Why so long?!

G

gannet

Lifer
 Surrey
Discovered the other that my headlight washer cover has flown off for a life of its own :?

Just called the stealer for a price for a new one:

£20.83 primed
£32.27 painted

BUT if I want it painted it could take up to 8 weeks :o

surely it can't take that long to paint a bit of plastic :?

so why?
 
Guess they have a paint shop they use reguarly, and because it is such a small piece it will get dropped in with a larger job, because of mixing paints, cleaning spray guns etc, they are covering themselves time wise for a larger job to fit it in with, so if you know anyone locally with a car same colour as yours. go and key it and you will get yours quicker :D
 
i feel your pain, mine had flown off for a second time (different side this time) a few weeks back. I just spray painted it myself on both occasion :D
 
How can one be sure that it wont fly off again? Is there an adjustment that can be done? Just suspicious as I know my bumper has been resprayed a couple of weeks back and never had a problem before.

I've asked the friendly bodyshop for a quote having supplied them with the part number.

Wouldn't mind but it looks so ugly without it in place :o
 
gannet said:
How can one be sure that it wont fly off again?
Click to expand...
If you don't mind losing the function of the headlamp washer you can remove the fuse for the headlamp washers. It's in the fusebox behind the glovebox - swings down out of the way. Can't remember what fuse it is, but I'd searched on here and found it before, but the manual tells you which one anyway.

It stops them actually functioning, i.e. rising out of the bumper.

I found the headlamp washers don't actually clean dirt off unless it's fresh, definately don't miss them.
 
a11y said:
gannet said:
How can one be sure that it wont fly off again?
Click to expand...
If you don't mind losing the function of the headlamp washer you can remove the fuse for the headlamp washers. It's in the fusebox behind the glovebox - swings down out of the way. Can't remember what fuse it is, but I'd searched on here and found it before, but the manual tells you which one anyway.

It stops them actually functioning, i.e. rising out of the bumper.

I found the headlamp washers don't actually clean dirt off unless it's fresh, definately don't miss them.
Click to expand...

now there's an idea... is this something that would have to be reinstated come MOT time?
 
when i had my e46 3 of the dam things fell off. They always said they come ready painted from Germany, thats why they take so long. Got the quicker if they were painted at your local body shop.
 
gannet said:
a11y said:
gannet said:
How can one be sure that it wont fly off again?
Click to expand...
If you don't mind losing the function of the headlamp washer you can remove the fuse for the headlamp washers. It's in the fusebox behind the glovebox - swings down out of the way. Can't remember what fuse it is, but I'd searched on here and found it before, but the manual tells you which one anyway.

It stops them actually functioning, i.e. rising out of the bumper.

I found the headlamp washers don't actually clean dirt off unless it's fresh, definately don't miss them.
Click to expand...

now there's an idea... is this something that would have to be reinstated come MOT time?
Click to expand...

Or you can just remove the front pump plug on the washer fluid tank, which stops them firing and so rising out of the bumper. 10 second job, and simply pop bonnet and push plug down to re-instate.

Fuse tampering sounds a bit like hard work in comparison!
 
Mine was missing the washer cover and went into the dealer in Edinburgh the day before i was due to pick it up for it to be replaced but they found it was the washer itself that had broken. They had the replacement cover within a few days in any case and all work is under warranty.
 
I hope it aint the washer itself :o no warranty. Think Im in favour of disabling them using either fuse or MY Whippy's method... they are pretty useless anyhow!
 
IMHO the reason they fly off most of the time is that they are not correctly fitted or the clip has been strained in doing it. I've fitted and removed several sets and the clip is so tricky to push the pin in one end then clip the other side in without undue force.

I do however agree that pulling the washer plug to disable them is a great idea. I know I have to wash my screen when a bit of spray gets on it, but don't need half a pint of washer fluid over the front and bonnet
 
cj10jeeper said:
IMHO the reason they fly off most of the time is that they are not correctly fitted or the clip has been strained in doing it. I've fitted and removed several sets and the clip is so tricky to push the pin in one end then clip the other side in without undue force.

I do however agree that pulling the washer plug to disable them is a great idea. I know I have to wash my screen when a bit of spray gets on it, but don't need half a pint of washer fluid over the front and bonnet
Click to expand...

Yeah Im Guessing the bodyshop that did the repair to my front wing and bumper didn't refit it correctly when re-assembling :(

still cant hurt to get them to spray a new one for me and I can then fit it and disable :)
 
How long ago was the repair?

If in the last month I'd simply tell them that you've had the car since 2004 and this has happened in the last xx days, so you are holding them responsible as clearly it was not correctly refitted, etc. etc.
 
cj10jeeper said:
How long ago was the repair?

If in the last month I'd simply tell them that you've had the car since 2004 and this has happened in the last xx days, so you are holding them responsible as clearly it was not correctly refitted, etc. etc.
Click to expand...

Repair was completed on the 6th March.

I take your point about the length of time, I will see what their quote for paint etc is and take it from there :thumbsup:
 
gannet said:
now there's an idea... is this something that would have to be reinstated come MOT time?
Click to expand...
If you've got xenons then possibly yes, but I ain't so not a problem I guess :(


Mr Whippy said:
Or you can just remove the front pump plug on the washer fluid tank, which stops them firing and so rising out of the bumper. 10 second job, and simply pop bonnet and push plug down to re-instate.

Fuse tampering sounds a bit like hard work in comparison!
Click to expand...
Yup, that's the other way of doing it! Although from searching the forum I wasn't sure this disabled them actually popping up and not just the actual pump, hence I went for the fuse. Good to know there's an easier way :oops: although the fuse is a 30sec job anyway.
 
a11y - the jets are hydraulically pressured, so as the pump starts up it overcomes and internal spring and they rise up and of course continue to jet the headlights until the pump stops, pressure decreases and they sink back into place. Clever idea, but messy

gannet - go for the bodyshop. 10 days an it fell off - not a coincidence !!
 
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