Ontario woman who drives Mercedes will need to pay $7,000 to fix her headlights
02-12-21, 04:51 AM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Ontario woman who drives Mercedes will need to pay $7,000 to fix her headlights
TORONTO -- New vehicles are safer than ever before. They can automatically slow down, warn you if you leave your lane and help prevent crashes.
Headlights are also more high-tech than ever, but if you have to replace one on a newer car you may be in for a surprise.
“My mechanic told me that I should sit down and I was glad that I did,” Brampton, Ont. woman Nicole Bouwmeester said.
Bouwmeester owns a 2017 Subaru Impreza Sport and recently noticed a headlight was out.
She was shocked when she was told it could not be repaired and would have to be replaced at a cost of about $2,000.
“They simply have to take the part and throw it out and put a new one in," Bouwmeester said, who added “they were also flabbergasted it was going to cost $2,000 simply because a lightbulb burned out on the headlight of a car."
Some new headlights have steering response technology with motors and sensors that help the headlight beam follow the road as you drive.
Monica Rok of Mississauga has a 2017 Mercedes E400. She leases the car and must return it next month.
When an inspection was done she was told both headlights had small cracks and would need to be replaced at a cost of $3,500 each.
“They had quoted me over $3,500 per headlight to replace them because they are considered to be all in one units," Rok said.
Rok told the dealer it must be a manufacturing defect and that she shouldn't have to cover the cost, but she was told the car was outside the warranty period and she would have to pay to replace them.
“It will cost me over $7,000 dollars for the luxury to replace something that is their issue," Rok said.
Bouwmeester was also told her car was just out of warranty so she also has to pay to replace the headlight.
“As cars get fancier repairs need to be affordable for the general public," said Bouwmeester.
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, Subaru Canada said they “continually evaluates and monitor our parts pricing to remain competitive in the market place and keep the cost of ownership as low as possible.”
“This particular LED headlight assembly (not just a bulb) contains steering response technology, which includes motors, sensors and related to move the headlight beam according to steering direction. These lights are designed to last a long time, unfortunately with no history on this vehicle, we do not know why the headlight failed, or the diagnostics surrounding it. We would be more than happy to investigate further with this customer to see if we can help.”
Mercedes Canada told CTV News it had no comment on this topic but have agreed to review Rok’s situation and have a technician check the headlights again.
It's not just headlights. The sensors in mirrors, collision warning systems and emergency braking are all making cars more expensive to repair.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/on...ghts-1.5305676
Headlights are also more high-tech than ever, but if you have to replace one on a newer car you may be in for a surprise.
“My mechanic told me that I should sit down and I was glad that I did,” Brampton, Ont. woman Nicole Bouwmeester said.
Bouwmeester owns a 2017 Subaru Impreza Sport and recently noticed a headlight was out.
She was shocked when she was told it could not be repaired and would have to be replaced at a cost of about $2,000.
“They simply have to take the part and throw it out and put a new one in," Bouwmeester said, who added “they were also flabbergasted it was going to cost $2,000 simply because a lightbulb burned out on the headlight of a car."
Some new headlights have steering response technology with motors and sensors that help the headlight beam follow the road as you drive.
Monica Rok of Mississauga has a 2017 Mercedes E400. She leases the car and must return it next month.
When an inspection was done she was told both headlights had small cracks and would need to be replaced at a cost of $3,500 each.
“They had quoted me over $3,500 per headlight to replace them because they are considered to be all in one units," Rok said.
Rok told the dealer it must be a manufacturing defect and that she shouldn't have to cover the cost, but she was told the car was outside the warranty period and she would have to pay to replace them.
“It will cost me over $7,000 dollars for the luxury to replace something that is their issue," Rok said.
Bouwmeester was also told her car was just out of warranty so she also has to pay to replace the headlight.
“As cars get fancier repairs need to be affordable for the general public," said Bouwmeester.
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, Subaru Canada said they “continually evaluates and monitor our parts pricing to remain competitive in the market place and keep the cost of ownership as low as possible.”
“This particular LED headlight assembly (not just a bulb) contains steering response technology, which includes motors, sensors and related to move the headlight beam according to steering direction. These lights are designed to last a long time, unfortunately with no history on this vehicle, we do not know why the headlight failed, or the diagnostics surrounding it. We would be more than happy to investigate further with this customer to see if we can help.”
Mercedes Canada told CTV News it had no comment on this topic but have agreed to review Rok’s situation and have a technician check the headlights again.
It's not just headlights. The sensors in mirrors, collision warning systems and emergency braking are all making cars more expensive to repair.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/on...ghts-1.5305676
Last edited by bitkahuna; 02-12-21 at 06:35 AM.
02-12-21, 05:06 AM
#2
Lead Lap
Gotta pay to play with these expensive headlights. I don’t have laser headlights in my BMW but to replace those are just as expensive. The adaptive LED headlights I have I bet are pretty expensive too.
As for the one scenario in the article where the housing was cracked, I wonder if she could get insurance to cover it.
As for the one scenario in the article where the housing was cracked, I wonder if she could get insurance to cover it.
02-12-21, 05:37 AM
#4
Super Moderator
It's been this way for a long time. When we bought our 2007 RX350, we got the extended warranty solely because condensation in the HID housings was a somewhat widespread issue with the 2RX at the time, and replacement units were $3,500 each. I figured if we needed one replaced over the warranty term, we would come out ahead. Both headlights turned out to be fine for the full 12 years we owned the car, though the PCM had to be replaced 3 times, plus the head gaskets and a couple other miscellaneous things, so we came out ahead anyway.
02-12-21, 06:32 AM
#6
Since it is just out of warranty, she should push her dealer to pursue a goodwill repair with MB.
Being in the south, I might consider just duct taping a flashlight to the hood before paying 7k. Of course I would try to closely match car color, as I would want it to look classy.
Being in the south, I might consider just duct taping a flashlight to the hood before paying 7k. Of course I would try to closely match car color, as I would want it to look classy.
02-12-21, 06:36 AM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Trending Topics
02-12-21, 07:06 AM
#8
Lead Lap
02-12-21, 07:24 AM
#9
Lexus Champion
I have PPF on the triple beams on my GS. Lord help me if I ever have to replace one.
02-12-21, 08:22 AM
#10
Lexus Champion
Car part prices are out of control.
02-12-21, 09:58 AM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
I would bring legal action, that is just highway robbery, it does not make sense to spend that kind of money to replace headlights.
I am fine with HID lights, I don't need nicer headlights when they end up costing more then many engines to replace, I remember paying $2000 for a new engine/have it installed in my Mitsu Eclipse. LED is not exactly super high tech technology anymore, motors for headlights aren't exactly that expensive either or brand new technology, she is just being gouged. There has to be a aftermarket or DIY solution.
I am fine with HID lights, I don't need nicer headlights when they end up costing more then many engines to replace, I remember paying $2000 for a new engine/have it installed in my Mitsu Eclipse. LED is not exactly super high tech technology anymore, motors for headlights aren't exactly that expensive either or brand new technology, she is just being gouged. There has to be a aftermarket or DIY solution.
02-12-21, 11:54 AM
#14
Well each HL assembly for my GS tri LED is $2500 each. That doesn’t even include the AFS motor.
Someone added up all the retail cost of individual parts for a Toyota Corolla and it’s over $1million.
Someone added up all the retail cost of individual parts for a Toyota Corolla and it’s over $1million.
