NHTSA Complaint #11311929 — 2014 BMW 328I

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AS USUAL, MADE A LEFT HAND TURN, AND A NOTICE CAME ON THE DASHBOARD ALERTING ME THAT THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL AND LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. AS THIS IS VERY CONCERNING, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS IN THE LEFT REAR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $905. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I WANTED TO GET A SECOND OPINION, SO I HAD MY LOCAL MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE SCORCH MARKS WHERE THE GROUND WIRE CONNECTED INTO THE WIRING HARNESS, AND THAT THE GROUND PIN THAT IT CONNECTED TO ON THE OTHER SIDE WAS ENTIRELY ERODED. HE SUGGESTED THE REASON BEHIND THIS WAS THAT BMW USED AN INAPPROPRIATE GAUGE CONNECTOR FOR THE CURRENT THAT WAS BEING TRANSMITTED, CAUSING EROSION OVER TIME. HE WAS ABLE TO ORDER GENUINE BMW REPLACEMENT PARTS AND INSTALLED THEM FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE QUOTED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF A POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL FIRE.