truonghthe

So here is my little ran, I drop the car off on saturday at John Eagle Acura in Houston TX for oil change and replace the HID bulb with Osram CBI (no time to work on car since I work almost 60 hours/ week). I asked the advisor to have the old bulb back knowing some shaddy aheem "mechanic" will not perform the work and yet customer still get charge for it. They charge an hour labor per EACH side, wifey pick the car up and during I test drove at night notice a huge ass hot spot in my projector bow to my amuse to see the bulb still in box is Osram (see pics). Its will be interested to see how this turn out tomorrow, any input is greatly appreciated. My question is can this be consider as FRAUD?


lets the pics do all the talking...





I didn't know that OEM bulb is Osram



Here come them bill.




and the best of all. Huge ass hot spot in my beam pattern now.

MonkeyTrucker

Hmmm

Not sure what a hot spot is, but I see the dark spot in your beam pattern, not sure what causes that.

Noticed you have quotes for other "work" to be performed. Don't do it, make the time.

Good luck!

truonghthe

hot spot meaning the chrome that reflect the light inside your projector being damage (chipped or else) which result light not being reflect.

MonkeyTrucker

...Jesus. I kid. Manager's name though

It sucks man, looking forward to an update.

I can't even trust my dealership to do the alignment. A Firestone shop actually informed me and walked me under the car to show a rounded tow adjusting bolt and it was evident that it hadn't been aligned in the rear for a couple of years, yet I paid for one in May of this year. And one last year. Damn stealerships.

Go in there and be like "Look Jesus..." and try and keep a straight face . Again, good luck!

Can sell you my compliance remove /install tool (Schley Products 68100) and for about $50 in bushings you'd know it was done right.

Will1688

hotspots can also occur if the bulb isn't seated correctly, hopefully it's just that. And yea, oem bulb is osram aswell

triax37

iTrader: (1)

Q: so do you think they didn't actually install the new bulb? Because if so, how would there be any change to the beam pattern and the dark spot?

Either way, more and more I'm agreeing with the view of doing as much or the repair work as I can. Even though I burn some time learning how to change motor mounts, etc, driving to the dealership and dealing with their issues and $100/hour labor charge are enough to get me to do 50% of the needed repairs myself. Hopefully the learning curve will taper down, and can save time/energy on future cars too...

truonghthe

they did install the new bulb, I find that out this morning since Honda switch from Stanley to Orsam at some point in the pass. I saw the part listed under oemacuraparts is Stanley. That hot spot gotta go, I drop the car off this morning and have them redo it. The service adviser was cool. lets see what this turn out is all about. BTW my cut off line look weird now.


its looks like a single projector with cut off line.

hadokenuh

I am sorry but I have to ask: why did you take the car to the dealership to change out the bulbs? I'd think it's such an easy job that any mechanic can do for like $50 both sides.

I see you also had an oil change. Was it just convenient for them to replace the bulbs?

I am a happy John Eagle Acura customer but I would hate to pay somebody $200 to change 2 light bulbs.

truonghthe

don't have time to bring it in mechanic, otherwise I would have friend works for Tommy Vanguard doing the bulb for $50.

mtiaz

......rack & pinion $1966

truonghthe

its more like $388 for the rack OEM and another $350 for labor, I got a shop for that lol.

Oh Sickest TL

iTrader: (3)

cbptltypes

Did you see a big improvement over oem yet?
I just switched to the CBI and it kinda look like stock.

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

Damn stealerships.

truonghthe

CBI just a bit brighter and the (not so smooth lens) causing really small hot spot. Got the car back and its looks better than before but not like what it used to be.

smsTL

iTrader: (1)

I agree CBIs are whiter & brighter than stock on TL. However, headlights on my MDX are whiter and brighter than CBIs on my TL-S...I wish it was as bright as LEDs on MDX.

hashbrown

I was recommended a great shop from my neighbor who drives a Honda. Honda/Acura Services C&M Car on Murphy Rd in Missouri City. I don't know if this is too far out of the way for you but the shop is really clean and they do warranty work. I went there today to check it out, intrusive myself and get prices. Was quoted $380 for 30k scheduled maintenance. Just a suggestion for the future.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Just curious as to what the dealership states is required for 30k mile maintenance, especially when the car is equipped with a maintenance minder.

kocyk123

That sucks... OP, do you mind me asking how many miles do you have on your car? CBI's were one of my first mods and I decided to swap them myself. I did that through fender and it did take about 15 - 20 mins per each bulb. I did side by side comparison when I replaced first bulb and could see huge difference with with brightness. There was noticeable improvement in light when I took if for a spin at night... I used to like the dealership until they made me change the oil pan due to "stripped" drain screw housing. Few weeks later I ended up at my car mechanic to check front and rear engine mounts and he noticed that my new oil pan was leaking. These fu$&*rs don't even know how to properly tighten the oil screw... I will stay away from the dealership from now on.

hashbrown

Mind, i don't work for them but do support local business.





Current maintenance flyer

UTAH TSX

If you can't tell a difference in the new CBI bulbs you got knock off ones, the difference is huge over factory bulbs, who did you buy them from ?

Will1688

the cbi's start off a little on the yellow side, but shift to pure white over time with use. if the question came up on fake bulbs there are several articles on google about cbi's and how to spot fake ones, but that would also depend on where you bought them as well.

truonghthe

I had my local shop here but some time they breaking some thing on the car lol.


I wish the CBI could be blue ish as new LED light. However if you change the KWS lens the result could be differ.

92k miles as she sat right now.

some website from UK. Someone post a thread here a while back and recommend it.

PS got it from Powerbulb.com

Will1688

^ ya i believe that site should be legit, they even got an article there aswell about how to spot fakes

How can I tell if my xenon bulbs are real or fake? | PowerBulbs