NHTSA Complaint #10639511 — 2006 BMW 530I

AS I WAS DRIVING A WARNING CAME ON MY IDRIVE DISPLAY THAT THERE WAS A PARKING LIGHT MALFUNCTION. I LATER REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT TO REPLACE A BULB AND UPON DOING SO I NOTICED BARE COPPER WIRES. I THEN REMOVED THE MAIN COVER AND SAW THAT LITERALLY EVERY WIRE HAD PORTIONS OF THE OUTER WIRE JACKET DETERIORATING. WHEN I REMOVED THE PARKING LAMP ASSY. TO REPLACE THE BULB, THE WIRE JACKET JUST FLAKED OFF. DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE HEADLIGHT TO LAUDERDALE BMW. LAUDERDALE BMW HAD A SPECIALIST LOOK AT THE HEADLIGHT. THE SPECIALIST SAID THAT THOUGH IT DID LOOK VERY BAD UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS JUST DUE TO THE FLORIDA SUN! THERE IS NO SUPPORT FOR THE HEADLIGHT EITHER FROM HELLA NORTH AMERICA (THE ACTUAL MANUFACTURER OF THE HEADLIGHT) OR FROM BMW. NO PARTS CAN BE ORDERED FOR IT. THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE IS TO PURCHASE A COMPLETE NEW HEADLIGHT ASSY. AT $1500.00 I WROTE TO HELLA NORTH AMERICA AND THEY REFERRED ME TO BMW GERMANY. I WROTE TO BMWNA AND THEY RESPONDED THAT IT WAS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IMAGINE THAT, AN 8 YEAR OLD HEADLIGHT DETERIORATE TO BARE WIRES IS BY BMW'S CONCERN, NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR! THAT'S SHAMEFUL! AT THIS POINT I CANNOT INSTALL THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BACK INTO THE CAR FOR FEAR OF A DEAD SHORT AND POSSIBLE FIRE! I HAVE A 1995 CHEVROLET S-10 THAT AT 19 YEARS HAS NO WIRING ISSUES AND DEFINITELY NO BARE WIRES! FOR BMW THOUGH IT IS CONSIDERED COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE AFTER 8 YEARS! YET BOTH VEHICLES SIT SIDE BY SIDE IN THE FLORIDA SUN EVERYDAY! IS IT RIGHT THAT BMW VEHICLE PRICING ON THE AVERAGE IS SO MUCH HIGHER THAN CHEVROLET AND YET BMW'S BUILD QUALITY AND WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE IS SO MUCH LOWER! WHEN THIS HAPPENS, SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG! *TR