pjwr2004

Hi all,

I took my Rl for service last Wednesday at my local Acura Dealer. After arriving home that evening, I noticed that my Shark Fin Antenna trim peace was gone! I called the dealer the next morning to see if it fell off during the Car wash. According to them, they don't know where it is and are not taking responsibility for it. The Service Adviser said it was probably lost during a drive-thru car wash. But, why would I wash my car right after they washed it for me? Also, I take VERY good care of my car so it would not take me long to notice this was gone. The last time I washed it was weeks before!

The Dealer is quoting me $240 to replace this since the trim piece since it is not sold separately. The whole antenna module has to be replaced. I asked him about this being covered under warranty but he said my Standard Warranty was up and the Certified Warranty would not cover it! I still think this is the dealer's fault. I called Client Relations and they are telling me to take it up with management at the dealer

My questions for you:

1. Where should I go from here?
2. Do y'all know where I could find just the trim piece or a suitable after-market part that would fit over the existing module? My car is Pearl White.
3. Do y'all take your car to drive-thru washes? The Service adviser said it is common for this to happen!

Thanks everyone,
Paul

IanVS

If it's so common, you'd think they'd sell the trim piece separately. Or at the very least they wouldn't take your car through their wash. Admitting that it's a common occurrence and then not taking responsibility seems pretty smarmy to me.

You should sneak in there at night and look around in their car wash. Or just ask to go look around and look on the ground and in the nearby trash bins. Although it might have been long enough that it's gone by now.

pjwr2004

Yeah, it's probably gone by now. According to the service adviser, they wash by hand. This did bring to my remembrance that the Lexus dealer 1/2 a mile away have their own automated car wash. I guess they're always losing antennas, huh?

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Talk to someones bosses boss.

oo7spy

2008 RL only has the antenna on the base model according to oemacuraparts.com. Here is a link to the part:

14 39150-SJA-A51ZC ANTENNA ASSY., XM *NH624P* (PREMIUM WHITE PEARL)
$99.56

pjwr2004

Thanks for the link! That's a much better price than what the dealer is offering but still too much. I feel like this should be free to me considering the circumstances but I'm not sure things will play out that way. I saw some universal Shark Fin trim pieces on Ebay. Do you think it will fit?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E46-E90-...#ht_2931wt_946

Back to the OEM part, is there a lot of work/time involved in swapping it out? I think I could do it myself.

Thanks again,
Paul

oo7spy

It depends on the mount I suppose. The diagram I linked shows a connecting harness. Is the a hole and place for a connector, or was the fin just glued on? I don't know since my car doesn't have a fin, and I prefer the look without it.

db22

This is the first time I have read about the shark fin "falling" off under any circumstances so I cannot believe that it's a common problem. I don't think that the 08 had Onstar so what does not function, the Nav or XM?

pjwr2004

Attached is a picture of the base. Notice the mounting points.

pjwr2004

You're right, there is no Onstar. I believe the antenna is for GPS and XM radio. They still work but I'm sure if it rained I could be in trouble.

pjwr2004

See the picture I attached a couple minutes ago; hopefully that helps. You mentioned that you do not have a fin. What do you use? I'm planning to talk to the service manager today but I want a back-up plan just in case they don't want to resolve it for me for free or cheap.

Thanks,
Paul

oo7spy

'07+ Tech models do not have the fin. They just didn't come with them.

As for your dilemma, that is bullshit. The fact that you noticed it within hours of leaving the dealer and notified them within a day is all they need to know. Don't stop bitching until they fix the situation. Be polite, but do not underestimate the power of an unhappy customer who is willing to be firm. Like heavy said, keep going up the ladder if you have to. If it seems like they are dicking you over, you may consider bringing a recording device to the conversations.

Mr Marco

Did someone say SHARK?

oo7spy

Maybe the dealer has a Chinese tech that got confused with his soup recipe.

DiabloSVRacer

im chinese, and i find this hilarious lol

shark fin soup is very good. don't knock on it until you try it

BuLtL00

so do u have like 3 holes exposed there??IDK but i have 07 tech and i dont have antenna!!IDK if yours is tech pkg,but i heard that only base comes with antenna because of the compass.

Ballinger

On the '06, the fin also stabilizes the car when you're over 135mph. I think it adds like 9 horsepower, too. My friend knows the guy.

Okay, they're trying to BS you because it's an expensive error and they don't want to deal with it. Baloney on the "carwash theory".

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

fixed