Wiper blades a dealer part?

["Robert A. Virzi" <bob.virzi@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I was looking around for replacement wiper blades ('99 528ti) this 
weekend and I was very surprised to find that none of the local shops 
stock them.  One of the guys in a local NAPA told me, "Forget it. 
Many have tried, none succeeded.  Visit the dealer."

So, has anyone on the list got a solution?  The connection between 
the wiper arm and the blade is indeed some strange beast.  But what 
about swapping just the rubber itself?  That seemed to be more 
standard and I can't believe there isn't a non-dealer way to replace 
such a simple item.
		-Bob

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