I have had the platinumvision bulbs installed for sometime now as well as the xenon lookalike interiors from Bimmian. Detailing my car out the other day I find the bulb has melted my taillight... upon looking at the interior light covers I found these were melted also. As you can guess I was very angered by this and contacted Bimmian... here is our conversation below :
me: I purchased your platinumvisions for both front and rear turn
signals as well as reverse indicators. I also went ahead and purchased the
matching xenon-look interior bulbs.
Yesterday, when washing my car I find that the rear indicators have melted a
huge spot on my taillight lense. I became suspicious and looked a the
interior lights and found that both the drivers and passenger side lense
covers for the floor lights are melted as well and have burn marks.
I hope you can understand why I have contacted you. I love the look the
lights have provided, but now I have a very ugly mark the size of a half
dollar on my rear lense that is going to cost me about $60 to replace.
While you cannot see the melted areas for the inside bulbs this still is not
right and I will be getting these replaced also.
What solution do you have for this problem?
Bimmian: Hey Steve,
What kind of solution did you have in mind?
Some bulbs are not compatible with some electrical systems. Mine have been
in for over a year without a problem. About 5% of the people we have been
dealing with are having some sort of over heating problems. We are working
towards getting lower wattage xenons but its been hard to find a good
supplier. Let me know what you want to do.
Thanks,
Aaron
me: Well basically I did not expect this to ever happen. If you advertise these
bulbs for my model car then I would never think this to ever happen.
My problem now is I have a very ugly passengar taillight cover on my M3
trunk as well as two bulb covers for the driver and passenger leg room light
that are melted all the way through. If I didn't catch this then who knows
what could have happened.
I'm up for suggestions - I love the interior xenons as well as the
exteriors, but this melting problem cannot be happening. Now I am stuck
trying to order three parts that are more than likely going to be tough to
get a hold off and not very cheap.
Bimmian: Hey Steve,
As I mentioned 5W xenons that provide the same illumination as the 10W are
nearly impossible to find. The compatibility should be checked before
installation. For instance all trunk bulbs take 10w bulbs. And hence they
don't have problems. The license plate bulbs only have problems in certain
situations (when they are 5W). Obviously your vehicles configuration cannot
sustain such high wattage bulbs. It would be advisable to replace the bulbs
with your stock bulbs again. The lenses can be ordered right from the BMW
dealership.
me: Now back to the part where you FIX this situation. Obviously you have known
about these problems yet you still offer the bulbs for sale on your website
advertising they work fine with no issues. Your products have ruined my
taillight cover, both license plate light covers, and two interior covers
via melting. Who knows what could have happened if I didn't catch this as
soon as I did.
Is it me or are you recommending I take the loss on your product and the
replacement parts and go back to stock as I was before purchasing your
defective product? Basically ending up around $150 and much time later the
way I was in the beginning.
What are you going to do to fix the situation or are you planning on doing
nothing?
Bimmian: Hey Steve,
We cannot replace your light covers. I have had my bulbs installed for more
than a year without a problem. It is rare that we get complaints about this
problem. So I can only speculate when I say our warnings and suggestions
found in the instruction sheet were not heeded by these people. We cannot
be held liable for any misuse of the bulbs. The covers can be replaced MUCH
cheaper than $150. Just go to your dealership parts department and ask them
about it. I can't see those replacements being more than $15.
Thanks,
Aaron
---------------
I didn't know that you could misuse bulbs :thumbdwn: The parts are going to run $40 and about $5 each for 4 small covers then add in the bimmian bulbs which I will not be using anymore... quickly adds up to a decent amount only to end up stock before all this happened.
Notice how it appears that it is my fault the lights melted as the wattage cannot be handled by the car yet they offer these lights as a product for e46 M3's on their site! They also did not offer to refund the money, pay for the new lenses, nothing.
I am not very happy about this at all and will never deal with Bimmian again. Its bad enough products are taking months to show up at peoples doors and this kind of service just adds to it.
If 5% of people are having problems then that is something that should be noted. Also, if you are selling bulbs for peoples car knowing they run at a higher wattage and have the capability of melting then this should also be noted to the customer.
