[JonOhh]

There are a few threads on this, but they either lack pictures or don't have a full resolution included, so I figured I'd make one and attempt to change that.


2016 M235i, about 49,750mi, about to go out of warranty.

Headlights have developed small micro cracks on the inside in the past few months, and it seems to be getting worse. Dealership service department (which has always been very, very good) claims it's normal. What do y'all think? I'm hoping to get it replaced regardless, as it looks absolutely horrible, and contributes to cloudy looking headlights from a distance.


Jon

[John in VA]

Go through the other threads on this for add'l info. Let them know you know they know this is a known issue (!!!), frequently replaced under warranty. This is not due to wear & tear. Push the safety aspect. Good luck!

[JonOhh]

So, got the car back. They didn't replace the headlights by the end of it. The paperwork reads as follows:

CUSTOMER STATES BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE STRESS CRACKS IN THEM.

NORMAL
NO ABNORMAL WEAR FOUND ON HEADLIGHTS


does that look normal to you... ... ?

[JonOhh]

It's going back, for certain. Hoping for some input on this thread to gain some traction. I have found many cases of this happening on the forums, but it seems its mostly people under CPO that then don't get it covered, so that doesn't help too much. Ill keep searching though!

[PDM5]

Originally Posted by JonOhh

It's going back, for certain. Hoping for some input on this thread to gain some traction. I have found many cases of this happening on the forums, but it seems its mostly people under CPO that then don't get it covered, so that doesn't help too much. Ill keep searching though!

Yeah screw that. There are quite a few dealerships around you, so I'd definitely take the hour trek to another one.

[AndDown]

Had mine replaced back in 2015, my cracks looked like stress fractures, I suspect the lenses were forced into place and eventually developed those cracks. OP, yours almost look like the lens was sand blasted rather than stress fractures. Here's a link to a thread on these headlights covers:

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=842929

[davidr3]

Good look, dealer wouldn't cover my F30 under regular warranty or CPO. Keep us updated!

[JonOhh]

Originally Posted by PDM5

Yeah screw that. There are quite a few dealerships around you, so I'd definitely take the hour trek to another one.

I have a really good relationship with these guys, gonna try again and if no dice definitely, will take it to another dealer and see what happens.

[JonOhh]

Originally Posted by AndDown

Had mine replaced back in 2015, my cracks looked like stress fractures, I suspect the lenses were forced into place and eventually developed those cracks. OP, yours almost look like the lens was sand blasted rather than stress fractures. Here's a link to a thread on these headlights covers:

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=842929

I probably should have gotten a photo from the opposite angle, to make it easier to see. The outside of the lens is perfectly smooth to the touch, seems as if it's actually working it's way out from the inside as it gets worse. Thanks for the link From some angles you can hardly tell it's not right.

[Maynard]

Are you sure it is cracks and not just waterspotting from condensation? I guess either would mean a new cluster, as it isn't something you can open up to clean off, but would be interesting to know.

[JonOhh]

Originally Posted by Maynard

Are you sure it is cracks and not just waterspotting from condensation? I guess either would mean a new cluster, as it isn't something you can open up to clean off, but would be interesting to know.

Yeah I'm very certain they're cracks, it's just very hard to show that on a camera. There's a few water spots on the lens, here and there, but the cracks are throughout. I'd love to know what they (hopefully after replacing) find the cause to be. It's very odd.

[F22 Raptor]

I've been through this with many cars. The root of the problem is crappy plastic. Plastic itself "dries up" and gets brittle over time and will weaken, crack, and/or break apart. Solvents (especially solvents with alcohol) will promote cracking and micro-cracking. There is NO way to fix the problem except to replace them and use a UV resistant film or religiously treat them with a UV wax or protectant on the new lenses.

It's a shame major manufacturers don't address this ongoing problem. Wet sanding a fogged lense is SOP for used car dealers but cracking is left alone usually and many times tolerated by owners.

I miss the days of glass headlights! Look what we have to accept for design considerations, weight reductions and cost of manufacture.

Good luck!

[JonOhh]

Originally Posted by F22 Raptor

I've been through this with many cars. The root of the problem is crappy plastic. Plastic itself "dries up" and gets brittle over time and will weaken, crack, and/or break apart. Solvents (especially solvents with alcohol) will promote cracking and micro-cracking. There is NO way to fix the problem except to replace them and use a UV resistant film or religiously treat them with a UV wax or protectant on the new lenses.

It's a shame major manufacturers don't address this ongoing problem. Wet sanding a fogged lense is SOP for used car dealers but cracking is left alone usually and many times tolerated by owners.

I miss the days of glass headlights! Look what we have to accept for design considerations, weight reductions and cost of manufacture.

Good luck!

Oh man am I with you there. The glass Sylvanias on my 65' Chevy have been around for an eternity and are still crystal clear. I wish it could be fixable but like you say, there's no fixing something that's actually happening inside the plastic.

Will keep y'all updated. Cheers

[JonOhh]

Well, spent some more time talking to one of the service advisors and he continues to push the idea that it's considered wear and tear, just like the cracks in the leather seats, and won't be covered under the manufacturer warranty.

Going to meet with the service manager in a few days to see what the options are from here- would rather not have to eat $2500 in headlights over an issue which should be covered under the cars manufacturer warranty. Lens replacement could be an option too, but if they're anything like the e90s headlights they're incredibly hard to get into without damaging anything.

[Poochie]

Could you actually share a photo with the headlight lens clear of all that dirt and water stains, so we can properly discern the crack in question.

It honestly looks like impact damage, from this distorted angle..

[JonOhh]

Originally Posted by Poochie

Could you actually share a photo with the headlight lens clear of all that dirt and water stains, so we can properly discern the crack in question.

It honestly look impact damage, from this distorted angle..

Sure thing, will be later tonight when it's dark (it's easier to see the cracks then).

The main reason for the odd angles, is that it's very hard to get the camera to pick it up well, and those are the angles from which it's most obvious. Except the outside coating coming completely off of the headlight in a small section in the corners, there's no damage noticable to the touch on the exterior surface.

[XutvJet]

This isn't normal. Are you the original owner? If not, how long ago was the car purchased?

[JonOhh]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

This isn't normal. Are you the original owner? If not, how long ago was the car purchased?

My family is the original owner, it's a one owner vehicle (it's my mom's, I have an e90, but I do all of the maintenance and sorting of issues on the 235)...purchased in late 2016.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by JonOhh

My family is the original owner, it's a one owner vehicle (it's my mom's, I have an e90, but I do all of the maintenance and sorting of issues on the 235)...purchased in late 2016.

Has anyone ever treated or cleaned the lenses with anything other than soap and water?

[MarcoZandrini]

Contact BMW NA. Provide them with the pictures.

[JonOhh]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Has anyone ever treated or cleaned the lenses with anything other than soap and water?

Nope, just regular car washing soap, and water. However, the body panel protectant wax has dripped onto the headlights during hot summers a few times, quicky cleaned off though. (the blackish crap that drips down from the hood on the earlier 2ers)

[JonOhh]

Alright, here's some more normal angles.

As you can see, I attempted to take the same photo with and without flash. This shows that without a bright source of light shining through, the lens looks good, but as soon as there's a light source shining light through it (like uhh...the headlights?) it shows all sorts of cracks that were nearly invisible before. They are as clean as I can get them.

Some of are the left, some are of the right- they're both completely identical so it doesn't matter. I went to the dealership and looked at some 2ers, and f30 3ers, and none of them had this issue.

EDIT: Some of them didnt upload, ill try again.