Sorry for the long post, but I need some advice on the damage to my headlight
I emailed my local dealer to ask for a price to supply and fit a dipped beam bulb, I gave them my registration. The price was £30, not too bad, nothing to indicate that there was anything special about the bulb.
Took the car to Halfords at night, as I couldn't get to the dealer for a couple of days. I looked through the flip pad to find out the bulb for my car, £9.99. I took the bulb to the cash desk asked if the girl to check that this was the correct bulb, she asked for my registration, typed it into the computer and confirmed it was the correct bulb. I asked if someone could fit this for me, “yes £4.99, but might not be able to do it because it was dark”. The lad came out, while he was taking the bulb out he said I may need superbright as my light was bright and the one he was going to fit would be more yellow. He took the bulb out and said that he hadn't seen one of those and that he would have to ask someone else about it, again he had not seen one of those and suggested I go to the dealer. The lad was going to re-fit the bulb but I said there was no point as it is was broken and I would be able to show it to other garages to replace it.
This is where the problem began. I emailed somewhere else for a quote for dipped bulb, again giving them my registration, they came back with £15.50 to supply and fit. But when I rang a couple of other places and told them the bulb was a d2s, I found out I had xenons? Bi-xenon? Hid? (sorry don't know what I have, whether they are the same or what the difference is).
Rang the dealer again to ask for a price to supply and fit Xenon bulb £120
. Ok , ordered the bulb and booked my car in. Oh by the way the light still seems to light up even though there is no bulb, dealer told me that this was because the charger was still trying to ignite the bulb.
Went to get the bulb changed, dealer now tells me I need a new headlight £800 as the connectors have burnt out!!.
I bought my car when it was 2.5 years old, so I do not know the exact spec at the time of purchase. I haven't modified the car, I don't think the previous owner would have modified the lights while it was still under warranty.
Couple of questions
Why are people asking for my registration and the information they are getting is incorrect? who maintains this information?
My car has been to Mercedes dealerships for every service and an MOT, should they not be aware of the exact spec of my car?
Do you think I am being unreasonable apportioning part of the blame on Halfords (for staff not being trained enough to recognise xenons and removing the bulb) and Mercedes (for giving me duff information on the type of bulb and not informing me of the dangers of operating the light without a bulb)?
Is it possible for me to claim on my car insurance for the headlight due to accidental damage or something else? (excess of £250)
I emailed my local dealer to ask for a price to supply and fit a dipped beam bulb, I gave them my registration. The price was £30, not too bad, nothing to indicate that there was anything special about the bulb.
Took the car to Halfords at night, as I couldn't get to the dealer for a couple of days. I looked through the flip pad to find out the bulb for my car, £9.99. I took the bulb to the cash desk asked if the girl to check that this was the correct bulb, she asked for my registration, typed it into the computer and confirmed it was the correct bulb. I asked if someone could fit this for me, “yes £4.99, but might not be able to do it because it was dark”. The lad came out, while he was taking the bulb out he said I may need superbright as my light was bright and the one he was going to fit would be more yellow. He took the bulb out and said that he hadn't seen one of those and that he would have to ask someone else about it, again he had not seen one of those and suggested I go to the dealer. The lad was going to re-fit the bulb but I said there was no point as it is was broken and I would be able to show it to other garages to replace it.
This is where the problem began. I emailed somewhere else for a quote for dipped bulb, again giving them my registration, they came back with £15.50 to supply and fit. But when I rang a couple of other places and told them the bulb was a d2s, I found out I had xenons? Bi-xenon? Hid? (sorry don't know what I have, whether they are the same or what the difference is).
Rang the dealer again to ask for a price to supply and fit Xenon bulb £120
. Ok , ordered the bulb and booked my car in. Oh by the way the light still seems to light up even though there is no bulb, dealer told me that this was because the charger was still trying to ignite the bulb. Went to get the bulb changed, dealer now tells me I need a new headlight £800
as the connectors have burnt out!!. I bought my car when it was 2.5 years old, so I do not know the exact spec at the time of purchase. I haven't modified the car, I don't think the previous owner would have modified the lights while it was still under warranty.
Couple of questions
Why are people asking for my registration and the information they are getting is incorrect? who maintains this information?
My car has been to Mercedes dealerships for every service and an MOT, should they not be aware of the exact spec of my car?
Do you think I am being unreasonable apportioning part of the blame on Halfords (for staff not being trained enough to recognise xenons and removing the bulb) and Mercedes (for giving me duff information on the type of bulb and not informing me of the dangers of operating the light without a bulb)?
Is it possible for me to claim on my car insurance for the headlight due to accidental damage or something else? (excess of £250)
