Will BMW warranty cover oxidized headlights?

50shadesofhockenheim · 11-15-2012, 12:24 PM

I have a 2009 BMW 328i still under warranty and for some reason my headlights have become really hazy/oxidized to the point where it lowers the brightness of the lights at night. Would BMW replace them for free since I'm under warranty. My roof rack's black vinyl was damaged from the sun and they replaced that but I'm not sure about the lights since they're a lot more expensive.

JRJ1970 · 11-15-2012, 12:28 PM

Good question. Anyone? Why does this happen? Too much sun?

335BBS · 11-15-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRJ1970

Good question. Anyone? Why does this happen? Too much sun?

Gravel/sand/road grime etc. Just like your windscreen gets pitted over time. Same thing. There are lots of products that will fix it.

DanielGonz · 11-15-2012, 02:41 PM

Take it to a bodyshop, they'll buff them to look just like new.

50shadesofhockenheim · 11-15-2012, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielGonz

Take it to a bodyshop, they'll buff them to look just like new.

Yea but if BMW will give new headlights then I'd definitely do that lol

Turb0Surge · 11-15-2012, 03:24 PM

Lol no one will replace your headlights due to normal wear. Especially since the dealership sells them new for right around $1000 for xenons.

Buy some buffing equipment and do it yourself. It literally takes like 10 minutes. You can expect the dealership to laugh at you if you call in asking for new headlights.

gpb · 11-15-2012, 03:24 PM

Regardless of what anyone here says, the only answer that counts for anything is the one from your local BMW dealer.

If they say no, spend $30 on a Meguiars headlight restoration kit and DIY. I achieved surprisingly good results with a 2001 Sebring a few weeks ago. Not quite 100% as there's a little bit of fogging on the inside, but the result was night&day vs the starting point.

VTECaddict · 11-15-2012, 03:43 PM

Bring it up at your next service. Worse they can do is say no.

Doctor///M · 11-15-2012, 04:21 PM

That's usually a paid for service at the dealership. It just involves some wet sanding and polishing. You can do it yourself, but pay attention to detail!!!

John 070 · 11-16-2012, 04:26 AM

Just use the hand cleaner and buff it--works wonders. People spend $15 on a kit that does nothing, when mechanics hand cleaner does the trick for pennies.

50shadesofhockenheim · 12-03-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turb0Surge

Lol no one will replace your headlights due to normal wear. Especially since the dealership sells them new for right around $1000 for xenons.

Buy some buffing equipment and do it yourself. It literally takes like 10 minutes. You can expect the dealership to laugh at you if you call in asking for new headlights.

So I went to my dealer for service and told them about the lights and when I picked the car up it said on the receipt that it was refused. I talked to the service manager and showed him the lights and he took pictures of them. I got a call this morning saying to bring the car in and they will give me new headlights!

N0OS3 · 12-03-2012, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John 070

Just use the hand cleaner and buff it--works wonders. People spend $15 on a kit that does nothing, when mechanics hand cleaner does the trick for pennies.

like LAVA or other pumice soap?

Turb0Surge · 12-03-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90 LCI

So I went to my dealer for service and told them about the lights and when I picked the car up it said on the receipt that it was refused. I talked to the service manager and showed him the lights and he took pictures of them. I got a call this morning saying to bring the car in and they will give me new headlights!

If this is true... You sir are one lucky guy.

50shadesofhockenheim · 12-03-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turb0Surge

If this is true... You sir are one lucky guy.

Yes I am lol.. I just took pics of the headlights now and Ill take some when I get the new ones

flexbrah · 12-03-2012, 12:38 PM

metal polish works wonders... my headlights on my e46 were really bad and metal polish worked better than the packaged headlight restoration kits.

boris · 12-03-2012, 12:39 PM

Get to buffing!

The kits you buy are ok from Autozone, Advanced, the like.... but there are some over products (the name is escaping me) that work really well. I used it on my old STi and they cleaned them up to look brand new.

BOBKUR · 12-03-2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90 LCI

Yes I am lol.. I just took pics of the headlights now and Ill take some when I get the new ones

Do you ever clean the car. Dealer will say no since that is lack of care.

Turb0Surge · 12-03-2012, 12:43 PM

You should try to somehow keep the old headlights... Polish them, and then sell them.

cbad335 · 12-03-2012, 12:50 PM

Jeez, it looks like it was regularly parked in front of a sprinkler system.

spiike32 · 12-03-2012, 12:55 PM

It will depend on how deep the pits are, but if they are not heavily pitted:

1. wetsand with 1000 grit
2. use M105 with an orange pad on speed 5 with a DA buffer
3. use M205 with a white pad on speed 5 with a DA buffer
4. admire your "brand new" headlight.

I did it to my brother's car and took about 10 mins.

50shadesofhockenheim · 12-03-2012, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOBKUR

Do you ever clean the car. Dealer will say no since that is lack of care.

If you read the thread then you would see that they already said yes..

GoRomeo · 12-03-2012, 01:18 PM

Man for a 2009 model its pretty bad. I am glad dealership is getting new set for you. Probably since they are not xenons, they figured its ok with their cost.

I did my headlights with the 3M kit and came out great!! thanks to the YouTuber video. I would like to do the fog light as well but its a PITA to remove them. Eventually, I will find time to do it since I really liked the results.

