Tail lamp issue after accident repair

[boss2k]

6 months back i was rear ended and had the car fixed in a reputed bodyshop and all is well from repair standpoint except that the right rear lamp attached to the trunk keeps coming loose due the bracket being broken, had it replaced 3 times by the body shop and it broke again and body shop recommends me to take to the dealership as they think its a OEM part and BMW needs to warranty it.

Thoughts what could be the issue and who needs to take ownership

[skyline408]

Uh no. Not BMW's problem.

The body shop needs to own up to this.

[MN2///M]

Real question is why is it breaking?

Installer error, non-OEM part, due to shoddy repair = body shop

If OEM part, BMW should stand behind the part, but who is going to remove and install it? Seems to me the body shop again.

Maybe get BMW to look at it, maybe they will replace/repair under warranty.

If it were me, I would not care what/who fixes it, just that it gets fixed.

[boss2k]

Yes I need the root cause and scheduled apt with dealership to have their tech find out why it's breaking.

It's an OEM part

[nene]

The tabs on the tail lamps are not that strong type of plastic, and suspect one of the panels it is attached to may not be tight enough. If you go over any bumps or uneven road pavement, it could be giving way, and putting stress on that tab that keeps falling apart.
With the tail light off, just put some pressure on the parts it attaches to to see if anything has enough play to cause stress on the tabs.

The Audi I had in early 2000 (S4) also had similar issues, but with front head lamps. In fact, the tabs broke so easily, there was a period where the headlights were being stolen from those cars.

[bily]

Originally Posted by nene

The tabs on the tail lamps are not that strong type of plastic, and suspect one of the panels it is attached to may not be tight enough. If you go over any bumps or uneven road pavement, it could be giving way, and putting stress on that tab that keeps falling apart.
With the tail light off, just put some pressure on the parts it attaches to to see if anything has enough play to cause street on the tabs.

The Audi I had in early 2000 (S4) also had similar issues, but with front head lamps. In fact, the tabs broke so easily, there was a period where the headlights were being stolen from those cars.

Most likely this.

[sandjam]

Actually the most likely cause is that the panel it attaches to is not aligned correctly. Every time they put a new one in they tighten up the light and most likely because it is not fitting completely perfectly against the panel it is attached to, its pulling/putting stress on the attachments. When the light is placed in its position the bolt stands should almost bottom completely against with the body holes without even tightening it. Then when the bolts are tightened it pulls in the light just enough to compress the seals. But if the gap between the sheet metal and the bolt stands is too great they have to tighten them down way too tight to get the lamp to sit flush with the body. That extra stress (basically over torqued) will make it fail. It will just keep happening. This is a body shop issue.