BMW is recalling 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i and 330xi - 241,000 cars effected!

Originally Posted by TWF

It is more than one wire to do it correct way. Housing has to be replaced and all connectors. New pins with wire tails...etc. There is $200 in parts on my invoice and another $200 in labor.
Yea, it is joke but that is how it is done at dealer.
If you figure it can be thousands of cars you get picture how many parts they need.

I hear ya but if the lamps are functionon and ther is no "melted" connections, all they do is run a second ground (says so in the letter) which is what I did. Like I said, $4 and 20 minutes.

It could be a bigger job if they have to replace corroded and/or melted parts but $400?!!!

Thank God for Bimmerfest and that I can do many things on my car myself!

Originally Posted by djstrachan

Thank God for Bimmerfest and that I can do many things on my car myself!

Agree, if it was not for recall I would have done same as you.
I just got car couple months ago, had tail light warning on dash and did some search here. Found why and about recall. I decided to let them deal with it.

Originally Posted by TWF

It is more than one wire to do it correct way. Housing has to be replaced and all connectors. New pins with wire tails...etc. There is $200 in parts on my invoice and another $200 in labor.
Yea, it is joke but that is how it is done at dealer.
If you figure it can be thousands of cars you get picture how many parts they need.

$400.00! With the original recall notice showing 241,000 vehicles involved, even if only half of them ever get fixed at that rate...$48,200,000. Aside from the DIY crowd, a lot of owners are out of a lot of money.

It is over 100k just to send letters to all

Originally Posted by TWF

It is over 100k just to send letters to all

Some bean-counter at BMW must have figured it was worth the risk shipping cars with defective parts since the probability of it resulting in a recall was low. Maybe they bought insurance.

well, if it is just running a second ground wire, then I'm not sure how they could be out of parts. Seems to me that they will be replacing much more than that.

Replacing the ground wire is the pre-emptive fix if you are not yet experiencing problems with the tail light cluster. If the connector is burned out and the plastic housing is melted, then you also have to replace the housing, as well as any affected wires/connectors. Most likely the connector housing is the part in short supply.

Hmm, I think I might have bought an extra connector housing for the left side when I fixed the right side (spastic turn signal), along with some wires and connectors. Maybe I should sell them back to BMW for $200?

I'd have to look up the prices, but I recall the connector being in the $10-$15 range.

Originally Posted by imtjm

well, if it is just running a second ground wire, then I'm not sure how they could be out of parts. Seems to me that they will be replacing much more than that.

They replaced all connectors on my. Here is list of parts.
Plus shop material and tax, $404.94

Originally Posted by TWF

They replaced all connectors on my. Here is list of parts.
Plus shop material and tax, $404.94

And this was only the left side? I'll have to go back to the recall details to see if they'll replace both sides. I would think so; doesn't seem to be a one-side-only problem.

Right side was not melted and did not need new housing, just wires.

Originally Posted by sridario

Replacing the ground wire is the pre-emptive fix if you are not yet experiencing problems with the tail light cluster. If the connector is burned out and the plastic housing is melted, then you also have to replace the housing, as well as any affected wires/connectors. Most likely the connector housing is the part in short supply.

Hmm, I think I might have bought an extra connector housing for the left side when I fixed the right side (spastic turn signal), along with some wires and connectors. Maybe I should sell them back to BMW for $200?

I'd have to look up the prices, but I recall the connector being in the $10-$15 range.

I had teh intermittent "light out" warning but no corrosion or melted parts. I ran a parallel ground on both fixtures and the problem has now been gone for 9 months.

Unless they are having to replace the entire elecrical harness/assembly, I find it hard to believe it is a $200 parts bill and $200 labour is insane even if they are replacing the assembly. It is just a plug-in.

Just got my recall notice today here in NJ. Funny enough the recall notice says that they don't have enough parts for the recall and it will occur later in December. The Xi needs the whole driver-side assembly re-pinned it's melted like a mofo.