11-15-2012, 12:24 PM	#1
50shadesofhockenheim Colonel 2150 Rep 2,316 Posts Drives: 2005 Toyota Prius Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: boca raton, fl iTrader: (6)	Will BMW warranty cover oxidized headlights? I have a 2009 BMW 328i still under warranty and for some reason my headlights have become really hazy/oxidized to the point where it lowers the brightness of the lights at night. Would BMW replace them for free since I'm under warranty. My roof rack's black vinyl was damaged from the sun and they replaced that but I'm not sure about the lights since they're a lot more expensive.
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11-15-2012, 12:28 PM	#2
JRJ1970 Captain 27 Rep 600 Posts Drives: 2014 428i F32 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	Good question. Anyone? Why does this happen? Too much sun? __________________ Jay (in San Antonio, TX) 2014 428i coupe, mineral gray metallic with black interior, black ash trim, luxury edition.
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11-15-2012, 02:41 PM	#4
DanielGonz Lieutenant 19 Rep 564 Posts Drives: AW E92 335i 6 speed Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SoCal (OC) iTrader: (0)	Take it to a bodyshop, they'll buff them to look just like new.
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11-15-2012, 03:24 PM	#6
Turb0Surge Lieutenant Colonel 90 Rep 1,555 Posts Drives: BLACK e90 335i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lincoln, CA iTrader: (0)	Lol no one will replace your headlights due to normal wear. Especially since the dealership sells them new for right around $1000 for xenons. Buy some buffing equipment and do it yourself. It literally takes like 10 minutes. You can expect the dealership to laugh at you if you call in asking for new headlights. __________________
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11-15-2012, 03:24 PM	#7
gpb First Lieutenant 5 Rep 393 Posts Drives: 335i Cabrio Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	Regardless of what anyone here says, the only answer that counts for anything is the one from your local BMW dealer. If they say no, spend $30 on a Meguiars headlight restoration kit and DIY. I achieved surprisingly good results with a 2001 Sebring a few weeks ago. Not quite 100% as there's a little bit of fogging on the inside, but the result was night&day vs the starting point.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-15-2012, 03:43 PM	#8
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 479 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Bring it up at your next service. Worse they can do is say no. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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11-15-2012, 04:21 PM	#9
Doctor///M Brigadier General 1789 Rep 4,216 Posts Drives: 2023 AUDI RS6 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (14) Garage List 2023 Audi RS6 Avant [0.00] BMW M2 Competition [10.00] 2009 BMW 335i [0.00] 2015 M3 [9.52]	That's usually a paid for service at the dealership. It just involves some wet sanding and polishing. You can do it yourself, but pay attention to detail!!! __________________ 2020 F87 M2 Competition /l\ LBB /i\ Executive Package 2013 E70 X5M /l\ Space Grey /i\ Full Silverstone Leather /l\ LED Headlights /i\ Comfort Access /l\ HUD /i\ Ventilated Seats /l\ 22" BBS SV BMW CCA Member
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11-16-2012, 04:26 AM	#10
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	Just use the hand cleaner and buff it--works wonders. People spend $15 on a kit that does nothing, when mechanics hand cleaner does the trick for pennies.
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12-03-2012, 12:38 PM	#15
flexbrah hehe ty men 32 Rep 172 Posts Drives: 23 M3 Comp xDrive Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: FL iTrader: (1)	metal polish works wonders... my headlights on my e46 were really bad and metal polish worked better than the packaged headlight restoration kits.
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12-03-2012, 12:39 PM	#16
boris Борис 31 Rep 505 Posts Drives: e92 n54 335i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	Get to buffing! The kits you buy are ok from Autozone, Advanced, the like.... but there are some over products (the name is escaping me) that work really well. I used it on my old STi and they cleaned them up to look brand new. __________________ 07 SG 335i GONE! COBB - Burger Motorsports -Ultimate Racing - Evolution Racewerks - TiAL- AMS In Winter Mode - Dunlop Wintersport 3D/Sport Edition Wheels
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12-03-2012, 12:43 PM	#18
Turb0Surge Lieutenant Colonel 90 Rep 1,555 Posts Drives: BLACK e90 335i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lincoln, CA iTrader: (0)	You should try to somehow keep the old headlights... Polish them, and then sell them. __________________
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12-03-2012, 12:50 PM	#19
cbad335 Lieutenant Colonel 59 Rep 1,736 Posts Drives: '09 E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA iTrader: (17) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i Coupe [7.34]	Jeez, it looks like it was regularly parked in front of a sprinkler system. __________________ \| 6MT \| ZSP \| ZPP \|
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12-03-2012, 12:55 PM	#20
spiike32 Major 78 Rep 1,127 Posts Drives: Mineral White F80 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: IL iTrader: (9)	It will depend on how deep the pits are, but if they are not heavily pitted: 1. wetsand with 1000 grit 2. use M105 with an orange pad on speed 5 with a DA buffer 3. use M205 with a white pad on speed 5 with a DA buffer 4. admire your "brand new" headlight. I did it to my brother's car and took about 10 mins. __________________ Current: Tesla Model 3 Performance Retired: F80 M3, FBO 335i, 318ti, C7 Stingray
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12-03-2012, 01:18 PM	#22
GoRomeo Brigadier General 955 Rep 3,834 Posts Drives: 330i, 135i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Diego CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [9.50] 2006 330i [6.75]	Man for a 2009 model its pretty bad. I am glad dealership is getting new set for you. Probably since they are not xenons, they figured its ok with their cost. I did my headlights with the 3M kit and came out great!! thanks to the YouTuber video. I would like to do the fog light as well but its a PITA to remove them. Eventually, I will find time to do it since I really liked the results.
	Appreciate 0 Quote