I ordered some Euro Ellipsoid ZKW's off another forum member here awhile back. My car's been down for over 4 months due to engine issues. In the middle of the engine mess I ordered these lights. When I got them, I opened the box and gave thema quick once over and everything seemed fine. Box goes back in the garage in a safe spot for 4 months, waiting to be installed.

Fast forward to today: I open the box and take them out this time to prep the for installation, and I find:

- 1 headlight has smashed and broken glass on the side.
- The other headlight has several of the mounting tabs snapped off

Now I got a box full of headlights with glass and plastic junk floating around inside! :(

I assume it's too late to file a UPS claim and too late to negotiate with the seller. It appears they were improperly packed for shipping from NY to CA. I could see a point where the glass lens was touching the inside of the box, and on the outside in the same spot I can see an impact point (small bulge with whiteish powder on it, like it was thrown into a UPS truck and slid on that point).

What the heck can I do at this point? I'll post pics tomorrow once I get over the shock and can take some shots in the light. I'm so bummed at this point! :(

Cry man... It's what I would do if I didn't properly inspect the box from the date of delivery.

All you can do now is simply sell the scraps and purchase some new headlights.

RIP ZKWs and sorry for your loss.

Cry man... It's what I would do if I didn't properly inspect the box from the date of delivery.

All you can do now is simply sell the scraps and purchase some new headlights.

RIP ZKWs and sorry for your loss.

Yeah I've been kicking myself for not doing this ever since... I guess I was so engrossed in my engine woes I didn't pay enough attention!

I wonder how much $$$ it would cost to get a new glass lens for the 1 light (the other is fine BTW) or if this is even possible. Can these be sent somewhere to be 'rebuilt'? I got the pair for $350 with Lamin-X and CCFL AE's already installed. I'd hate to start over from zero.

Also, maybe I can JB-weld the mounting brackets back on? The top 2 hangars are fine, it's just the supplementary mounts that snapped.

Chris at Understeer.com can get you new Glass, Mine from prev owner were pit city from track use, I got Stone Gaurded ones from Chris.

Yeah I've been kicking myself for not doing this ever since... I guess I was so engrossed in my engine woes I didn't pay enough attention!

I wonder how much $$$ it would cost to get a new glass lens for the 1 light (the other is fine BTW) or if this is even possible. Can these be sent somewhere to be 'rebuilt'? I got the pair for $350 with Lamin-X and CCFL AE's already installed. I'd hate to start over from zero.

Also, maybe I can JB-weld the mounting brackets back on? The top 2 hangars are fine, it's just the supplementary mounts that snapped.

You've got the right idea; a glass lens shouldnt be TOO bad.


JB weld works great. I would superglue the tabs back on, then put a coat of JB weld all aroudn the seam. That would work quite nicely I would imagine.

You've got the right idea; a glass lens shouldnt be TOO bad.

Yes it looks like it will be around $100 for a new lens.


JB weld works great. I would superglue the tabs back on, then put a coat of JB weld all aroudn the seam. That would work quite nicely I would imagine.
Good idea -- too bad the new lenses come with a new frame with tabs. The side that I need a lens for is the side with the GOOD tabs! :(

Don't get too excited, but I thought you had 120 days to file a claim. Check the rules of the shipping company.
~Phil

I When I got them, I opened the box and gave thema quick once over and everything seemed fine. Box goes back in the garage in a safe spot for 4 months, waiting to be installed.


umm... a quick once over and you didnt notice "SMASHED GLASS"...??? yeah nice try... you would have heard the smashed glass rattling in the box when you picked it up off your porch.. and again when you opened the box..

i think some one in your garage either kicked it.. or it droped and someone put it back..

umm... a quick once over and you didnt notice "SMASHED GLASS"...??? yeah nice try... you would have heard the smashed glass rattling in the box when you picked it up off your porch.. and again when you opened the box..

i think some one in your garage either kicked it.. or it droped and someone put it back..

Pretty much what I was thinking. You can't really miss broken glass...

Hey guys... yeah I can't quite believe it myself. I kept that box in a safe place the whole time my engine was being worked on. It was my "prize" for getting the car running again!

Anyway, the part with the broken glass was the furthest inside the box -- I must have taken the 'good' light out and looked at it, then put them all back in and forgot about it.

Looks like I can get a new lens with Lamin-X for $105 and transfer the AE rings and I should be good to go. The broken tabs on the other light seem fixable with superglue + JB weld.

Just when things were looking up for my car.... oh well!

http://www.puma-access.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=386
$50 each

http://www.puma-access.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=386
$50 each
Wow, great site. P21s car care, Hella products, some OEM conversion stuff and a wide array of lighting :thumbup:
~Phil

Awesome site, thanks for the tip! :) That's close to 1/2 the price I was quoted elsewhere...

What about the LaminX coating though (the non-broken headlight has it) -- can that be purchased separately? Or do I not even need it and can remove it from the other lens?

that sucks. probably too late for any kind of claims.

Even if i'm not using something for a long time, i'm so siked to get packages that i always open um up immediately and look at the parts. not necessarily to check for defects, mostly just from receiving new toys.

that sucks. probably too late for any kind of claims.

Even if i'm not using something for a long time, i'm so siked to get packages that i always open um up immediately and look at the parts. not necessarily to check for defects, mostly just from receiving new toys.

According to UPS, I have 5 months to file a claim... however it looks like the lights were improperly packaged for shipping, so I would probably just waste my time trying to get reimbursed from them. I'd almost rather pay for the new lens and glue back the broken tabs than go through a mess with UPS. I got a good deal on the lights and I believe I'll still come out ahead even with the work I'll be doing.

The opposite happened to me before -- I sold a printer on eBay and packed it very carefully. It arrived damaged and the buyer got all upset and tried to file a claim with UPS; not sure how it ended up.

I hate shipping stuff, especially fragile parts!

Awesome site, thanks for the tip! :) That's close to 1/2 the price I was quoted elsewhere...

What about the LaminX coating though (the non-broken headlight has it) -- can that be purchased separately? Or do I not even need it and can remove it from the other lens?

I would just buy a new set and re "lamin-x" both head lights so you know you started off fresh....and I dont think you can pull the one off the broken one as its an adhesive.
Good luck!

Awesome site, thanks for the tip! :) That's close to 1/2 the price I was quoted elsewhere...


Dude, screw fixing them and all, just go and get yourself a brand new set of Depo's for $135

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=956144

;)

EDIT: And for $15 more, you get Predators free with Lamin-X. Someone should pay me for doing this :shifty

Hmm, well I can get the new lens for $50... why are Depo's so cheap compared to the ZKW's ($135 vs, $350+) ? Mine have the lamin-X and the AE rings already installed with inverters.

EDIT: WAIT A MINUTE! This is for Depos WITH HID kit WITH Predators?! Hmm... it's sounding better than the broken mess @ home already!