Discussion
Long story short.....BMW replaced both front headlamp units (6 months apart) due to water ingression.
One of them went again after only 6 months and was again replaced under goodwill.
Now, just over a month down the line, the other one has gone again too!!
This time, however, the dealer has suggested that this might have been the result of another car backing into my car, with enough force to damage internal components of the light fitting.
The thing is, though, my car is completely unmarked and bears no sign of impact. This was confirmed by a local body shop this afternoon....the guy there just smiled....they're havin a laff mate!!
So I'm now waiting for the dealer/BMW to get back to me and let me know if they'll help.
Anyone looking objectively at this situation and weighing it up could only reach one conclusion, based on a reasonable balance of probabilities.
By the way, it's an E60 M5 which spends most of its time snugly garaged and is never parked in public areas!
What do you make of this?
Could this be a case of the immaculate collision??
Completely exasperated!!!!
One of them went again after only 6 months and was again replaced under goodwill.
Now, just over a month down the line, the other one has gone again too!!
This time, however, the dealer has suggested that this might have been the result of another car backing into my car, with enough force to damage internal components of the light fitting.
The thing is, though, my car is completely unmarked and bears no sign of impact. This was confirmed by a local body shop this afternoon....the guy there just smiled....they're havin a laff mate!!
So I'm now waiting for the dealer/BMW to get back to me and let me know if they'll help.
Anyone looking objectively at this situation and weighing it up could only reach one conclusion, based on a reasonable balance of probabilities.
By the way, it's an E60 M5 which spends most of its time snugly garaged and is never parked in public areas!
What do you make of this?
Could this be a case of the immaculate collision??
Completely exasperated!!!!
te at electrics! that is all!Not the same car I appreciate that but on my E92 M3 I had one whole headlight unit changed recently as it was flickering/failing under warranty and the tech told me he suspected water ingress. Evidentally resulting from poor workmanship in tightening up seals on side light bulbs and the like over the years. They did not bat an eyelid in swapping it over in fairness (AUC warranty) and said water ingress is a known problem with them. In fact the second light occasionally has a small amount of condensation showing in certain weathers......And I have not fiddled with the lights myself either.
Maybe worth taking it to a second dealer for their opinion and see if they can spot mistakes made by your own dealer in fitment to cause the problem? Its what I did on a recent warranty claim. Went to one dealer who said they could not locate the blinking issues so I took it elsewhere and left it overnight. Viola! After a good test drive (authorised by me) they found the faults and swapped it all over. They (the original dealer) were too quick to walk out the front and try to diagnose it parked outside the sales offices much to the displeasure of the sales staff as I pointed out things on my 1 month old AUC car that desperately needed sorting!
Maybe worth taking it to a second dealer for their opinion and see if they can spot mistakes made by your own dealer in fitment to cause the problem? Its what I did on a recent warranty claim. Went to one dealer who said they could not locate the blinking issues so I took it elsewhere and left it overnight. Viola! After a good test drive (authorised by me) they found the faults and swapped it all over. They (the original dealer) were too quick to walk out the front and try to diagnose it parked outside the sales offices much to the displeasure of the sales staff as I pointed out things on my 1 month old AUC car that desperately needed sorting!
Thanks for the suggestions.
The dealer is now not returning calls, presumably because I'm asking awkward questions.
Classy, eh?!
For example, when the near side light was replaced in October for the second time in 6 months, I pointed out that the other one had gone again too, but they saw nothing wrong (there was moisture in there for sure, but it cleared as it does in the early stages of this problem)
Now, a few weeks later with the water ingress very evident, the suggestion now is that somebody must have backed into me.
That did not happen.
I sincerely hope that BMW will help out, as there is a clear issue with the units and/or their fitting.
I have done nothing wrong whatsoever.
Love the M5, but I'm just so fed up with the nonsense that I feel compelled to move on.
After all, it couldn''t be worse, could it?
The dealer is now not returning calls, presumably because I'm asking awkward questions.
Classy, eh?!
