2012 Tails

[MikeMcBMW]

Three part question:

1. Is anyone planning on installing the new 2012 1er tail lights in their '08-11?
2. Do you believe that they will just pop right in (easy install)?
3. Where can I buy them (and how much)!?


M

[Impervious]

Not me, mine are looking pretty dang good stock.

[MikeMcBMW]

Impervious - agreed on the current lights looking hot - sometimes it hard not to stare...

Just looking to hear everyone's thoughts on the 2012's

[Cuz5150]

honestly....I must be in the minority here, but i like my 09 stock tail lights better. Second, i just had brand new tail lights installed(bonus).....
2012 tail lights= they do nothing for me.

[Itanius]

Check out this thread: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=512006

[Bimmer-Bob]

I really don't think one looks better than the other. I mean, the stock lights have LED tech, don't they? Just three straight bars vs. the two upswept ones?

Even if this were cheap, I don't really see the point. But then I prefer my mods to be period-correct, I guess. I especially would not like some sort of Frankenstein car with pre-LCI headlights and post-LCI tails.

[Prof T]

Mikemc, Just say no.

[Dackelone]

new tails cost 490 euros for pre Sep/09 built cars. 261 euros for car built after Sept/09.

Checkout my other post about this...

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...=512006&page=3

Dackel

[Diver]

I can't imagine replacing the tail lights just to have them look like 2012. Somebody must have money burning a hole in his pocket. Actually, it's hard for me to understand why BMW did the LCI in the car's last year.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Impervious

Not me, mine are looking pretty dang good stock.

+1


Plus i rather spend the money on something with more purpose like the Performance suspension or Exhaust.

[GO135i007]

Originally Posted by Cuz5150

honestly....I must be in the minority here, but i like my 09 stock tail lights better. Second, i just had brand new tail lights installed(bonus).....
2012 tail lights= they do nothing for me.

Agreed. I like my 09 tails and they were just replaced by the dealer so no reason to change them out. I can find better uses of my $$.

[MikeMcBMW]

I am saying NO to the 2012 tails. Good points voiced here.

Now that I have that behind me... How do I get satellite radio installed for less than $650?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Diver

I can't imagine replacing the tail lights just to have them look like 2012. Somebody must have money burning a hole in his pocket. Actually, it's hard for me to understand why BMW did the LCI in the car's last year.

Well... lets give it some time. BMW's "fixed" replacement of our old tail lights only came out in Dec, 2010. SO... IF your tail lights were replaced before that... they will most likely burn out too. Time will tell if the new versions last.

Perhaps we might be forced to "upgrade" to the 2012 tails later on in our ownership - when the cars get out of warranty.


Dackel

[Diver]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Well... lets give it some time. BMW's "fixed" replacement of our old tail lights only came out in Dec, 2010. SO... IF your tail lights were replaced before that... they will most likely burn out too. Time will tell if the new versions last.

Perhaps we might be forced to "upgrade" to the 2012 tails later on in our ownership - when the cars get out of warranty.

Dackel

How widespread is the problem with tail lights burning out? Is this like the third brake light that splits on nearly all cars or the HPFP on the N54, or something with a much lower frequency, like 10%.

This post would indicate there was a fix by the end of 2009:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...7&postcount=43

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Diver

How widespread is the problem with tail lights burning out? Is this like the third brake light that splits on nearly all cars or the HPFP on the N54, or something with a much lower frequency, like 10%.

This post would indicate there was a fix by the end of 2009:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...7&postcount=43

It is pretty wide spread. BMW AG stopped the supply of the company that made the old tail lights in Oct/2010. It wasn't until 2nd week in Dec/2010 did the new parts start to come onto the parts supply.

Only the tail lights built 2nd week of Dec/2010 are the approved fix. Earlier versions will fail from what I am told by my German dealer.

It is not a recall but a TSB. Meaning IF yours fails while under warranty you will get the new improved part. IF it fails later your SOL. Maybe you could get BMW to "good will" it. ?

