You never think about them until it’s too late: Driving on the highway in a surprise rainstorm is not the time to find out your BMW Wiper Blade turned to dust about a thousand miles ago. Depending on what part of the country you call home, you may have to replace the rubber element in your wiper blades several times a year. Ice and snow can tear them and abrade the rubber, while summer sun and sand can dry-rot wiper blades in no time. But when the rain comes, they’d better work.

Most automotive experts recommend replacing your BMW wiper blades twice a year, once in spring and again in the fall. Since the summer and winter have the most extreme temperatures, they’re going to be the hardest on your BMW wiper blade elements. So pick a nice day and get some new wiper blades—you’ll be glad you did when the monsoon catches you by surprise.