Filing around central brake light?

Barrie. · Post by **Barrie.** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 2:12 am

Hi everyone,

A few months ago I had the standard issue with the central brake light cracking in the corners, ordered a replacement and fitted it without issue.
Fast forward a little under 4 months and the replacement light is in pieces. I took it back to the dealer to get a replacement only to be told it would not be covered under parts warranty as I had not filed down the opening on the boot for the light (as it is apparently too small), and therefore it hadn't been fitted correctly.
Now this was something i'd never heard of before, and i assumed it would have been mentioned on the forum with the central brake light being such a common issue but can't find any mention of it when searching. Having previously owned a 3.0, i wondered if this was a specific issue with the ///M and that was why i had not heard of it before, hence posting in this section.

Any light you lovely folk can shed on the situation would be much appreciated, as filing down the boot lid seems like a rather crude fix for an issue i was completely unaware of.

dhobbs · Post by **dhobbs** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:37 am

The only issue with the third light is using the wrong bolts and torquing too high.

Did you get the new bolts or re-use the old ones?

Post by **srhutch** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:52 am

Dealer is fobbing you off.

I'd ask to see their bulletin showing this needs to be done.

Barrie. · Post by **Barrie.** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:50 pm

dhobbs: Light was fitted with the correct lower tension springs.
I had to get a new light when i first got a 3.0 Z4 and had no issues since, hence my surprise when i was told about filing it and thinking it may be an ///M only issue.

srhutch: I had a suspicion that was the case, didn't want to go accusing them on the spot in case it was just something i was unaware of though. Will definitely be asking to see the bulletin.

Thanks both for the advice

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:56 pm

Award given to the most idiotic response by a dealer ...

JAD · Post by **JAD** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 3:34 pm

pvr wrote:Award given to the most idiotic response by a dealer ...

I was about to use stronger language. What an utter crock of shibby.

D4dawg · Post by **D4dawg** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 11:30 pm

Really hahah filing a boot opening that the light was actually made to fit from new?
I'd ask to speak to dealer principle buddy and complain
Mine had 10 k on it when bought it 3yrs in June
I replaced the light then
And now the edge of my white one has a crack !

Mangozac · Post by **Mangozac** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 1:18 am

Has anyone actually had any long term success with the lighter springs? I've gone through so many brake lights on all of my Zeds over the years and nothing I've tried (including the springs) has stopped them from eventually cracking. I'm worried that one day replacements will become rare and super expensive!

D4dawg · Post by **D4dawg** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 2:45 am

Read somewhere on here that someone used anti vibration tape on rear of lights against car
As good point

Barrie. · Post by **Barrie.** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 11:07 am

The one i fitted on the 3.0 has been fine for the last 2 years with the lighter springs. The light on the ///M however lasted a grand total of 3 months.

Anti vibration tape does sound like a good idea, will give it a go when next fitting one.

Once again thanks all for confirming my suspicions that the dealer was just trying it on. Considering how expensive some repairs can be on these cars it seems rather pathetic for them to be like this over a 70 quid light.

D4dawg · Post by **D4dawg** » Tue Mar 28, 2017 11:41 pm

Go to another dealer buddy
As it's bmw so should warranty it
And with warranty they supply and fit;)
Perk of buying oem.

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