[Diver]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

It is pretty wide spread. BMW AG stopped the supply of the company that made the old tail lights in Oct/2010. It wasn't until 2nd week in Dec/2010 did the new parts start to come onto the parts supply.

Only the tail lights built 2nd week of Dec/2010 are the approved fix. Earlier versions will fail from what I am told by my German dealer.

It is not a recall but a TSB. Meaning IF yours fails while under warranty you will get the new improved part. IF it fails later your SOL. Maybe you could get BMW to "good will" it. ?

When there is a long standing problem it is not unusual for manufacturers of luxury cars to go past the warranty up to about a year with a fix (especially on low mileage vehicles) and even sometimes there is a program for reduced cost replacement. Not sure where you got your information from, but I will take it as correct for the time being. I expect to trade before the warranty is up, anyway.

[Cuz5150]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Well... lets give it some time. BMW's "fixed" replacement of our old tail lights only came out in Dec, 2010. SO... IF your tail lights were replaced before that... they will most likely burn out too. Time will tell if the new versions last.

Perhaps we might be forced to "upgrade" to the 2012 tails later on in our ownership - when the cars get out of warranty.


Dackel

Hey Dackel!

Being that you are over in the "mother land" can you dig around and find out the 2 different tail light manufactures names? Old vs the new, just had mine replaces, i would like to dig around the back of the tail lights and see what i have.

Thanks

[Dackelone]

I have no idea who makes the tail lights for BMW. When I take my car in for warranty work I don't even get a receipt for what was done! I am only told what they fixed/replaced. Such is life in DE.

I do have this from Auto Motor und Sport magazine...

[Diver]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I have no idea who makes the tail lights for BMW. When I take my car in for warranty work I don't even get a receipt for what was done! I am only told what they fixed/replaced. Such is life in DE.

I do have this from Auto Motor und Sport magazine...

My dealer gives me a detailed description of all work done under warranty. They also have a great expresso machine. My SA is a Colombian with a great outlook on life. I am unable to read german and can't translate the image. A lot of things could have happened. The first tail light version could have had a very high failure rate. The revised tail light might have had a failure rate of only 2%, but this is still unacceptable; the supplier got fired. Honestly, I don't know what happened.

The last time I was in Germany was 12 or 13 years ago. I would really like to visit again.

Thanks for the heads up. At least I know to check for the problem occasionally.

[spotshooter]

I saw the 2012 tails at the Welt a few weeks ago. They look better in person than photos. The pre 2012 tails still hold up, though. I don't regret getting a 2011 car.

The LED headlights are overdone in my opinion. Too much in combo with the angel eyes.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Diver

My dealer gives me a detailed description of all work done under warranty.

Yea... but in Germany you do not get any paperwork when warranty repairs are made. Or even when recall is done. Everything is kept on BMA AG's mother pc. Its kind of strange.

You only get a paper reciept/invoice when you pay for an oil service or some other repair.

[Diver]

I did a search of the DOT records and this is the only tail light TSB:

Make : BMW Model : 1 SERIES Year : 2009
Manufacturer : BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Service Bulletin Number : SI-B63-03-10 Date of Bulletin : JUN 01, 2010
NHTSA Item Number : 10035584
Component : EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Summary :
BMW: REPLACE REAR LAMPS OR REPLACE REAR LAMP SEALS. THE SEALS ON THE REAR LAMPS EMIT A GAS THAT CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS ON THE LEDS (LIGHT EMITTING DIODES) INSIDE THE REAR LAMP. IN SOME CASES, THE LEDS BECOME INOPERATIVE. MODELS E82, E88. *PE

It is for 2009 models, although the TSB was not issued until June of 2010. There is no TSB for 2010 or 2011 models. The post that I linked to indicates the problem does not affect production after Oct 12, 2009.

While I believe the information offered in some of the above posts was given in good faith, it appears to be creating needless concern for owners of 2011 and late production 2010 models. It certainly has for me. For those of you who have had the problem, I hope your dealer fixed it without any bad side effects.