Sams Club Headlights Restoration Service

[E53fan16]

So a few weeks ago I was in Sams Club and noticed that they offered headlight restoration service for $49.99. Since my headlights were in a bad state, I decided to inquiry and get all the details about the process. Went home and did some additional reviews online(not too many) about their headlight restoration service. Overall the reviews were positive. The reviews were not specific to my local Sams club, just the service offered in general.

I took the X5 in the following weekend to have the service performed. With the low price and 5-year warranty, I figured it was worth a shot.

I watched the processed from the service window and it took the technician about an hour and a half between sanding and applying the clear coat. Once the job was completed the headlight haze was completely gone. However, one thing I did notice was drip marks predominantly on the passenger side. The tech explained the clear coat sealant needs to be dried and not to touch the headlights at all or get them wet for 24 hour period

The next day I noticed the drip marks were still present on the lens and figured something was not done correctly because the drip marks were hardened(dried in the clear coat).

I took the vehicle in this weekend and the service manager acknowledges the problem and proceeded to tell me the job was bad by the tech. He said the clear coat sealant was not applied properly which resulted in the drip marks. I was a bit annoyed but kept my cool. He explained he wanted to personally try and fix it himself but explained it will be more difficult to sand now since the clear coat sealant was on the headlights. I gave him the go ahead. He worked on it for about two hours sanding and all. Once he was done, I see him call a lady in the shop and she proceeds to take pics of my headlights. He then calls me in the shop and tells me he tried his best but the lens were burned(I don't know what that means) and that's the best he can do. The service manager proceeds to tell me since the job cannot be fixed 100 percent and the headlights lens were slightly damaged, to go ahead and get a quote from BMW on replacement of lens only, not the full assembly and Sams club will take it from there.

As he's speaking In my head, I'm thinking BMW will not only replace the lens, they will want to replace the full assembly. I have not gotten a chance to bring the vehicle to the dealer with work and all.

I'm curious to hear your input on this situation. Especially from the standpoint of asking BMW to only replace the lens and not the assembly.

Have not had a chance to take any pictures of the headlights after service manager's attempt to remedy the problems. The pics below are after the first service.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by E53fan16

I'm curious to hear your input on this situation. Especially from the standpoint of asking BMW to only replace the lens and not the assembly.

I think you'll find that BMW does not sell the lens only. As part of your request, I would ask that the BMW parts/service adviser make a note that there exists no part number for just the lens on '04 and up E53's.

The folks at Costco are not without precedence in asking for lenses only. The parts are available for E39's and some early E53's. Costco seems simply unaware of this change for >'04 E53s. I wouldn't expect too much of a battle with Costco if you have the correct information from your dealer. They've already admitted to the error and said they'd address it. The repair is just different/more than they expect.

[tmv]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I think you'll find that BMW does not sell the lens only. As part of your request, I would ask that the BMW parts/service adviser make a note that there exists no part number for just the lens on '04 and up E53's.

The folks at Costco are not without precedence in asking for lenses only. The parts are available for E39's and some early E53's. Costco seems simply unaware of this change for >'04 E53s. I wouldn't expect too much of a battle with Costco if you have the correct information from your dealer. They've already admitted to the error and said they'd address it. The repair is just different/more than they expect.

Sam Club did it, not Costco
I agree that there would be no BMW replacement lenses for these headlights.

PS: I'd like to buy the damage headlights assembly for an experiment.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by tmv

PS: I'd like to buy the damage headlights assembly for an experiment.

I sense an evil genius....

[E53fan16]

Originally Posted by tmv

Sam Club did it, not Costco

PS: I'd like to buy the damage headlights assembly for an experiment.

^Lol

[bcredliner]

Year and model is not in your signature so- Sometime in 2002 the X5 headlight lens changed from removable to sealed. Lens only were not offered for either design. The whole assembly from BMW is very expensive. Many E53 owners go to aftermarket offerings that look much like current headlights. If Walmart balks at either price you should be able to find used units on Ebay and risk having them restored if they are not clear.

[Dking078]

I would push them back on their words.

"Burning" a light, correct me if i'm wrong is when someone sands a light without lubrication (water) for far too long and builds up to much heat, thus damaging it permanently. Anything a light is resurfaced, it MUST be done via wet-sanding. Error #1.

Screwing up the clear coat application is entirely on them. Error #2.

You as the owner did nothing wrong and they must owe up to their faults. That being a new assembly from BMW. Don't even let the word aftermarket slip from their mouth.

ANY BMW made from 2003 on CANNOT have just the lens removed. Let alone BMW will not sell just the lens. (Yes, the can technically be removed, but to Sam's club it is not financially worth it in any way given the high risk of damage.)

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Dking078

I would push them back on their words.

"Burning" a light, correct me if i'm wrong is when someone sands a light without lubrication (water) for far too long and builds up to much heat, thus damaging it permanently. Anything a light is resurfaced, it MUST be done via wet-sanding. Error #1.

Screwing up the clear coat application is entirely on them. Error #2.

You as the owner did nothing wrong and they must owe up to their faults. That being a new assembly from BMW. Don't even let the word aftermarket slip from their mouth.

ANY BMW made from 2003 on CANNOT have just the lens removed. Let alone BMW will not sell just the lens. (Yes, the can technically be removed, but to Sam's club it is not financially worth it in any way given the high risk of damage.)

The sealed lens can be removed. Have done so but will never do it again. The lens are the same, the adhesive is different.

[Dking078]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

The sealed lens can be removed. Have done so but will never do it again. The lens are the same, the adhesive is different.

No doubt it can, I've done it on my 03 540i. But took waaaaay too long.

[tecboy99]

If they are replacing the headlights, maybe see if you can give them the part number for the euro spec ones.