e89 35i & 35is Reliability Question

[distinctperson]

I admire your futile attempts to help, Paris1.

[tranquility]

No no, don't say that. He's giving me options, just that I prefer to have a warranty for anything serviced.

[NoQuarter]

Originally Posted by tranquility

No no, don't say that. He's giving me options, just that I prefer to have a warranty for anything serviced.

Then what are you goin on about? You wont try to fix it yourself no matter what options are suggested. Take it to the dealer and be done with it.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by NoQuarter

Then what are you goin on about? You wont try to fix it yourself no matter what options are suggested. Take it to the dealer and be done with it.

Well, obviously trying to see if there's a less expensive option. It's not only dealer or DIY. However, if it was a relatively easy diy and the part was cheap, I'll have a go. At this point, the part itself is already a major part of the total expense, so I don't see the benefit. Still, never hurts to ask.

[Tangent]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Due to it being too pita/technical or no guaranteed longevity? Seems like I'm gonna havta go down the road of having it replaced.

Simply outside of the normal skillsets of the mechanics they have. There's no reason why the repair shouldn't last just as long or even longer than an original factory connection. The only difficulties I can think of is if they need to open glued together parts. (No idea if that would be required or not) Even then as long as they're careful when taking it apart and use good adhesive and do a good job putting it back together there's no reason why the quality of the repaired assembly shouldn't be totally fine. Honestly if it was me I'd try it myself since I have some soldering experience and failure simply means buying a replacement that would be the only other option anyway. Nothing to lose.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by Tangent

Simply outside of the normal skillsets of the mechanics they have. There's no reason why the repair shouldn't last just as long or even longer than an original factory connection. The only difficulties I can think of is if they need to open glued together parts. (No idea if that would be required or not) Even then as long as they're careful when taking it apart and use good adhesive and do a good job putting it back together there's no reason why the quality of the repaired assembly shouldn't be totally fine. Honestly if it was me I'd try it myself since I have some soldering experience and failure simply means buying a replacement that would be the only other option anyway. Nothing to lose.

Is that the suspected prob, just a severed connection that simply needs soldering? I have no idea.

[Tangent]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Is that the suspected prob, just a severed connection that simply needs soldering? I have no idea.

If the tail light assembly is getting power and the LED bulbs aren't lighting up the only logical causes are a broken connection or burned out LEDs. Whether that's an obvious break in a solder joint or a broken wire or what I couldn't say, but odds are very good that whatever the fix is would cost less than the $700 to replace the entire assembly.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by Tangent

If the tail light assembly is getting power and the LED bulbs aren't lighting up the only logical causes are a broken connection or burned out LEDs. Whether that's an obvious break in a solder joint or a broken wire or what I couldn't say, but odds are very good that whatever the fix is would cost less than the $700 to replace the entire assembly.

Tx, I'll try to find a shop. So if it's not a broken line, then most likely burnt out LEDs, in which case they must be replaced?

[paris1]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Tx, I'll try to find a shop. So if it's not a broken line, then most likely burnt out LEDs, in which case they must be replaced?

Yes

[tranquility]

Tx for your inputs thus far, guys. I've managed to remove the light from the car but it has those annoying security screws (that allow you to tighten but not loosen) so couldn't open it atm. The funny thing is that due to my fiddling around w/ it (e.g. un/plugging the connector), the light now sometimes work, so it must be a loose connection, right? There's no other explanation?

[paris1]

Well it could be a loose connection in one of the LEDs, which would still require replacing the bulb.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by paris1

Well it could be a loose connection in one of the LEDs, which would still require replacing the bulb.

Maybe, but it's weird because the whole light is still intact as I haven't opened it up yet, so it's not as if I jostled the stuff inside the light. I hope it's not something to do w/ the wiring outside of the light.