[bmtespar]

So I had my first night time 4 hour trip this evening. I noticed the ambient lighting on the passenger door has these funky hot spots and inconsistency to the solid line on the door panel. The other doors are consistent and smoothly lit. My previous car was also perfectly smooth and consistent. I think this part may be defective. Anyone else see what I’m talking about or have seen this before?

[sor]

Originally Posted by bmtespar

So I had my first night time 4 hour trip this evening. I noticed the ambient lighting on the passenger door has these funky hot spots and inconsistency to the solid line on the door panel. The other doors are consistent and smoothly lit. My previous car was also perfectly smooth and consistent. I think this part may be defective. Anyone else see what I’m talking about or have seen this before?

Yeah, definitely get that looked at.

[Loderunner]

Yup, it looks defective.

[Sea-Tac]

Mine are all uniform. Looks like there may be a problem with the door light circuit.

[nxa]

If you hadn't said it was only one door, I'd have thought maybe just the way the camera picks up the individual LEDs at max brightness. But as other said, if it's different to the rest, and given normally we see it as smooth, then its a defect of some type that needs fixed.

[bmtespar]

Originally Posted by natd

If you hadn't said it was only one door, I'd have thought maybe just the way the camera picks up the individual LEDs at max brightness. But as other said, if it's different to the rest, and given normally we see it as smooth, then its a defect of some type that needs fixed.

Yeah. It is noticeable to the naked eye as well. I’m going to schedule it for service for this problem and to log the issue with the lane departure alert vibration issue.

[iManu]

Mine did theirs on the passenger side. Bmw will replace the optical unit.

[bmtespar]

Originally Posted by emmanuel.yoo

Mine did theirs on the passenger side. Bmw will replace the optical unit.

Mine is on the passenger side as well.

[KSag]

Mine started like that at first and then stopped lighting up all together. I finally had to get them to redo the entire left side of the vehicle. I have only had my X3 since March 12th.

[mattesonb]

I have found that my front doors arent uniform either. Looks like in addition to a random rattle I need them to look at this.

[bmtespar]

And now in the last few days my driver side door is doing the same thing.

[bmtespar]

So the dealer agrees these hot spots are not normal and ordered the parts to replace the driver and passenger front ambient lights. Unfortunately the parts are on back order because apparently a lot of these are being replaced. They said it would be about a month before they get the parts.

[bmtespar]

Originally Posted by BMWX3DRIVER

Wow, you guys all met very honest dealers.
My dealer said 'you had your windows tinted, that process likely touched & cracked the optical part of the unit. this is not covered by warranty'.
I watched the entire tinting process, they pulled out the rubber from the top, that was it. The rubber seal was not even close to the lighting part, we couldn't even see it.

Since this is a lease, I will not spend a penny on this - it's somewhat annoying, but i can live with it no problem.

You need to press the dealer on this or find another dealer to take your car. I had my windows tinted as well and nothing was mentioned. As a matter of fact, my last vehicle was tinted and had ambient lighting and never had an issue. Also my tint was applied through the dealer so I wouldn’t accept that answer. I’m sorry they treated you that way.

[BMWX3DRIVER]

Originally Posted by mattesonb

I have found that my front doors arent uniform either. Looks like in addition to a random rattle I need them to look at this.

mattesonb
Amazing that this is exactly how it shows on my car. The same pattern and the same spots. They are towards the front side on the driver's door, and the hot spots are somewhat equal distance on the passenger's door.
It looks like the optical units have maybe joints on those spots that are prone to crack.

You guys all met very honest dealers.
My dealer said 'you had your windows tinted, that process likely touched & cracked the optical part of the unit. this is not covered by warranty'.
I watched the entire tinting process, they pulled out the rubber from the top, that was it. The rubber seal was not even close to the lighting part, we couldn't even see it. No sharp tool inside the door panel, and no attachment from the rubber seal.

Since this is a lease, I will not spend a penny on this - it's somewhat annoying, but i can live with it no problem.

[ParadigmDawg]

Originally Posted by BMWX3DRIVER

mattesonb
Amazing that this is exactly how it shows on my car. The same pattern and the same spots. They are towards the front side on the driver's door, and the hot spots are somewhat equal distance on the passenger's door.
It looks like the optical units have maybe joints on those spots that are prone to crack.

