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      04-25-2020, 01:18 PM   #1
tomtendo
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Normal cost to replace horns?

BMW quoted $400 to replace both my horns that we're dead/broken. That seem normal??
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      04-25-2020, 01:41 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomtendo View Post
BMW quoted $400 to replace both my horns that we're dead/broken. That seem normal??
Both your horns happened to fail together, or had one failed a long time ago and the second followed recently?

Otherwise, I'm going to suggest $400 is a lot to replace a fuse. (The diagram is hiding in one of your fuse boxes--good luck figuring out the fuse from the diagram, but maybe you'll find it.

Second guess was some recent work and the connectors came off but didn't go back on...or a wire was damaged.

All guesses, OP...I doubt both horns themselves, failed.

Maybe the steering wheel mechanism itself (not sure where the switch is or how hard it is to get to)...but your car is new, so that's doubtful.

Go to the TIS and see what they say about the procedure...if you did actually need new horns...I'd doubt they're that hard to do even if diying.

realoem.com for your part number needs.

newtis.info for the bmw tis
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      04-25-2020, 01:45 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaxdmax View Post
Both your horns happened to fail together, or had one failed a long time ago and the second followed recently?

Otherwise, I'm going to suggest $400 is a lot to replace a fuse. (The diagram is hiding in one of your fuse boxes--good luck figuring out the fuse from the diagram, but maybe you'll find it.

Second guess was some recent work and the connectors came off but didn't go back on...or a wire was damaged.

All guesses, OP...I doubt both horns themselves, failed.

Maybe the steering wheel mechanism itself (not sure where the switch is or how hard it is to get to)...but your car is new, so that's doubtful.

Go to the TIS and see what they say about the procedure...if you did actually need new horns...I'd doubt they're that hard to do even if diying.

realoem.com for your part number needs.

newtis.info for the bmw tis
Both horns failed. High and Low.

I noticed it a few months ago, sometimes my horns would work, other times it was a high pitched one.
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      04-25-2020, 01:47 PM   #4
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I'd guess something central then...the switch (in steering wheel) or the fuse.

Of course, I've been wrong, but the odds of the horns themselves failing together seems really slim. Have you checked the horn fuse?
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      04-25-2020, 01:49 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaxdmax View Post
I'd guess something central then...the switch (in steering wheel) or the fuse.

Of course, I've been wrong, but the odds of the horns themselves failing together seems really slim. Have you checked the horn fuse?
Yes, both failed. It's at BMW now getting them replaced. My horn would work randomly at times. At also, it was basically high pitched only when it did. They said both horns failed and are replacing at $468 total including labor, taxes.

My question is that a fair normal price?
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      04-25-2020, 04:05 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomtendo View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaxdmax View Post
I'd guess something central then...the switch (in steering wheel) or the fuse.

Of course, I've been wrong, but the odds of the horns themselves failing together seems really slim. Have you checked the horn fuse?
Yes, both failed. It's at BMW now getting them replaced. My horn would work randomly at times. At also, it was basically high pitched only when it did. They said both horns failed and are replacing at $468 total including labor, taxes.

My question is that a fair normal price?
Doesn't matter now as it's at Dealer being replaced.
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      04-25-2020, 04:19 PM   #7
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A word to the wise, ask before you take it in to the shop for anything. Or google the problem yourself. In this case this is only one of many options you'd have found:
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      04-25-2020, 06:51 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
A word to the wise, ask before you take it in to the shop for anything. Or google the problem yourself. In this case this is only one of many options you'd have found:
Yeah, I'm not going to take off a wheel, etc to do that. I don't even have the tools to do that, let alone patience
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      04-25-2020, 06:52 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IK6SPEED View Post
Doesn't matter now as it's at Dealer being replaced.
Yeah, that wasn't the point of my question
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      04-25-2020, 07:11 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomtendo View Post
BMW quoted $400 to replace both my horns that we're dead/broken. That seem normal??
Here is an answer to your question.... YES that is the normal price to replace your horn.

According to a bmw mechanic they have to remove your bumper. So there go where your $400
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      04-25-2020, 07:34 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomtendo View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by IK6SPEED View Post
Doesn't matter now as it's at Dealer being replaced.
Yeah, that wasn't the point of my question
Considering horns alone are about $168 of that alone after taxes, at $300 looks like you are being charged about 2 hours of labor at $135-$140 per hour.

Well within reason for a Dealership repair.

You might have saved a little less than $100 if you purchased horns online and taken to independent.

However, after seeing some crappy front bumper alignments after they have been off, I'd certainly feel safer at Dealer unless I knew the Indy's work well.
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      04-25-2020, 07:50 PM   #12
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Sorry, OP, I didn't know the answer to your question but was otherwise trying to be helpful.
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      04-25-2020, 09:14 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gen13 F36 View Post
According to a bmw mechanic they have to remove your bumper.
See video above.
Quote:
Yeah, I'm not going to take off a wheel, etc to do that. I don't even have the tools to do that, let alone patience
Those who can, do. Those who can't... pay through the nose to those who can.
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      04-25-2020, 10:06 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
See video above.
Those who can, do. Those who can't... pay through the nose to those who can.
Saw that video long time ago... I know you don't need to remove the bumper big BUT here.... the dealer will do that is why they charge crazy money. It sucks to know how dealer do it. That's why research is the key to most easy DIY
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      04-25-2020, 11:19 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tomtendo View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
A word to the wise, ask before you take it in to the shop for anything. Or google the problem yourself. In this case this is only one of many options you'd have found:
Yeah, I'm not going to take off a wheel, etc to do that. I don't even have the tools to do that, let alone patience
Buy the horns. And I'll do it for you for a hundred bucks
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      04-26-2020, 01:00 AM   #16
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Lesson learned. Gotta learn somewhere.
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      04-26-2020, 02:43 AM   #17
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Sorry for your loss.

Dead horns. A new low.
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      04-26-2020, 06:57 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by eluded View Post
Sorry for your loss.

Dead horns. A new low.
...and a new high.

Not very long-lived horns. smh
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      04-26-2020, 08:08 AM   #19
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Spend five minutes in New York City and you'll wish there was no such thing as horns. Idiot after idiot leaning on their horns when there's no where to go anyway.
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      04-26-2020, 01:54 PM   #20
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Just an insight - this is a common issue with F30. Both mine failed at about 65k.

BMW covered parts and labor under warranty.
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      04-26-2020, 01:56 PM   #21
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Like IK6SPEED said this is fair for a dealership repair. They're definitely not ripping you off for what they're doing.

But I personally don't think it makes much sense to take an out of warranty car to the dealership to repair something as trivial as horns. Not unless it's some special car that you want to keep forever. An indy shop could use a quality 3rd party part (Hella) for a fraction of the cost and they would charge $100 labor. They are accessible without removing the front bumper so I wouldn't worry about alignment or extra labor costs. This type of work is also the type of work you could attempt on your own without worrying about messing anything up too badly.
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      04-26-2020, 02:30 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KC328_F30 View Post
Just an insight - this is a common issue with F30. Both mine failed at about 65k.

BMW covered parts and labor under warranty.
Horns can fail as early as 15k miles... mine did and covered under warranty...since then I've been research how to replace them... just in case they broke after the warranty is over.
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