[jackstawow]

I brought my car into my local service center after finding 3 of my 4 tail lights cracked. After taking a look, my service advisor comes back to tell me that they'll replace 1 set on warranty, but charge me for the other due to the damage looking different. They sent pictures to the main warranty department, who claimed that the damage didn't look like stress cracks, so they couldn't fix it under warranty. I have a problem with this as there is no indication of any sort of impact on the tail light.

I spoke to my service advisor after trying to speak to the main service manager, but all he said was that upon my visit to do the warranty work, they will reassess their verdict on the other tail lights.

Any other way I should go about this? Is it worth fighting this further?

View post on imgur.com

[zamboni]

Was that the same one that got replaced? I had my 18 F80 taillight replaced and dealer was giving me a hard time but ending up replaced the left side. All warranty part got at least a year warranty.

[jackstawow]

Originally Posted by zamboni

Was that the same one that got replaced? I had my 18 F80 taillight replaced and dealer was giving me a hard time but ending up replaced the left side. All warranty part got at least a year warranty.

They haven't been repaired before as far as I know. The vehicle is a lease assumption, so the guy who had it before me had it for a little over a year, but he didn't mention anything like that being replaced.

The left side ones have the distinct spider crack and are getting repaired under warranty. The right side one which doesn't have that distinct crack is the one their giving me a hard time about. To their credit, it does look more like something inflicted rather than happening by itself, but I don't see how it would be possible to crack the tail light from heat on one side and have someone maliciously damage the other side all in one day when the car was never in proximity to anyone else.

The roads around me are a little crap, so I am wondering if taking it for a drive in 100+ weather and going over something could have just caused the plastic to move in a way to create a crack.

I went ahead and edited the picture to make the cracks more visible:

View post on imgur.com

[zamboni]

I got two cracks on the left side taillight about half inch length and it's visible.

[chiefneil]

Originally Posted by jackstawow

The roads around me are a little crap, so I am wondering if taking it for a drive in 100+ weather and going over something could have just caused the plastic to move in a way to create a crack.

I went ahead and edited the picture to make the cracks more visible:

View post on imgur.com

I’ve been driving around in 110-115F weather in Phoenix for 20 years and never had a cracked tail light.

[eluded]

Tell them you will take the other out and put under an electronic microscope and have it analyzed.

[dmaxdmax]

...and this is how class action lawsuits and settlements happen.

Sounds like the tolerances are too tight and the heat may be expanding them more than the metal surrounding it...or it's just crappy plastic. Either way, if it starts happening to many cars...who knows. Keep your receipts, but I hope you don't end up with any.

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by jackstawow

I brought my car into my local service center after finding 3 of my 4 tail lights cracked. After taking a look, my service advisor comes back to tell me that they'll replace 1 set on warranty, but charge me for the other due to the damage looking different. They sent pictures to the main warranty department, who claimed that the damage didn't look like stress cracks, so they couldn't fix it under warranty. I have a problem with this as there is no indication of any sort of impact on the tail light.

I spoke to my service advisor after trying to speak to the main service manager, but all he said was that upon my visit to do the warranty work, they will reassess their verdict on the other tail lights.

Any other way I should go about this? Is it worth fighting this further?

View post on imgur.com

I cant see your photo b/c the sites blocked at work. Seeing you're from NJ hit me up. I used to work at a BMW dealer for 12 years. Maybe I can send you to someone I know depending on where you live.

[jackstawow]

Originally Posted by dmaxdmax

...and this is how class action lawsuits and settlements happen.

Sounds like the tolerances are too tight and the heat may be expanding them more than the metal surrounding it...or it's just crappy plastic. Either way, if it starts happening to many cars...who knows. Keep your receipts, but I hope you don't end up with any.

Without a doubt that is what's happening. I refuse to believe that if something physically hit the tail light hard enough to cause cracks like that, there wouldn't be a single mark on it. Hopefully when the service manager takes a look they'll say the same thing, though I have my doubts. If not, I'll buy the part off eBay for less than $200 and do it myself.

[jackstawow]

Originally Posted by eluded

Tell them you will take the other out and put under an electronic microscope and have it analyzed.

Definitely an option that's on the table haha.

[jackstawow]

Originally Posted by chiefneil

I’ve been driving around in 110-115F weather in Phoenix for 20 years and never had a cracked tail light.

This is the first BMW I've had and the first time I had something like this happen. The Audi's which I owned before this never had any sort of issue like this. Probably just a case of getting a one of the batch however definitely a little off putting to me.

[eluded]

Originally Posted by jackstawow

Definitely an option that's on the table haha.

I did say that once (not BMW) and was ready/willing but they came to their senses.

[jackstawow]

Originally Posted by eluded

I did say that once (not BMW) and was ready/willing but they came to their senses.

Definitely going to have that one ready in case they do start something

[fazi13]

The tail light cracks from the trunk closing/getting slammed. Had mine crack and the shop I go to says it’s common for them to see from the trunk closing. They said I can likely easily fix myself. I got the parts for $200 and replaced myself took like 15m not hard at all

[jackstawow]

Originally Posted by fazi13

The tail light cracks from the trunk closing/getting slammed. Had mine crack and the shop I go to says it’s common for them to see from the trunk closing. They said I can likely easily fix myself. I got the parts for $200 and replaced myself took like 15m not hard at all

While I can definitely see this happening when the trunk is slammed, I can't see why that shouldn't be repaired under warranty unless the warranty is already expired. If I'm not mistaken, a tail light housing is not considered a wear item. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if they can't prove that there was any physical damage done to the tail light, there is no reason to assume that it cracked from closing the trunk.

In my case, the cracks are located on both driver side lights (body and trunk mounted), and the passenger body mounted light. Driver side being replaced no questions asked. Passenger side one is going to be reassessed by the main service guy.