Rather recently in a County far, far away...
Early this year I thought I'd get a clear third brake light to freshen up the rear - looks tasty on grey and I anticipated it would give me the same warm, fuzzy feeling that the LED number plate lights do, even though I have even less chance of seeing this one in operation...
Soper diligently provide me with a shiny new brake lamp shortly after the 10/03/2015, the date I ordered.
I get myself the weaker springs and washers to prevent the known cracking as recommended in the SIB, despite there having been nothing wrong with my old red lamp, which was happily sold via the forum and which I hope is still going strong.
Then last week, disaster.
Gasp you should. I notice my lovely brake lamp has come away at the OS egde.
"Oh, it must have worked loose on those feeble springs," thought I. "I'll nip it back up in a jiffy, examine for moistness, and all will be well."
But it was not. It had cracked horizontally where the lens meets the body along the top edge.
"Bugger," I exclaimed; a passing elderly lady glancing with derision as I did.
I head inside straight to the telephone as rain starts to fall, the Gods weeping at my misfortune (or perhaps crying with laughter).
I ask Soper what must I do to get the fuzzy feeling back in my life and they very competently furnish me with the knowledge that I can have my part replaced under warranty. Hooray. Even better, I can take it to any dealer who will wave their magical warranty wand and install a shiny new lamp. I was so happy I could have hugged them.
Fast forward to this Monday when I call Westerly Exeter. They was very helpful when I explained my woe, though I neglected to mention the fuzzy feeling as I didn't think they would be able to find a part number for it on their system. They took some personal details and said to bring it in at (the somewhat inconvenient time of) 1600 on Wednesday when they will examine the pesky thing and replace it, they will even order a new lamp in ready to fit.
"Top banana," I thought.
1530, Wednesday:
I slip out of work early, with flagrant disregard for the flexitime core hours that only end at 1600, for I am on a mission that no mortal can delay.
That was until I got stuck in a load of traffic trying to get over the river. Bugger again.
With all haste I made it to Westerly with entire minutes to spare, they printed lots of bits of paper, asked me to sign something then led me to the grown-ups play area furnished with WiFi, coffee, biscuits and shiny new motor car books.
"This makes up for the small inconvenience I've suffered," I smirked.
"One quick question, sir," comes a voice from over my shoulder. "If we don't find a defect, would you like us to replace your lamp anyway?"
"I most certainly would not," said my brain. My polite mouth disagreed and enquired, "Well, that depends on how much you'd charge."
£ 92 and something was the response; I can't quite remember the exact amount because my wallet tried to escape at the same moment and I was forced to restrain it.
"No, I don't think I could justify that," was my retort.
"Well I could probably discount the labour a little as it's an older model."
"Not to nothing," chipped in my brain.
"I can get it down to £ 20," the service man smiled.
"That's still at least a pound a minute and I can do it myself in 15. No thank you," I replied.
About 10 minutes later came the bad news, "The technician has assessed that it is not a manufacturing defect."
Half of me was happy that David Blunkett had clearly found ongoing employment in the current job market.
I asked if they were able to access the SIBs so that I could show it was a common fault. Coincidentally, they couldn't.
So I took some notes and headed home.
Next stop, BMW Customer Service.
Ring ring. A chap called Luke introduces himself to me. I explain my problem. He seems to think the issue might be that I can only take up the warranty claim with Soper. I disagree. He goes off to confer with his colleagues.
They furnish him with the idea that there isn't even a warranty and if Soper have said there is then I should go and hassle them about it.
Even when I read the business terms on the back of the invoice to him, word for word and slowly, he still denies that a warranty exists.
Luke said he would contact both Dealers and get back to me within 24 hours. I don't have much faith in his problem resolution strategy.
Early this year I thought I'd get a clear third brake light to freshen up the rear - looks tasty on grey and I anticipated it would give me the same warm, fuzzy feeling that the LED number plate lights do, even though I have even less chance of seeing this one in operation...
Soper diligently provide me with a shiny new brake lamp shortly after the 10/03/2015, the date I ordered.
I get myself the weaker springs and washers to prevent the known cracking as recommended in the SIB, despite there having been nothing wrong with my old red lamp, which was happily sold via the forum and which I hope is still going strong.
Then last week, disaster.
Gasp you should. I notice my lovely brake lamp has come away at the OS egde.
"Oh, it must have worked loose on those feeble springs," thought I. "I'll nip it back up in a jiffy, examine for moistness, and all will be well."
But it was not. It had cracked horizontally where the lens meets the body along the top edge.
"Bugger," I exclaimed; a passing elderly lady glancing with derision as I did.
I head inside straight to the telephone as rain starts to fall, the Gods weeping at my misfortune (or perhaps crying with laughter).
I ask Soper what must I do to get the fuzzy feeling back in my life and they very competently furnish me with the knowledge that I can have my part replaced under warranty. Hooray. Even better, I can take it to any dealer who will wave their magical warranty wand and install a shiny new lamp. I was so happy I could have hugged them.
Fast forward to this Monday when I call Westerly Exeter. They was very helpful when I explained my woe, though I neglected to mention the fuzzy feeling as I didn't think they would be able to find a part number for it on their system. They took some personal details and said to bring it in at (the somewhat inconvenient time of) 1600 on Wednesday when they will examine the pesky thing and replace it, they will even order a new lamp in ready to fit.
"Top banana," I thought.
1530, Wednesday:
I slip out of work early, with flagrant disregard for the flexitime core hours that only end at 1600, for I am on a mission that no mortal can delay.
That was until I got stuck in a load of traffic trying to get over the river. Bugger again.
With all haste I made it to Westerly with entire minutes to spare, they printed lots of bits of paper, asked me to sign something then led me to the grown-ups play area furnished with WiFi, coffee, biscuits and shiny new motor car books.
"This makes up for the small inconvenience I've suffered," I smirked.
"One quick question, sir," comes a voice from over my shoulder. "If we don't find a defect, would you like us to replace your lamp anyway?"
"I most certainly would not," said my brain. My polite mouth disagreed and enquired, "Well, that depends on how much you'd charge."
£ 92 and something was the response; I can't quite remember the exact amount because my wallet tried to escape at the same moment and I was forced to restrain it.
"No, I don't think I could justify that," was my retort.
"Well I could probably discount the labour a little as it's an older model."
"Not to nothing," chipped in my brain.
"I can get it down to £ 20," the service man smiled.
"That's still at least a pound a minute and I can do it myself in 15. No thank you," I replied.
About 10 minutes later came the bad news, "The technician has assessed that it is not a manufacturing defect."
Half of me was happy that David Blunkett had clearly found ongoing employment in the current job market.
I asked if they were able to access the SIBs so that I could show it was a common fault. Coincidentally, they couldn't.
So I took some notes and headed home.
Next stop, BMW Customer Service.
Ring ring. A chap called Luke introduces himself to me. I explain my problem. He seems to think the issue might be that I can only take up the warranty claim with Soper. I disagree. He goes off to confer with his colleagues.
They furnish him with the idea that there isn't even a warranty and if Soper have said there is then I should go and hassle them about it.
Even when I read the business terms on the back of the invoice to him, word for word and slowly, he still denies that a warranty exists.
BMW allegedly said:
Luke said he would contact both Dealers and get back to me within 24 hours. I don't have much faith in his problem resolution strategy.
