount the motor assembly to the hatch, remove the 3 bolts (12mm maybe?).

4. When finished, slide the motor shaft through the rubber grommet, and secure the wiring harness with a cable tie. Reasseble and that's it.

I will take a few pics and add anything else on Monday. It is pretty easy to do, getting the panel off is the hardest part.

 

I'm much more interested in what to replace it with. I remember that there is some company around that makes body color front bumper hole plugs for Porsches - I wonder if they make something bigger for this?

How big was the hole and where did you get the plug to fill it?

joe

 

The hole is somewhere between 7/8" and 1" in diameter. I am currently using the stock rubber grommet upside down and filled with clear sealant.

I will have a polished stainless steel cover over it, I have the 2 above sizes, but will have to modify the 1" one to fit. These can be purchased at Lowes or Home Depot in the hardware section, but they are NOT a direct fit. I plan to look around early this week for other alternatives. I will post what I ultimatly come up with.

 

You've really gotten me thinking about this. I found the 7/8" and 1" plugs yesterday at Lowes and picked up a couple. I can see how it would be east to bend the mounting prongs on the back of the 1" to fit a slightly smaller hole. Just do that and use some silicone sealant from behind to make it water tight and youre done.

Now the question is how to finish them. Problem is my car is Daytona Blue and thats a very tough color to duplicate since it's a 3 step color. Touch up paint, even thinned and sprayed, wont look at all correct. I'm thinking a purposeful contrast might look better than a poor match. Maybe satin black for instance. Chrome? - not on the blue. That would be sore thumb city.

Now if you were willing to start up a business and paint a batch of plugs in various colors including DB using the correct 3 step process I'd be first in line to pay you $50 to $75 for one. Hmmm, maybe piggy back on guys who are having body kits painted with a pile of caps at each? It would require some coordination, but there's probably a little moeny to be made here....

joe

 

I am all for that. I would love to have a plug that matched exactly. This would be a easy aftermarket fix to get rid of the wiper. I was thinking too, since we have electrical run back there and a switch (wiper switch). might be interesting to make something that could use the power. A small light or something. I have no idea what, but maybe even a neon or led light on the inside latch that you could control via the rear wiper switch.

Chris

 

I pulled my rear wiper off this evening and measured the hole it passes through. It arppears to be 25mm or just a hair smaller. I painted a 7/8" chrome plug from Lowes satin black and I'm going to use it until I get something painted in DB. All in all this is a very easy mod.

joe

 

How much weight would we lose with this mod???

 

hmm, first those stickers on the visors was a problem, now the rear windshield wiper? yea, neons in the trunk is alot better looking then that wiper.

 

I;ve seen this thread and just glossed by it, but decided to look at it tonite. There really is no reason for a rear wiper. I think mine is going too!

 

i think we will get .645whp out of this

 

Nice, my own personal stalker. He reads all my post. Yeah. Maybe you can come up with some original material for the site?

Chris

 

stalker?? haha. no. just coincidentally the two threads on this forum that caught my attention are yours (after all, im sure everyone has read BOTH threads): ghastly visor stickers and hideous rear windshield wipers......dam the manufacturers for putting these things there.

original ideas? i'll post any if i think of any ones ,ok? but for now, this thread is about YOUR ideas. i mean, you spend $30k+ on a ride that already turns heads coming straight off the dealer lot AND before you do anything to it. not to mention that it's one of the strongest FR import cars out there (but then you should already know that). rear windshield wipers and airbag stickers is just something i don't expect many z owners to care about (well, at least 41.59% accdg to this poll). i dunno about you guys but when i see people complimenting a car, i've NEVER seen anyone walk around to the back and go "Oh, my GOD!!! what IS that thing? is that a windshield wiper on the back window?" no, when you're smoking people on the freeway and your turning heads in the parking lot, rear windshield wipers is the last thing on anyones mind.