BMW headlight . . . $1,000 !!!

[tpenfield]

For some unknown reason the left headlight on my car has begun to fog up with obvious moisture/water inside. Upon some research, I have discovered that the headlight (really a headlight assembly) is supposed to be completely sealed.

Somehow the driver side headlight has developed a crack of some sort. . . . No damage to the car, so I'm not sure how these things just crack on their own . . . but I guess they do. Anyway, the moisture inside has led to functional problems . . . the parking light within the unit is out and now the car tells me that the "adaptive headlight system" is malfunctioning . . . What's an 'adaptive headlight' I ask myself

Anyway, I got an annual vehicle inspection due by the end of June, and it certainly won't pass as is. So, I decided to look into fixing it. It turns out that you basically have to disassemble the front of the car to remove the headlight assembly . . . and the cost of the part is $1,000 and up . I cannot imagine what a dealer would charge to replace it. . . .

@Scott Danforth was right about these cars - electrical stuff just breaks for no apparent reason.

 

[racerone]

I remember the days when you walked into the parts store.----A 2 lamp or 4 lamp system was the choice.----$5.99 and you walked out.----Then 3 little screws and changed it out.-----Modern stuff is not cheap !

 

[alldodge]

The headlights are like a double pane window, sometimes the seal leaks

Remember my Ram HL was about $700 and I replaced. Found a youtube vid to show me how. Hope yours is easier

 

[Scott Danforth]

Makes you want a car with sealed beams doesnt it.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

plus cars with round headlights have soul....... and the glass headlights do not yellow in the sun

 

[Lou C]

View attachment 407742View attachment 407743View attachment 407744View attachment 407745

plus cars with round headlights have soul....... and the glass headlights do not yellow in the sun

And simple sealed beams can be replaced with Hella ECE H-4 lamps easily! Far better than the old school
sealed beams….

 

[tpenfield]

Yup . . . maybe my next car will look something like this . . .
.

 

[matt167]

Head lights on a new Chevy truck are in the $1,500 range. Tail lights on pretty much any GM car are $1000. I install quite a few

 

[JASinIL2006]

I looked at replacing the lousy halogen headlights on my F150 with new LED housings, and even aftermarket models typically exceed $800 per headlight assembly. An as seems to be true of most LED headlights, if the headlight fails, the entire assembly has to be replaced. Given that these only have a five year warranty, I decided to stick with what I have. I just can't see spending that sort of money for something that seems to be a wear item.

 

[Lou C]

When I installed H-4 lights on my older cars also added an extension harness with relays for the headlights that prevents voltage drop to the headlights.
My 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ came with terrible DOT composite headlights, I replaced them with much better Crown aftermarket ECE H-4 lights ($60 ea) & an extension harness from Painless Wiring…

 

[Scott Danforth]

Yup . . . maybe my next car will look something like this . . .
.
View attachment 407749

and it will outlast your BMW by decades.

Head lights on a new Chevy truck are in the $1,500 range. Tail lights on pretty much any GM car are $1000. I install quite a few

thats why my next truck will be a 1967 GMC with a stretched cab and 2-valve Cummins diesel with a 6-speed manual.

 

[aspeck]

In y wife's Acadia the headlamps and parking lamps are relatively cheap. However, to replace them you need to remove the wheel, then the fender well, then stand on your head and contort your body to change them ... figure on a couple hours to do all you are supposed to do ... grrrr

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Head lights on a new Chevy truck are in the $1,500 range. Tail lights on pretty much any GM car are $1000. I install quite a few

I bout two tail light buckets for my Silverado on e-bay complete housing for under $60

 

[cyclops222]

Any electrical or electronic part can be programmed to stop working after any desired amount of on or running time. I designed " Time to FAIL chips " for many devices.
Yes you do not get to OWN the part. You really are given a time span of use.
The customer is a person with too much money.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Head lights on a new Chevy truck are in the $1,500 range. Tail lights on pretty much any GM car are $1000. I install quite a few

My 2015 Chevy truck is just a matter of changing the halogen bulb, they have dimmed considerably since new. Thinking of LED replacement “ bulbs”

 

[FunInDuhSun]

Typical BMW.
I’ve had an ‘01 530i (e39) for over 20 years and noticed the HID headlights were noticeably less bright. Tried adjusting the beams but they both are broken due to the old plastic. OEM replacements are stupid expensive. Found some youtube fixes so I bought new plastic adjusters for 10 bucks. Had to remove the headlight assemblies and couldn‘t fit my fat fingers into them, so I cut an access into the housings. Still was a hassle but I got them in. Used a plastic welder to seal them up and all is good.

 

[Lou C]

Just replaced the H4 ECE headlights on my 98 Grand Cherokee with the same aftermarket Crown units; the old ones were at least 15 years old and the reflectors were peeling & glass lenses about to fall off. These are about $65 each, a bargain. These are among my favorite older Jeeps, as capable as a Wrangler of the same year but much more comfortable and with the big advantage of full time selectable 4x4. Parts are generally available & cheap and they are simple & relatively easy to repair….

 

[bajaman123]

For some unknown reason the left headlight on my car has begun to fog up with obvious moisture/water inside. Upon some research, I have discovered that the headlight (really a headlight assembly) is supposed to be completely sealed.

Somehow the driver side headlight has developed a crack of some sort. . . . No damage to the car, so I'm not sure how these things just crack on their own . . . but I guess they do. Anyway, the moisture inside has led to functional problems . . . the parking light within the unit is out and now the car tells me that the "adaptive headlight system" is malfunctioning . . . What's an 'adaptive headlight' I ask myself

Anyway, I got an annual vehicle inspection due by the end of June, and it certainly won't pass as is. So, I decided to look into fixing it. It turns out that you basically have to disassemble the front of the car to remove the headlight assembly . . . and the cost of the part is $1,000 and up . I cannot imagine what a dealer would charge to replace it. . . .

@Scott Danforth was right about these cars - electrical stuff just breaks for no apparent reason.

The OEMs are simply out of control with these lights! Ford F-150 front assemblies run about $1,900 each...rears about $700 each. And are one of those items NOT covered on many 'extended warranty plans'.

 

[alldodge]

Guess we all should look into cost of parts before buying, and with current T-word most will not be able to determine at this time

 

[alldodge]

Hey Ted just thought, what about junk yards?
I'm sure there are a couple of these in a yard somewhere that might be had