Surface of light knob peeled away
 

I have seen a few threads on the above subject and my light knob has a similar defect to the descriptions previously posted. My service advisor maintains this is user inflicted damage. I just want to get an idea of how many people have a similar issue. Please only vote if your vehicle is over a year old as I don't expect newer ones to have much time to deteriorate.

go to another dealer and don't mention what that one said. I got mine replaced earlier this month no questions. And definitely was not user-inflicted... hardly ever touched it.

Another example of BMW design brilliance. Apparently the knob is not replaceable, so they have to replace the entire switch as a unit.

I suspect if it was just the cost of the knob, BMW would not be so recalcitrant.

Thanks, I may just do that. Is that what you did?

Thanks Penguin, I just learnt a new word, recalcitrant :thumbup:

No i lucked out with my original dealer on this one. You may also want to be extra nice to them when you meet. You never know.

Had it just replaced a month ago. No questions asked, but the entire switch had to be replaced, not just the knob.

Had the knob replaced at my dealer. No questions asked.

They also replaced the scratched driver's side plastic B-pillar at my request.

FYI. I was given a new 328i (6 miles on it) as a loaner. The light knob has been changed and the bottom half is now aluminum (or some other thin light metal).

Mine is still being "reviewed". Supposedly the service manager sent photos for BMW to approve. Been over a week, since I heard from them. I doubt it'll happen. BMW customer service is even worse, they say they can't do anything but file a report and that I should talk to the service manager.

I should try another dealership, but really wanted to work it out with where I bought the car.

Does anyone else have photos of what their peel looks like?

Not mine, mine isn't here yet but here is a photo posted in another thread:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ty-lately.html

I had mine replaced at my last service. No questions asked.

This has to be a manufacturing defect. I may have touched this switch a dozen times in two years.

Also an idiot design in that they have to replace the entire switch module, not just the knob!

Replaced last week. Split at the bottom. Dealer replaced entire switch module.

Funny thing; my Nokia mobile phone, like the newer BMW headlamp switches, has the exact same rubberised cover over the plastic surface of the phone. Wonder how long mine will last :p:

RedRockin. LOL. That was a thread I started a while ago and that was the photo of my light switch peel. I just wanted to see if other's were similar to mine or different (worse/better) condition.

I can't decide if it IS funny or sad that I missed it!! having used forums for several years, I tend to watch the issues first and the posters second. I guess the time difference between this thread and that one... :beerchug:

FYI, my switch looks almost identical the the one you posted earlier.

Dealer is currently looking into my request to have it replaced. I think from the results of the poll it is clear that this indeed a manufacturing defect. Interesting that one switch had been replaced by one that had an aluminium reinforcement to that area.

Noodle555. Sorry. A little confused at what you wrote.

Did you have your switch replaced? What is this about the alumnimun reinforced one? Is that a newer switch? Any pics / part numbers?

Thanks.

As I mentioned earlier, dealer replaced mine with the all black rubber one.

This is what they have in the new 328i (I have a loaner again :( ). I don't know if it used to have the all black rubber one but this one looks like it won't have any peeling issues.

Thanks for the photo Brian5.

I would be happy if BMW offered that one as a replacement to the current all black rubber one.

^^ Thanks Brain5, it was your post I was refering to.

x5 build quality of material is worst among bmw cars. steering, door handles, other interiors they all have finish that erodes, chips away!