BMW Announces E46 tail light recall

[Meric]

They probably will. But it's weird when I handed in my car it took 2-3 hours to fix it xD

[drfreeman]

anyone know if I did DIY myself, will dealer still fix it for me ? my warning light showed up again even I did the re-ground wire stuff when the weather is cold. What did the dealer change, the carrier, the ground or the adapter ? Thanks

[LivesNearCostco]

I did most of the DIY and the dealer still did the fix for me because I needed new plastic harness plugs. I had to leave the car for several hours but they gave me a 128 loaner. Not sure if that's standard policy or specific to this dealer. They didn't charge and refunded me $6.50 for some of the BMW parts I'd purchased for the DIY. (I'd spent about $30 on parts but they only reimbursed for specific parts from the recall list.). Besides the new plugs, not sure what else they replaced because they taped all the new wires with electrical tape. In fact I don't if they replaced the bulb carriers or not (probably not).

After I did my DIY, I still had a rear bulb-out warning that drove me crazy for a week or two. Then I checked the bulbs in the trunk lid and found one of them was in fact failing, it just wasn't completely out yet. Previously I'd checked and re-checked the other tail bulbs but not the ones in the trunk lid.

[drfreeman]

I did most of the DIY and the dealer still did the fix for me because I needed new plastic harness plugs. I had to leave the car for several hours but they gave me a 128 loaner. Not sure if that's standard policy or specific to this dealer. They didn't charge and refunded me $6.50 for some of the BMW parts I'd purchased for the DIY. (I'd spent about $30 on parts but they only reimbursed for specific parts from the recall list.). Besides the new plugs, not sure what else they replaced because they taped all the new wires with electrical tape. In fact I don't if they replaced the bulb carriers or not (probably not).

After I did my DIY, I still had a rear bulb-out warning that drove me crazy for a week or two. Then I checked the bulbs in the trunk lid and found one of them was in fact failing, it just wasn't completely out yet. Previously I'd checked and re-checked the other tail bulbs but not the ones in the trunk lid.

you mean the trunk light bulb not the tail light bulb ? And thanks for your info

[az3579]

I did most of the DIY and the dealer still did the fix for me because I needed new plastic harness plugs.

Just before you read this, it's nothing against you.


Reading that comment royally pisses me off. I say this because I specifically checked for the connector after the dealer performed my "fix" and that plug still had a hole the size of China in it, with the ground wire completely out of the harness still burned to a crisp. They didn't do a damned thing for the hour they had my car other than come up with a list of things they feel I have to fix on the car, claimed to have performed the fix (even though I already had the fix applied), and then proceeded to tell me that the plastic connector does NOT get replaced unless it is affecting the wires around it. WTF?

I wanted my plastic connector replaced, which is the SOLE reason for going to the dealer to get this "recall" repair done, and instead I left an hour and a half shorter on time and nothing but disappointment and frustration. I have to live with this now with a destroyed connector.

[danewilson77]

^Ugh. I am soooo not taking my car in for this....as I have already DIY'd it.

[drfreeman]

^Ugh. I am soooo not taking my car in for this....as I have already DIY'd it.

I know. It takes time going to stealership and mostly end up wasting my time, properly half day. I did DIY on both sides, it was warning light for both and the right side was completely fixed after re-ground the wire. Now the morning cold weather caused the left side warning light again, it will turn off later after warming it up. I think it must be the carrier problem. I don't know if I should send it back to the stealer recall or buy a new carrier myself, any advice ?

[danewilson77]

I know. It takes time going to stealership and mostly end up wasting my time, properly half day. I did DIY on both sides, it was warning light for both and the right side was completely fixed after re-ground the wire. Now the morning cold weather caused the left side warning light again, it will turn off later after warming it up. I think it must be the carrier problem. I don't know if I should send it back to the stealer recall or buy a new carrier myself, any advice ?

I just did this. I have not had a BOW since. I think it's pretty close to what they do.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?5400-My-(Meric-s)-E46-Tail-Light-Ground-Fix....&p=122387

Sent from SIGFest-2012, USA on HTC via TTv2

[drfreeman]

Thanks Dane Do you think the melted adapter can cause problem again ? We just re-grounded it and didn't change a new wire adapter.

[danewilson77]

Thanks Dane Do you think the melted adapter can cause problem again ? We just re-grounded it and didn't change a new wire adapter.

Dunno. It hasn't for me. I think the way they grounded it was bad, so I don't expect the problem to return.

Sent from SIGFest-2012, USA on HTC via TTv2