Replacing window molding by $616

[prelist]

Hi all,

As the attached photo shows, a window molding at the passenger side front door was damaged. It's 2024 X1.

I contacted a local dealer and got the exact part number.

51339451528 (Shaft Cover Outer Front Door)

It usually costs ~$90 from online BMW stores, but this dealer said it would be $130. Then I asked about the labor, and he said part+labor is $616. He said it costs this much since the side mirror has to be replaced for replacing this part.

Does anyone share some tips? Insurance won't work since deductible is higher than that. I would contact some body shops around....

Thank you.

[celsdogg]

i think i would just personally write that off as regular use.

[MADBMWX5MC]

Molding is attached to the side mirror? That's a hell of a design boo boo....

[SMOKE EM IF U GOT EM!!]

Def don’t need to replace the mirror. It has to be R&Id (removed and installed) to replace the belt molding. There might’ve been a miscommunication on their part. Hope this helps. Any competent body shop can replace that while you wait.

[M_Bimmer]

Originally Posted by prelist

Hi all,

As the attached photo shows, a window molding at the passenger side front door was damaged. It's 2024 X1.

I contacted a local dealer and got the exact part number.

51339451528 (Shaft Cover Outer Front Door)

It usually costs ~$90 from online BMW stores, but this dealer said it would be $130. Then I asked about the labor, and he said part+labor is $616. He said it costs this much since the side mirror has to be replaced for replacing this part.

Does anyone share some tips? Insurance won't work since deductible is higher than that. I would contact some body shops around....

Thank you.

If $130 is material (piece-part), and $616 is labor, then $616 does NOT "replace" the mirror assembly, rather they are claiming that the mirror assembly must be "removed" to replace the trim piece.

So, for $616 in labor, they remove the door card, remove the mirror assembly, remove the trim, install the new trim, install the original mirror assembly, and reinstall the original door card.

Which, as another post states, is, IMHO, a HUGE waste of money for a small dent in your trim piece.

[Navin_Johnson]

Originally Posted by M_Bimmer

If $130 is material (piece-part), and $616 is labor, then $616 does NOT "replace" the mirror assembly, rather they are claiming that the mirror assembly must be "removed" to replace the trim piece.

So, for $616 in labor, they remove the door card, remove the mirror assembly, remove the trim, install the new trim, install the original mirror assembly, and reinstall the original door card.

Which, as another post states, is, IMHO, a HUGE waste of money for a small dent in your trim piece.

What a poor design. A friend of mine has a 2007 Toyota 4 Runner that over time had the rubber that rubs the outside of the window as it rolls down dry rot and start breaking off of the trim (like yours) that runs along the top of the outside of the door. He bought a 5 piece kit I think off Amazon for his truck, and asked me to give him a hand replacing them since he can do brakes, and that's about it. It took us about 15 minutes to take off and replace with new on all 4 doors and the rear hatch. I've never needed to this to any of my cars before, and was really impressed with the design and how easy it was to do. Only had to release (not remove) one door card because the old part slipped out of my hand and fell to the bottom of the door. If this mirror needs removal to replace this trim, it's a bad design.
If the dent is as small as it looks in the photo, I too would just live with it. Or I'd do it myself........

[Wolf 335]

Originally Posted by prelist

Hi all,

As the attached photo shows, a window molding at the passenger side front door was damaged. It's 2024 X1.

I contacted a local dealer and got the exact part number.

51339451528 (Shaft Cover Outer Front Door)

It usually costs ~$90 from online BMW stores, but this dealer said it would be $130. Then I asked about the labor, and he said part+labor is $616. He said it costs this much since the side mirror has to be replaced for replacing this part.

Does anyone share some tips? Insurance won't work since deductible is higher than that. I would contact some body shops around....

Thank you.

Ask your dealership which bodyshop they send their cars to for bodywork, becasue it is likely that they will send the car there to do this.

Then, take your new trim piece and ask the bodyshop to install it.

Your dealer is charging you $486 for labor, where half would be paid to the bodyshop. So expect around $200-250 labor cost at the bodyshop.

[M_Bimmer]

If the vehicle weren't so new, this would be a great DIY'er.

[NathanL]

Did you try asking a paint-less repair place?