Originally Posted by djstrachan

Unless they are having to replace the entire elecrical harness/assembly, I find it hard to believe it is a $200 parts bill and $200 labour is insane even if they are replacing the assembly. It is just a plug-in.

There is invoice with parts and cost in my previous post

Just got my letter yesterday, also. How was this such a surprise to them?

Just got my second letter for the ZHP in today's mail.

Originally Posted by RSPDiver

Just got my letter yesterday, also. How was this such a surprise to them?

it always is a surprise

Originally Posted by RSPDiver

Just got my letter yesterday, also. How was this such a surprise to them?

I keep checking the mailbox for mine like a kid on Christmas morning waiting for Santa Claus... We get everything later over here on the West Coast I guess.

I got a mailer yesterday from BMW but saw it was an ad campaign for buying a new Mission Impossible BMW. Ha! I just want mine fixed first (my pin assy is melted through), then I'll see about a new one when it comes time.

After the tail light fix, I've got to replace the 2ndary air pump and valve in hopes that the SES light goes off. And then figure out how to replace the knobs on the dash to allow me to set the clock (mine are broken off).

Then it's off to the wifey's car (2001 MBZ ML430) with ABS/ ESP/ Brake warning lights that flash infrequently in wet weather.

(I'm ready for a non-computerized, manual everything car)

Originally Posted by RCorney

(I'm ready for a non-computerized, manual everything car)

No kidding
I have this bmw and mb500sl. I want back my old buick with 455 and carburator

Originally Posted by RCorney

(I'm ready for a non-computerized, manual everything car)

Something like this, maybe?
http://www.shopbmwusa.com/ProductDet...ProductId=2174

Originally Posted by mr_clueless

Something like this, maybe?
http://www.shopbmwusa.com/ProductDet...ProductId=2174

Thats it! Fred Flinstone, here I come. At least I know who and where to fix it when it breaks, but we digress.

Originally Posted by TWF

No kidding
I have this bmw and mb500sl. I want back my old buick with 455 and carburator

Yes. I was winterizing my boat over the weekend and saw my boat has a good ol' holley carb and thought; this is why I don't mind getting under the "hood" of this thing.

Originally Posted by RCorney

Yes. I was winterizing my boat over the weekend and saw my boat has a good ol' holley carb and thought; this is why I don't mind getting under the "hood" of this thing.

I installed a Holley 3-barrel carb in my '71 Jav many years ago (yes, they were available back then). Not sure it made it go faster, but I had one more barrel than most!
(4-speed stick on the floor) 112,000 trouble-free miles. Not my car pictured.

Its a little late to finally acknoledge they have a problem. I used all the great information from the forum posts to the do the simple fix. What they should do is just send evryone a check to compensate for the agravation it caused us all. I went a year trying to figure it out before I found the answers in the forum.

Originally Posted by pointandgo

I installed a Holley 3-barrel carb in my '71 Jav many years ago (yes, they were available back then). Not sure it made it go faster, but I had one more barrel than most!
(4-speed stick on the floor) 112,000 trouble-free miles. Not my car pictured.

What a unique and beautiful car! Nice work. Have you changed the auto window switches, what about the VANOS seals, how about fixing the NAV gremlins... er uh, wait, that car just goes fast, flat out, no need to fuss with all the "conveniences".

Back on topic; no letter yet. I may call the dealer cause I bought my car used and while I did register with BMW NA I'm wondering if that means anything other than sending me ad campaign mailers and credit card offers. Plus, that way, maybe I'll be able to schedule the 1 hour fix for.... mid-March.

Originally Posted by RCorney

Back on topic; no letter yet. I may call the dealer cause I bought my car used and while I did register with BMW NA I'm wondering if that means anything other than sending me ad campaign mailers and credit card offers. Plus, that way, maybe I'll be able to schedule the 1 hour fix for.... mid-March.

I got mine...says the same thing about non-availability of parts and that I'll be contacted again once they are available.