Condensation in E89 lights

Left near side cluster. Look at the black sealing line at the base..

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Then compare it with the seal on the right offside cluster, you can see what looks like condensation but in fact it's the plastic that's fractured.

8830536334_3ea211b1df_c.jpg

You can press the lens on the failed unit and clearly see its detached.
 
I see that I started this thread in December, 2012. Exactly 2 years later the rear light cluster has failed again with lots of those pesky water droplets :x . Luckily I have an extended warranty so I'm just firing off an e/mail to the dealer now...
 
Keep us up to date with your success please.

My car rarely sees wet weather as its a summer fun car but I had it washed by the local Kurds and a pressure washer before holiday and it took a few weeks before the droplets in the rear right lamp went away.
The left lamp stayed dry.

I've got the extended warranty so if you get the green light I will give it a go!
 
ronk said:
Keep us up to date with your success please.

My car rarely sees wet weather as its a summer fun car but I had it washed by the local Kurds and a pressure washer before holiday and it took a few weeks before the droplets in the rear right lamp went away.
The left lamp stayed dry.

I've got the extended warranty so if you get the green light I will give it a go!
Click to expand...

Had a chat with my dealer this morning. Apparently any form of water ingress is not covered under the extended warranty. In addition the (BMW) policy I have has a £250 excess, which means I'd be paying the lion's share of the £350 fitted cost anyway.

I'm now going to try BMW Customer Services to see what they can do. I can understand not covering water ingress on extended policies as seals will perish over time. But both of my rear lights have already been replaced (in March 2013), so it doesn't seem unreasonable to argue that they should last a tad longer. Apparently when the service receptionist raised the query with a colleague, his first question was: "Is it a Z4?"

Will post an update when I have it.
 
I've just renewed my policy but I'm starting to think along the lines of putting £500 a year away in a piggy bank for future years.
 
ronk said:
I've just renewed my policy but I'm starting to think along the lines of putting £500 a year away in a piggy bank for future years.
Click to expand...

I can understand that and it had crossed my mind too. My thought is that the warranty is only really there to protect you from the 'biggies'. Some major engine failure may result in a £5k bill. Should that happen then I'd be pleased that I had the warranty. That said, all of these policies have endless wiggle room: "ah, had it been this component then you'd have been covered but as it's that component then you're not." I guess I need to study my warranty very closely...
 
It as always been my understanding that any replaced BMW part had a 2 year warranty from date of fitment. If your lights have failed again in 19 months or so they were not fit for purpose.
 
Titan said:
It as always been my understanding that any replaced BMW part had a 2 year warranty from date of fitment. If your lights have failed again in 19 months or so they were not fit for purpose.
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Spooky you should say that, Titan, as that's exactly what I thought. I even raised the point, speculating that BMW or consumer law would say that a part should last a reasonable amount of time - whatever you deem 'reasonable' to mean. Unfortunately there was no response other than the suggestion to raise it with BMW Customer Service. If you know of anything official that states this then please let me know! :)
 
From the web page:-

Every one of our Genuine BMW Parts are manufactured as meticulously as our vehicles, which guarantees optimum fit and function. For added peace of mind, all Genuine BMW Parts are supplied with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Now go and chew their leg!
 
ronk said:
From the web page:-

Every one of our Genuine BMW Parts are manufactured as meticulously as our vehicles, which guarantees optimum fit and function. For added peace of mind, all Genuine BMW Parts are supplied with a two-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Now go and chew their leg!
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Fanks :D . I shall call them now and see what occurs...
 
Just incase they doubt it :-
(Open the tag - read transcript)

https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KEQiAhvujBRDUpomG5cq_mI0BEiQA7TYq-pKUb-p5j_KHb0OprU8fRA7ApI3BWiuN94_alBNBYLUaAgOH8P8HAQ
 
ronk said:
Just incase they doubt it :-
(Open the tag - read transcript)

https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KEQiAhvujBRDUpomG5cq_mI0BEiQA7TYq-pKUb-p5j_KHb0OprU8fRA7ApI3BWiuN94_alBNBYLUaAgOH8P8HAQ
Click to expand...

Thanks Ronk :) . It seems unequivocal to me. I'm actually surprised the service guy I spoke to didn't know about this - he's been there quite a while and has always been pretty helpful.
 
:D who ? Me?
To be fair to the people I use (cooper Durham ) have always treated me very well - so we shouldn't tar them all with the same brush!
 
ronk said:
:D who ? Me?
To be fair to the people I use (cooper Durham ) have always treated me very well - so we shouldn't tar them all with the same brush!
Click to expand...

Agreed - and to date I've had good service from my dealer (although I'm aware of people on here who have not).

Anyway, I've had a response and it's one that has taken me aback. Apparently the rule is that the 2 year warranty only applies if you come in off the street and pay for it with real money. If something is done under warranty then that work is only covered to the expiry of your manufacturer's warranty. So, if you have a new gearbox fitted when your car is 2 years 11 months old and it fails two months later, then it's down to you.

This is not even hinted at on the BMW websites and sounds faintly ridiculous. If a genuine BMW part is fitted by qualified people, at any point in time, then that part should last a minimum of two years and hopefully a lot longer. I'll get in touch with BMW UK because I can't quite get my head around this... :x
 
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