You guys all met very honest dealers.
My dealer said 'you had your windows tinted, that process likely touched & cracked the optical part of the unit. this is not covered by warranty'.
I watched the entire tinting process, they pulled out the rubber from the top, that was it. The rubber seal was not even close to the lighting part, we couldn't even see it. No sharp tool inside the door panel, and no attachment from the rubber seal.

Since this is a lease, I will not spend a penny on this - it's somewhat annoying, but i can live with it no problem.

I haven't had an issue but I always have my dealer install the tint on my cars and they are responsible for everything related at that point. I guess not all dealers offer in house tint so that may not be an option for everyone.

[BMWX3DRIVER]

Originally Posted by bmtespar

You need to press the dealer on this or find another dealer to take your car. I had my windows tinted as well and nothing was mentioned. As a matter of fact, my last vehicle was tinted and had ambient lighting and never had an issue. Also my tint was applied through the dealer so I wouldn’t accept that answer. I’m sorry they treated you that way.

Originally Posted by ParadigmDawg

I haven't had an issue but I always have my dealer install the tint on my cars and they are responsible for everything related at that point. I guess not all dealers offer in house tint so that may not be an option for everyone.

That's the thing - Dealer's offer for tint was rip-off price (more than 2.5x than a reputable tint shop in my town), so I had the tint done at the other shop that's been in business for 15+ years and have 4.5+ reviews, and I've done tints myself twice in the past there.
They said they've done tints on many G01 X3s and as I watched, taking out the parts is really easier than a piece of cake, it's cutting & applying the film that requires the professional work.
They also offered that they would remove the tint free of charge if I decide to go to another dealer.
I may try another dealer next time, but TBH it's not a big annoyance anyway.

[ParadigmDawg]

Originally Posted by BMWX3DRIVER

That's the thing - Dealer's offer for tint was rip-off price (more than 2.5x than a reputable tint shop in my town), so I had the tint done at the other shop that's been in business for 15+ years and have 4.5+ reviews, and I've done tints myself twice in the past.

I may try another dealer next time, but TBH it's not a big annoyance anyway.

That is a rip-off. My dealer is way less expensive than tint shops, it is a customer care thing for them not a revenue stream.

[BMWX3DRIVER]

Originally Posted by ParadigmDawg

That is a rip-off. My dealer is way less expensive than tint shops, it is a customer care thing for them not a revenue stream.

Exactly.
I can live with this. If it gets more annoying (e.g. the hot spots become much more visible/noticeable due to maybe more crack inside), I will definitely ask them to remove the tint and go to another dealer.
Right now, it's not worth all the hassle.

[bmtespar]

Originally Posted by BMWX3DRIVER

Exactly.
I can live with this. If it gets more annoying (e.g. the hot spots become much more visible/noticeable due to maybe more crack inside), I will definitely ask them to remove the tint and go to another dealer.
Right now, it's not worth all the hassle.

Before you have the tint removed, Is going to another bmw service center an option for you? If not, I really think that if you pushed back and noted to the service manger that the parts are on back order because of failures, they may reconsider their stance on the issue.

[BMWX3DRIVER]

Originally Posted by bmtespar

Before you have the tint removed, Is going to another bmw service center an option for you? If not, I really think that if you pushed back and noted to the service manger that the parts are on back order because of failures, they may reconsider their stance on the issue.

I will probably go to this dealer again for the recall (part is on backorder, they will probably call me at around end of June to update status or book an appointment). I can try pushing back, and also provide this thread to them.
Back then (early April) I searched everywhere online and no one ever reported this issue, so I thought it was just an isolated one. Now it looks like this is more of a common issue (looking at the patterns and how distributed the spots are, they are exactly the same as mine), they may reconsider.

If they still say no, I will just move to another dealer of around the same distance from my home.

[mattesonb]

Dealer inspected my doors yesterday and ordered the parts. 3 to 4 weeks to receive the parts from germany...

[j1980mac]

Here's what mine looks like. Car is less than 2 months old.