NOTE : This is just a personal experience I have had and wanted to make the members on this board aware of. Also, I do not want to see other members who have these bulbs end up in the same situation. Check your light covers if you have these installed!
see pics below :
me: I purchased your platinumvisions for both front and rear turn
signals as well as reverse indicators. I also went ahead and purchased the
matching xenon-look interior bulbs.
Yesterday, when washing my car I find that the rear indicators have melted a
huge spot on my taillight lense. I became suspicious and looked a the
interior lights and found that both the drivers and passenger side lense
covers for the floor lights are melted as well and have burn marks.
I hope you can understand why I have contacted you. I love the look the
lights have provided, but now I have a very ugly mark the size of a half
dollar on my rear lense that is going to cost me about $60 to replace.
While you cannot see the melted areas for the inside bulbs this still is not
right and I will be getting these replaced also.
What solution do you have for this problem?
Bimmian: Hey Steve,
What kind of solution did you have in mind?
Some bulbs are not compatible with some electrical systems. Mine have been
in for over a year without a problem. About 5% of the people we have been
dealing with are having some sort of over heating problems. We are working
towards getting lower wattage xenons but its been hard to find a good
supplier. Let me know what you want to do.
Thanks,
Aaron
me: Well basically I did not expect this to ever happen. If you advertise these
bulbs for my model car then I would never think this to ever happen.
My problem now is I have a very ugly passengar taillight cover on my M3
trunk as well as two bulb covers for the driver and passenger leg room light
that are melted all the way through. If I didn't catch this then who knows
what could have happened.
I'm up for suggestions - I love the interior xenons as well as the
exteriors, but this melting problem cannot be happening. Now I am stuck
trying to order three parts that are more than likely going to be tough to
get a hold off and not very cheap.
Bimmian: Hey Steve,
As I mentioned 5W xenons that provide the same illumination as the 10W are
nearly impossible to find. The compatibility should be checked before
installation. For instance all trunk bulbs take 10w bulbs. And hence they
don't have problems. The license plate bulbs only have problems in certain
situations (when they are 5W). Obviously your vehicles configuration cannot
sustain such high wattage bulbs. It would be advisable to replace the bulbs
with your stock bulbs again. The lenses can be ordered right from the BMW
dealership.
me: Now back to the part where you FIX this situation. Obviously you have known
about these problems yet you still offer the bulbs for sale on your website
advertising they work fine with no issues. Your products have ruined my
taillight cover, both license plate light covers, and two interior covers
via melting. Who knows what could have happened if I didn't catch this as
soon as I did.
Is it me or are you recommending I take the loss on your product and the
replacement parts and go back to stock as I was before purchasing your
defective product? Basically ending up around $150 and much time later the
way I was in the beginning.
What are you going to do to fix the situation or are you planning on doing
nothing?
Bimmian: Hey Steve,
We cannot replace your light covers. I have had my bulbs installed for more
than a year without a problem. It is rare that we get complaints about this
problem. So I can only speculate when I say our warnings and suggestions
found in the instruction sheet were not heeded by these people. We cannot
be held liable for any misuse of the bulbs. The covers can be replaced MUCH
cheaper than $150. Just go to your dealership parts department and ask them
about it. I can't see those replacements being more than $15.
Thanks,
Aaron
---------------
I didn't know that you could misuse bulbs :thumbdwn: The parts are going to run $40 and about $5 each for 4 small covers then add in the bimmian bulbs which I will not be using anymore... quickly adds up to a decent amount only to end up stock before all this happened.
Notice how it appears that it is my fault the lights melted as the wattage cannot be handled by the car yet they offer these lights as a product for e46 M3's on their site! They also did not offer to refund the money, pay for the new lenses, nothing.
I am not very happy about this at all and will never deal with Bimmian again. Its bad enough products are taking months to show up at peoples doors and this kind of service just adds to it.
If 5% of people are having problems then that is something that should be noted. Also, if you are selling bulbs for peoples car knowing they run at a higher wattage and have the capability of melting then this should also be noted to the customer.
NOTE : This is just a personal experience I have had and wanted to make the members on this board aware of. Also, I do not want to see other members who have these bulbs end up in the same situation. Check your light covers if you have these installed!
see pics below :