Convertable Top & Instrument Panel Illumination Problem!!

[Kflick1]

I need some serious advice/expertise on a couple of problems I have recently come across.

I own a 1999 BMW 328iC, and recently I have had huge trouble putting the top down and back up. A lot of strange noises and problems have occurred while it was in operation. I decided to take it to a few places for an estimate. Long story short I HAD to take it to the local dealer because the top was actually STUCK in mid operation. The dealer was able to fix it and get the top at least SHUT. They claim a few straps caused a major problem. The straps were old they said and ruined a few bars (not sure what they were called) and bent these bars which helped the top. They wanted $2,000 to fix the top problem and could NOT guarantee that this was the EXACT problem and could not guarantee a real fix. I currently have an appointment at a foreign car specialist for a further look and estimate.

Also lately I noticed on my instrument panel (speedometer, radio, climate controls) basically anything that is illuminated at night, had become quite DIMMER (if that’s a word) and so I said something to the dealer about it. He claimed that those do not use bulbs and they use LED lighting, and that all of the lights would need to be replaced and it would cost about $1,700.

Now both of these problems im having looked at by just a foreign car specialist just to make sure these are the true problems, get a second opinion, and to maybe hope for a better price. These prices seem absurd, though it is a dealer, what am I to expect?

Either way, I just want to know if anyone has had either of these problems. Are they worth fixing? (I suppose I could live with dimly lit instrument panel and turn my car into a coupe lol). Either way do these prices seem fair? And has anyone had similar problems?!

Thanks a lot!