[bradysgarage]

Hello!

I have been struggling for quite a while and I am in a bit of a pickle. I have a 2016 535i xDrive and both my adaptive LED headlights failed, and I ended up selling them. Was planning on coding and replacing with aftermarkets, to come and find out that clearly wasn't an easy task. Is there any possible way at all to avoid spending 12k on headlights with modules and all, or even 6k for used ones. If there is some way to code, change wiring, modules, etc. please let me know. I have BimmerCode and ISTA+ so my options are pretty open.

Thanks you guys,

I appreciate the help!

[Thecastle]

Yeah, they are't 12K. I had the dealer replace a failed LED head light on mine. It was $4000 dealer installed, plus I had a $500 coupon for service, so $3500 out the door for entire headlight, modules and install. Just did the replacement 5 month ago.

So it should be more like under $8k, new from a dealer installed. Negotiate. Buy them from a wrecking yard, if you want something cheaper.

I'd find a guide on doing an LED conversion as you can probably find all the parts it replaced to do the conversion, which would be the parts you needed to go to HIDs which are still about 2K a pop plus modules for new ones. So doing this may not be much of a money saver.

Last and probably best.. Junk the car, its probably not worth 8K, my 2016 550i x-drive with 1 new LED headlight and 103K is $9000 on trade-in 3 days ago. With new tires, and no problems. It might be best to sell it to a salvage yard and take the money and buy a car with working headlights. I hate to say it but your likely mechanically totaled.

[bradysgarage]

So you think they are trying to overcharge me?? Also, what you are saying means there would be no possible way to alter the car in such a way where aftermarkets would work properly? I have aftermarket ones in now, and they recently also stopped working, however they never properly worked. They never would turn off and a kill switch was installed. I owe money on the car, to an extent where I wouldn't be able to pay the loan off with what I would get for the car on trade in.

[ice31]

Have you tried finding OEM replacement? I think Hella is the manufacturer.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by bradysgarage

So you think they are trying to overcharge me?? Also, what you are saying means there would be no possible way to alter the car in such a way where aftermarkets would work properly? I have aftermarket ones in now, and they recently also stopped working, however they never properly worked. They never would turn off and a kill switch was installed. I owe money on the car, to an extent where I wouldn't be able to pay the loan off with what I would get for the car on trade in.

Yes, negotiate. Dealers will negotiate on prices, and if you don't like one dealers price go to another. Parts prices are not fixed. I find its often cheaper to go to the parts department yourself order the parts through them. The parts department marks up prices when selling to the service department. Purchase directly and walk the part over to service. I do this all the time. Also they run sales and there are coupons. Yes, they are charging a real premium at 12K to replace the headlights, unless there are more problems with the car then you mention that they also have to fix, like replacing wiring harnesses. For me 1 new LED/Adaptive headlight/assembly/all modules, front end disassembled, with $500 off coupon was $3500. So 2x should be 8-9K. My car had the seals fail on the modules which let in water and caused the turn signal to stop working. They had to replace everything and it was not cheap for a burned out headlight lol. But my car is worth 9K on trade, and I'll spend up to 50% of its value to fix it.

I'm sorry to hear your maybe upside down on the car, that's a hard place to be I've been there. Worse, it sounds like you might be considering borrowing money to fix this which is doubling down putting you even further in the debt hole to get the car sorted. At least if you sell it as is you might get 3-5K as its a runner right? I'd take the money and apply it to a properly working car, as it will be cheaper to just buy a new 9-10K 535i that works. From a finical perspective I wouldn't fix it, and I wouldn't go into debt to fix it.

Or just clap it out, keep running it as-is, don't fix anything just basic maintenance like oil changes (minimum to keep it a runner) and get your loan taken care of.

[e4603]

Maybe get used ones? I see some on eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/126566244339
https://www.ebay.com/itm/395391403588

[PaPhilly]

You can find OEM ones online for less than 3k each.