BMW Question (2008 323 bulb change)

[Richmond69er]

so heres the story...
gf took her 2008 323 to a shop (remain nameless for now) to get a light bulb changed on the passenger side headlight. the bill came to 300$...
i can rule the fact out that they didnt replace the headlight assembly for that price, and the bulb that was changed out couldnt have costed that much. she told me they charged her 2 hours labor. I personally havent even looked at the car yet is it seriously that much work to change a lightbulb?  im just in shock about it all. anyone with some insight? the bills been paid and the papers were signed so really there isnt anything we can do, i just wanna know

[Coquitlam Menace]

Is it a factory HID bulb?  those are over $100 right there?

[Richmond69er]

^non HID. bulb even with shop markup shouldnt be more then 50$ no?

[Coquitlam Menace]

Wow non HID...Hmm that does seem excessive.  Was it a dealer?  I would just politely question the charges, after you have looked at the vehicle yourself of course.

[Derek]

I could be wrong but I don't think the whole assembly has to come out to replace the bulb, and it being a non hid bulb, $300 seems way to much.  I would pop the hood and take a look at the situation and then question the shop.

[vw_ftw_2008]

The only thing I can think of beyond replacing the bulb is if they had to readjust positioning on the headlight assembly to make the lights level again

[VRTEGO]

On my buddy's 2008 the bulbs are accessed from a panel inside the wheel arches. It was a two minute job once I figured that out.

If I were a bit thick and not bothered checking there I would have had to remove a bunch of things to access the rear of the headlight housing. That probably would have taken an hour or more.

Check the process for yourself, then pop down there to recover some $.

[Richmond69er]

Okay so I took a look at it and they are definitely not hid it was a h7 bulb I took the bulb out and in in about 3 minutes. It was a non dealer shop, I'm going to Swing by the shop with her right now (it's close by) this is just absurd.

[Coquitlam Menace]

And now the shop name....

[AirCooledRules]

please post the results. very curious to see what their excuse is.

[Tooly]

Maybe they changed the headlight fluid too 

[Alex@CTS]

On my buddy's 2008 the bulbs are accessed from a panel inside the wheel arches. It was a two minute job once I figured that out.

If I were a bit thick and not bothered checking there I would have had to remove a bunch of things to access the rear of the headlight housing. That probably would have taken an hour or more.

Check the process for yourself, then pop down there to recover some $.

Yup, remove the wheel, open the flap and you have access. H7 bulb are cheap unless they went PIAA or something. D2S bulbs however are rigth around that price for just the bulb if you buy OEM.

[Richmond69er]

definitely was not a d2s bulb...

but anyways went back there yesterday afternoon with the gf, as we pulled up the shop manager came out and greeted us saying there was a mistake in the billing and my gf had paid for someone elses bill, and not her own. so they refunded money ended up costing 50$ to change a lightbulb that costs 10$.... i gave her shit, we'll change it at home next time hahahahahaha

[Blue Flame]

definitely was not a d2s bulb...

but anyways went back there yesterday afternoon with the gf, as we pulled up the shop manager came out and greeted us saying there was a mistake in the billing and my gf had paid for someone elses bill, and not her own. so they refunded money ended up costing 50$ to change a lightbulb that costs 10$.... i gave her shit, we'll change it at home next time hahahahahaha

Even that is stupid. I used to change those for free for customers when I worked for BMW. Did it in the driveway.

Silly shops are silly.

[bootymac]