For example, when the near side light was replaced in October for the second time in 6 months, I pointed out that the other one had gone again too, but they saw nothing wrong (there was moisture in there for sure, but it cleared as it does in the early stages of this problem)
Now, a few weeks later with the water ingress very evident, the suggestion now is that somebody must have backed into me.
That did not happen.
I sincerely hope that BMW will help out, as there is a clear issue with the units and/or their fitting.
I have done nothing wrong whatsoever.
Love the M5, but I'm just so fed up with the nonsense that I feel compelled to move on.
After all, it couldn''t be worse, could it?
Audi is the way backwards I think!!
Obviously you cannot legislate for individual dealers, and we are not all 100% perfect all of the time, however not excusing not getting called back, they may be waiting for a response from BMW themselves in relation to an issue, as if there is a problems there is probably no point is jumping in and just replacing them again if the same may happen again.
I do however think they should give you the decency of a call back to update you.
I haven't heard of many issues regarding them, however at this particular time of year with headlights off and on the ambient temperature and moisture in the air condensation can occur, I have seen it on many different models of cars.
Perhaps they will suggest returning the car to the dealership to have the car kept dry and warm to see if it dry's out?
G
Obviously you cannot legislate for individual dealers, and we are not all 100% perfect all of the time, however not excusing not getting called back, they may be waiting for a response from BMW themselves in relation to an issue, as if there is a problems there is probably no point is jumping in and just replacing them again if the same may happen again.
I do however think they should give you the decency of a call back to update you.
I haven't heard of many issues regarding them, however at this particular time of year with headlights off and on the ambient temperature and moisture in the air condensation can occur, I have seen it on many different models of cars.
Perhaps they will suggest returning the car to the dealership to have the car kept dry and warm to see if it dry's out?
G
Had a voicemail from the dealer a week after the car was examined, but only after the intervention of Customer Services.
I'm still waiting to see if BMW will help and will frankly be astonished if they decline to do so.
Anyone reviewing this situation independently would look at the facts and conclude that there is some issue with the units and/or their fitting. It's certainly nothing to do with my use of the car.....suggesting impact damage when there is no evidence of impact (there has been no impact) is really quite shameful.
M5s are expensive to run and maintain, but replacing headlights frequently is not what one would expect.
I'm just cheesed off and feel compelled to leave the marque on a matter of principle.
But then what?
The grass is not greener, is it?
I'm still waiting to see if BMW will help and will frankly be astonished if they decline to do so.
Anyone reviewing this situation independently would look at the facts and conclude that there is some issue with the units and/or their fitting. It's certainly nothing to do with my use of the car.....suggesting impact damage when there is no evidence of impact (there has been no impact) is really quite shameful.
M5s are expensive to run and maintain, but replacing headlights frequently is not what one would expect.
I'm just cheesed off and feel compelled to leave the marque on a matter of principle.
But then what?
The grass is not greener, is it?
Jazzer said:
Had a voicemail from the dealer a week after the car was examined, but only after the intervention of Customer Services.
I'm still waiting to see if BMW will help and will frankly be astonished if they decline to do so.
Anyone reviewing this situation independently would look at the facts and conclude that there is some issue with the units and/or their fitting. It's certainly nothing to do with my use of the car.....suggesting impact damage when there is no evidence of impact (there has been no impact) is really quite shameful.
M5s are expensive to run and maintain, but replacing headlights frequently is not what one would expect.
I'm just cheesed off and feel compelled to leave the marque on a matter of principle.
But then what?
The grass is not greener, is it?
gtrI'm still waiting to see if BMW will help and will frankly be astonished if they decline to do so.
Anyone reviewing this situation independently would look at the facts and conclude that there is some issue with the units and/or their fitting. It's certainly nothing to do with my use of the car.....suggesting impact damage when there is no evidence of impact (there has been no impact) is really quite shameful.
M5s are expensive to run and maintain, but replacing headlights frequently is not what one would expect.
I'm just cheesed off and feel compelled to leave the marque on a matter of principle.
But then what?
The grass is not greener, is it?
KP said:
I've found BMW main dealer service to be woeful. Not interested in the car or customer. For the first time in my car owning life I'll be off to the Indy for the next service.
