Headlight madness? Or have I been unlucky?

[CinnamonFan]

Hi Chaps,

Advice needed really.

My passenger side headlight isnt working, I took it to my local dealer in Canterbury (Phoned a few other garages they refused to touch it due to not being able to get parts and due to the voltage)

Firstly they charged me an £85 inspection fee. They told me they swapped the bulbs over, both bulbs work okay. But they think the box that controls the voltage might have water ingress. So they quoted me £398.26 to change this box over. The told me the total would be £603 inc labour + VAT and parts. I agreed this. < Stupidly, I thought that would be the end of it.

They then phoned me this morning and said that hasnt worked, and the want to change the footwell module that controls all the lights for the car.

The total they quoted me is £1122.07 inc VAT. But they stated that they cant guarantee this will solve it.

Is this normal practice? I expected for the £85 investigation fee an estimate for the repair and it to be fixed. Not what appears to be a trial and error thing with increasing costs.

The car is a 2006 model, diesel M Sport. Its MOT is due March 8th. What would you do?

Edited by CinnamonFan on Friday 19th February 14:15

[CinnamonFan]

I havent paid them a penny currently. I am aware since I agreed to them changing the first part I will owe them £603. (Have edited my original post, I typed it in a rush this morning)

Can any of you recommend an auto electrician in Kent? I phoned a few places and was told they cant get hold of the parts for it, so I resigned myself for a dealer extortion but didnt realise it would be quite so hefty.

[CinnamonFan]

ethomas said:

Pick up a used module on eBay if that is the problem (post your VIN if you don't know the correct part number):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E87-E90-1-3-Series-F...

You agreed to pay for them to fix it, not for them to replace perfectly serviceable parts. Charging you for unnecessary repairs seems like it is a violation of law or another. I would be firm on that and get citizen's advice bureau involved if you need to.

I have spoken to an independent auto electrician, he seems to think he may be able to recondition he unit or get a second hand one if it doesnt need coding to the vehicle.

I have agreed to collect the car tomorrow, il take to the independent place and see what they come up with. Its going to suck paying £603 and still have the issue though. I have asked to have the old 'water' damaged part which they've agreed.

I did speak to CAB, they suggested I speak to an independent body called Motor something (I forget) and see if they've 'taken reasonable steps to resolve the issue)

[CinnamonFan]

They told me though that they couldnt guarantee it would fix it, I agreed to them swapping them over at the costs they outlined. (I naively thought it would solve it + they werent just swapping bits till they found the issue)

They also said the ballast unit (Im assuming its electrical) had water inside it, so wouldnt it need changing regardless? I think i've learned an expensive lesson. ETA: And that it would take an hour to remove the headlight to check the 'box that controls the voltage to the light' they tell me.

I have searched high and low and managed to find a local chap who seems to know what hes talking about, I spoke to him today for twenty minutes about it, so Il get my car tomorrow + take it to him.

Edited by CinnamonFan on Friday 19th February 20:02

[CinnamonFan]

gizlaroc said:

Maybe put this one down to experience?

I would still mention you are really disappointed, you presumed you were paying top dollar because they knew their onions and had all the diagnotisc software.

Say you have been quoted under £50 for a genuine xenon Valeo ballast from a local specialist and 1 hours to fit it at £65, so paying £603 smarts somewhat, especially considering it still hasn't fixed the fault. So surely they can understand why id they are simply throwing parts at the problem until a fix is found you may as well go to someone else who is changing 1/5th of the price.

I have done and I will be writing to BMW customer service and explaining whats happened.

I said those things this morning to two of their chaps, one told he he was a technical expert and one sales person. They said 'thats what the book tells us to check sir, in that order' I asked for the old ballast and it is corroded + has signs of electrical damage (if it is my old one) the chap who bought it out to me in said I could have a second hand part (Footwell module or FRM as they call it) reprogrammed to the car at an independent garage.

[CinnamonFan]

sjj84 said:

Did you get this sorted in the end? Who did you use? I use Canterbury for my servicing, can't say they're overly good, but don't know of anywhere else locally. As with all main dealers these days, they're not mechanics, they're fitters.

I did, picked it up this morning. The bill in total was £943.94, the service manager waived the labour after I questioned why they didnt tell me after the investigation when they said it would need the ballast, it could require the FRM costing £1000+. Id have paid the investigation and walked away + looked at second hand parts.

Its resolved but its a bit of a sore one. Im off to be tempted by the bargain basement thread!

Im considering selling up + getting a K11 Nissan Micra as they're so cheap. My partner has one and I love it!

Edited by CinnamonFan on Friday 4th March 11:31

[CinnamonFan]

Quick post with another issue around this. I washed the car today ready to sell it and I noticed a crack in the headlights inner plastic part. Nothing else is damaged, nor have I hit anything in between them fixing it and now.

I phoned the dealer this afternoon & I will take it in for them to see tomorrow and see what the service manager says. Im not hopeful. Do you guys think I have any hope in them solving it FOC? The intial repair was to that headlight in early March time this year.

The marks above the light are stone chips, everything below that including the white mark is a reflection.

Edited by CinnamonFan on Tuesday 12th April 20:15

[CinnamonFan]

Etretat said:

Have a word with these people.

Hhttp://www.handcmotors.co.uk

BMW & Mercedes specialists in Maidstone. Gary is the partner who has BMW history.
I use them for my E class, less than 1/2 the price of a dealer for labour, very good and very fair

I took my car to these chaps today for a micro filter and a headlamp bulb. Very reasonable and very fast. I had hardly any time sitting in the waiting area. Thanks for the recommendation!