[electro-house]

So the plastic covering / lens in front of my headlight cracked, an object fell off of a truck in front of me and crashed into my car pretty hard.

I thought this plastic covering would be an easy and inexpensive repair. However, the indy shop told me the whole assembly needs to be replaced, and it is around $1,300 for the job. However, they said if I can get the part myself, it would be a lot cheaper.

My insurance is a $1k deductible, so I will be paying this out of pocket. I was wondering if anyone had advice on how I could find the proper part I need. He mentioned junk yards or eBay, but I am not sure of what to search for.

A photo of the damage has been attached.

Any tips, advice, or ideas are much appreciated.

[1QuikWS6]

The plastic lens is sealed to the headlight and it is normal that the entire unit is replaced.

BMW does not sell the lens separately - your cheapest alternative to a new/used entire headlight would be to buy a junk assembly with good lens from salvage yard, then cook both headlights in the oven to soften the seal & remove the lenses - then seal the good lens back on your otherwise working headlight assembly.

The vendors that make the custom headlights do this all the time & claim there are no problems. Frankly, I would never attempt to do it myself...

[Hidden]

Yes go to www.Car-Part.com. Just do a search for your year and options, i.e. adaptive light control...etc. they have some for under 600.

[Titanium3Series]

i see them on ebay, craigslist, and on the sales forum sometime. A lot of times they gut all the electronics and bulbs, and just sell the housing which is what you need.

[smallseafishie]

As above posters suggested, car-parts or ebay. Buy a whole used headlight and swap. As the other poster suggested, you could even buy a used headlight with broken tabs or housing and take the lens off the donor headlight.

I'm not a 100%, but I would investigate to see if the lens off a halogen headlight is the same as the xenon. I'd bet a small amount of money that they're the same so that may open up another cheaper route for you.

good luck!

[BashShah]

I just received my halogen head light and hopefully this weekend or next, I will try to take the cover off the halogen and put it on my HID headlight.
My headlight is bad from the inside due to some idiot plastic welding the tabs and smoke got inside.
The outside has way too much road rash.

OP, buy a Halogen and try to swap from halogen to HID. This is the cheapest route.

DN

[Gizm0]

Is your deductible $1k for collision or for comprehensive? Most of the time insured motorists have a much lower deductible for comprehensive an higher for collision. This type of accident falls under comprehensive so make sure your deductible is indeed $1k...

[ssmith96]

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Easy DIY to replace

[leatonniu]

you could even buy a used headlight with broken tabs or housing and take the lens off the donor headlight.