KP
Find a better dealer. The one i use (and many other PHers) is ace. Very friendly and more than happy to go the extra mile for the PH crowd. Its good advertising for them if they work hard for us, and it seems to be working.KP
The supplying dealer started well, then things went down hill, with issues arising with service and sales.
In the end, I simply had no faith or trust in them, having caught them out on more than one occasion.
The current crew had a truly awful reputation, but are trying to improve, so I decided to give them a go.
Good to begin with, then when things get tricky, no response to e-mails or phone calls, a very unprofessional and despicable way of behaving.
Really, the way I'm being treated is quite shameful, and I include BMW Customer Services in that.
My big gripe,, having had three headlight units replaced courtesy of BMW, through no fault of mine whatsoever, is that THE DEALER FOUND NO FAULT WITH THE FOURTH ONE WHEN I HAD OBSERVED WATER INGRESSION AND THEN, ONLY A FEW WEEKS LATER WHEN THE INGRESSION IS OBVIOUS, AN IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE IS FABRICATED TO COVER THEIR ARSES. NOBODY FROM CUSTOMER SERVICES WILL EVEN SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THIS, WHICH IS APPARENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND HAS BEEN FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS NOW.
I INTEND TO NAME AND SHAME SHOULD I NOT GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED BY THEM.
And all the while, I'm made to feel like some difficult, hard-to-please awkward character......you know, a 'sell a car, buy a problem"-type! The thing is, integrity and respect go a long way with me: I will not be lied to and manipulated by anyone!
Here endeth the sermon!
In the end, I simply had no faith or trust in them, having caught them out on more than one occasion.
The current crew had a truly awful reputation, but are trying to improve, so I decided to give them a go.
Good to begin with, then when things get tricky, no response to e-mails or phone calls, a very unprofessional and despicable way of behaving.
Really, the way I'm being treated is quite shameful, and I include BMW Customer Services in that.
My big gripe,, having had three headlight units replaced courtesy of BMW, through no fault of mine whatsoever, is that THE DEALER FOUND NO FAULT WITH THE FOURTH ONE WHEN I HAD OBSERVED WATER INGRESSION AND THEN, ONLY A FEW WEEKS LATER WHEN THE INGRESSION IS OBVIOUS, AN IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE IS FABRICATED TO COVER THEIR ARSES. NOBODY FROM CUSTOMER SERVICES WILL EVEN SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THIS, WHICH IS APPARENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND HAS BEEN FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS NOW.
I INTEND TO NAME AND SHAME SHOULD I NOT GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED BY THEM.
And all the while, I'm made to feel like some difficult, hard-to-please awkward character......you know, a 'sell a car, buy a problem"-type! The thing is, integrity and respect go a long way with me: I will not be lied to and manipulated by anyone!
Here endeth the sermon!
Edited by Jazzer on Sunday 16th December 08:58
Two communications from customer services today, one to tell me how sorry they were to hear of my engine problem (don't have a problem with the engine and never have had), the other to tell me that the dealer had not submitted a goodwill request (the dealer examined the car on 5th Dec and agreed then to submit a goodwill request......mind you, I don't like that word, as it suggests they're doing me a favour)
You couldn't make this up, could you?
You couldn't make this up, could you?
ecain63 said:
Find a better dealer. The one i use (and many other PHers) is ace. Very friendly and more than happy to go the extra mile for the PH crowd. Its good advertising for them if they work hard for us, and it seems to be working.
Indy all the way for me I'm afraid. Have driven a plethora of different brands and BMW main dealers have given by far the worst service. Manage to be clueless and smug at the same time. If you've found a BM dealer that actually works to the mantra of the customer comes first, fill your boots.KP
KP said:
ecain63 said:
Find a better dealer. The one i use (and many other PHers) is ace. Very friendly and more than happy to go the extra mile for the PH crowd. Its good advertising for them if they work hard for us, and it seems to be working.
Indy all the way for me I'm afraid. Have driven a plethora of different brands and BMW main dealers have given by far the worst service. Manage to be clueless and smug at the same time. If you've found a BM dealer that actually works to the mantra of the customer comes first, fill your boots.KP
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