F50 Headlight out... Dealer says Ballast?? Help Real Time??

[DBrown2]

Well I should shoot myself on this one... but usually I am pretty good about checking out a car I purchase... Doing all the small things... and checking all the buttons...

Well it was day time, so no need for headlights... Needless to say, I bought it, and find out the headlight was out.

So thought Ok 150 bucks or less new HID bulb... So it was time for a oil change, and get the car checked out... Had ABS warning coming on too... see other thread.

So I threw that on the dealers to do list... Well its not just the bulb... its the heating ballast they say... which costs 993.50 for total repair

I think that is pure rape... I looked on ebay.. they have a used working ballast and bulb for 285.00..

I told them to fix the ABS warning deal.. it was covered under the warranty but the Headlight Ballast isnt... I said let me sleep on it...

He said well I will have him button it back up.. I said wait he had to take the whole front bumper off right?? He laughed and said no... You take the inner fender skirt off, and you can access it there...

I thought to replace the bulb/ballast you had to take off the whole front bumper and drill and remove the whole headlight assembly to replace bulb etc...

So which way is true?? Whole Bumper coming off?? or Thru the Skirt??

Thoughts on price of Headlight Ballast?? oh ya I am calling Joe, and the Scottsdale Infiniti... to check there price...

I just feel bad, they where nice, and gave me a loaner, but yet I dont want to get raped... For something that me and a buddy can fix in a day for 285.00 plus paying him 50.00 bucks to help...

Again Thoughts??
Modified by DBrown2 at 8:13 AM 10/8/2008

[maxnix]

For access, check the FSM.

If the eBay seller is reputable and he will guarantee an OEM unit, go for it.

I bet Joe is at $600 or so.

[DBrown2]

Called Scottsdale...

List is 512.73 w a price of 384.55...

He gave me a part number of 260-55-AR010...

And yes the Ebay listing guy had like 6K of sells... so I assume he is good... plus for 285 I get a bulb and ballast...

Is my dealer really trying to make that much on me from 512.73 to 993.00??? I am calling to see if we are talking apples to apples.

[maxnix]

Delers often mark up 25% over recommeded Infiniti list.

Be sure the included bulb is the correct Sylvania D2S. Y0u may want to buy two if you are extremely anal and want the color temperature to match side to side.

Joe's price with a guarantee is not too bad.

[DBrown2]

I pressed the Service Cordinator only for him to get pissed...

I need a HID Control Unit at 512.73, Bulb at 276.05, Install of 210.00 for the total of 993.00... makes more sense... that way... But...

I asked if that was the best he could do... He took offense, and said yes... Then said bring back my loaner, and Pickup your car... we will call when the other parts come in...

So they went from keep the loaner till next week, to... Bring back now...

I can save several hundred going thru Joe, for new parts... but I think I am going to give the Used OEM part a try... 285 for Bulb and Ballast, with money back if they dont work...

Maxnix... good point on bulb... being the D2S Sylvania...

Anyone know for sure how to get to the bulb???

Inner Fender or Take Bumper off??? The FSM doesnt say clearly... it shows taking inner fender, and then references the bumper... But that may be to get the whole Headlight Assembly off?

[maxnix]

I can save several hundred going thru Joe, for new parts... but I think I am going to give the Used OEM part a try... 285 for Bulb and Ballast, with money back if they dont work...

See how long the OEM part is guaranteed by Nissan.

Since they are a known failure point in the F50, not sure I would gamble with used.

I don't know, but I owuld bet removing the fender cover is how you get to the bulb.

[marksport]

Removing the bumper isn't all that bad.

[DBrown2]

marksport that is page EL-16 from FSM..

I have it printed... and yes... I know the procedure on this part... but...

Has anyone physically changed a bulb... That can post... Not hear say, or ya its not hard to do this or that...

Why kill time taking bumper off, when you can just go thru inner fender... and vice verse... why go thru inner fender, when front bumper comes off..

Dealer... still maintains inner fender... But so far they have been complete tools... or at least the Service Cord... is... I have asked to speak with the Tech and he flat out gave me a no.

[maxnix]

I have asked to speak with the Tech and he flat out gave me a no.

Tells you all you need to know about that dealer.

[marksport]

marksport that is page EL-16 from FSM..

I have it printed... and yes... I know the procedure on this part... but...

Has anyone physically changed a bulb... That can post... Not hear say, or ya its not hard to do this or that...

Why kill time taking bumper off, when you can just go thru inner fender... and vice verse... why go thru inner fender, when front bumper comes off..

Dealer... still maintains inner fender... But so far they have been complete tools... or at least the Service Cord... is... I have asked to speak with the Tech and he flat out gave me a no.

Might be possible to change the bulb by going thru the fender well, but I always just pulled the bumper off. I've removed/reinstalled the bumper about 10-12 times for various reasons.

[mcrews]

I will be replacing my bulbs in a week or so. one high and one low are burned out.I have to agree w/ marksport...the front bumper is amazingly easy to take off....I was surprised the first time how few bolts there are for such a big piece of plasitc.

as a side note, I think 5 or 6 of us have had the passanger side ballast go uot.

[DBrown2]

M Crews...

Sounds good I will just plan on taking bumper off...

The dealer said at one point there was a recall on the Bulbs/ Ballast, due to being to bright, which caused pre mature burn out...

He said but unfortunately yours isnt covered... Well my point is this, if they wanted to cover it, they could... Years ago... I worked in a service dept... and if you wanted to you could help out someone...

As of now, I have told them still no way.. On the Bulb... I am going for a renegotiate... on the fix...

[maxnix]

The good thing about removing the bumper is you can remove the entire headlight unit and clean for those of us who are terminally anal.

Armoring would seem wise to me as these units cost $1K plus and may not be covered by your insurance.

[DBrown2]

They would not budge on the price of doing the bulb... I got billed for 1 hr of labor on the bulb deal just to look at so that sucked.

I argued that point, but at this point, I was done, I just wanted my car and get out of there.

Its funny they over billed the insurance company for my repair, compared to my quote... I pointed that out, and said well then offset me some help..

Still no dice...

So ebay it is. For the Ballast and Bulb.

[Jesda]

I suggest leaving the car on their lawn and setting it ablaze, but I tend to favor revenge over rational self-interest.

You should report them to your insurance company.

[ViruzOne]

If your interested I have a F50 Stanley ballast w/ignitor in prestine condition. I got it when i bought some F50 Stanley projectors for a retro. I also have some Phillips 85122+ bulbs which are a little brighter than the standard phillips D2S (85122) and wont color shift. Let me know if your interested. I can take pictures of everything working so you know its good to go.

[DBrown2]

Sounds pretty good... Send pics to [email protected]

Send info there.

[mcrews]

Doing the lights right now....yep, you gotta pulll the bumper and then the light housing.

[seldomseen]

Dang my dude you got effed by the dealership! Did you approach them as demand that they replace the ballast at thier own cost, and indicate that you would not have purchased the car if this issue was known to you in advance? It's also very unlikley that they weren't aware of this issue themselves.

[jltibbs]

Depending on who you talk to, you can get things from the dealer through parts stores. I work at Advance Auto and get my Infiniti parts from Harper Infiniti in Knoxville.

I need a HID Control Unit at 512.73

If Harper sold to me at $385, you could get it for $450. Still expensive, but still saving almost $70. Just something to keep in mind for next time. Check all your options.