We’ve got a 2013 BMW, and the KBB value is around $9K. I’m with Progressive, but here’s the deal - the front headlights have moisture damage, and both the lamps and motors need replacing, plus the casings need sealing. Each one is going to cost over $8K. Totally wild, right?
Should I contact my insurance about this? I feel like the car is basically “totaled,” but would my comprehensive coverage even cover something like this if it wasn’t caused by an accident? This seems like a common issue with these cars, so how is this not a recall situation? Maybe it’s related to driving in heavy rain, but it doesn’t feel like an “incident” situation.
I don’t want to call and give them any reason to raise my rates or something. Honestly, this kind of stuff is beyond my comfort zone!
At 10 years old, the seals around the headlights failing is considered wear and tear. Your insurance won’t cover it, and you’ll have to pay out of pocket if you want it fixed.
Nuri said:
What kind of 2013 BMW has headlights that cost 8k each?
The 760iL model.
They’re not actually 8k each. It’s 8k for both, and that’s if you’re paying dealer prices. You can find used ones from eBay or a junkyard for about $3500.
@Nuri
It’s a 528i with adaptive lights. The dealership quoted me $7146 to replace ONE headlight assembly, including the modules and programming, which would take around 6.6 hours of labor (if I understand the quote correctly).
I couldn’t believe it either. We even had someone local try to fix the left one for $4500, but it didn’t hold up.
I found the parts for around $2.5K each on a used parts site, but still… this is ridiculous.
Teo said:
This isn’t something your car insurance will cover, so don’t call them.
If you’re attached to the car, you can pour money into fixing it. Otherwise, it’s probably not worth it.
I’m not really attached to the car. The problem is, we aren’t in a position to buy a new one right now since our budget is tied up with other stuff. So it might be a “fix it because it’s cheaper than replacing it” type of deal.
Any ideas on what I should do with the car? Does anyone even want to buy it? Our family isn’t ready to get a new car (this was a hand-me-down, and we’re not really BMW people). Should we just pay to fix this one because it’s cheaper than buying another car?
@Zem
I would compare the cost of fixing it to what kind of used car you could get for the same amount of money. If you decide to sell it, there are places that will give you a few hundred bucks and take it to a scrap yard. You could also try putting it up for sale on Facebook Marketplace to see if someone wants a project car. People make money by selling off individual parts, or you could do that yourself, but it would take a lot of time and effort.
@Teo
Yeah, it’s crazy that a car might end up in the scrap yard because of something like headlights. My Ford? You can just order the part and watch a YouTube video to fix it. It’s a pain, but you can do it. This whole situation is just stupid.
