Non-Upgradeable Dell Inspiron 15 5502

Question

On Saturday 14th November 2020 I took delivery of a brand new Dell Inspiron 15 5502 laptop with a view to immediately increasing the RAM and the SSD capacity by installing a 2nd SSD in slot 2 for which the Service Manual confirms this can be done and advises that the mounting bracket for the 2nd SSD slot is at Additional Cost.

Now this is not a problem at all, however I have contacted Dell Technical Support for assistance who sent me to an external company they use to source the correct parts which initially seemed positive by way of `Send us an e-mail including your Service Tag reference and we will get back to you`, however after 4 days of patiently waiting, I then receive a short curt e-mail advising `Sorry we are unable to source these parts`, and that was it.....nothing else. So I then forwarded the e-mail off again to the Dell Sales team `UK sales` to request assistance on the basis that the reason I purchased this particular machine was because it is user upgradeable, because the Service Manual told me it was and there are a couple of videos on You Tube that actually go through the process of upgrading, HOWEVER, the Sales team then sent me a reply advising me to speak with the Dell Technical support desk!!!!!!

What part of this problem don`t Dell understand??? It isn`t a technical issue, it is a sales issue and the external parts department who are supposed to have the relevant parts (because the Service Manual says so`), don`t actually have them, and have no intention of getting them or even ordering them as I asked them this specifically for which they advised they are an `external company` with links to Dell whatsoever other than being a recommended 3rd party provider.

Perhaps others have experiences similar issues?

Either way, I will give it two more e-mails to see if they can help, otherwise I will be sending the non-upgradeable Laptop back to them.

AliBongo5 · Accepted Answer

Update on the situation.......after posting the above on the Dell Community site, I sent off a strop-o-gram back to Dell UK Sales and included the e-mail address of Michael Dell.....THIS prompted a response within an hour or two from the Advanced Costumer Resolutions team who, after several more e-mails containing pricing etc I was able to order the correct parts which arrived around a day or so later. HOWEVER the understanding of the team wasn`t that great and so instead of receiving 2 x SSD Slot 2 mounting brackets plus the 4 x screws, I actually received 4 x mounting brackets for SSD Slot 2, PLUS 4 x mounting brackets for SSD Slot 1 PLUS 8 x screws (4 x to mount the SSD Slot 2 brackets and 4 x to attach the SSD to the brackets). You may think this is great however I was charged £43.00 GBP for these items but the worst of it is that they advised me that I have paid for 2 x brackets ONLY and the rest of the parts were provided to me as a `good-will` gesture, which makes me wonder if the parts are made from Platinum or something to justify this ridiculous price, BUT I managed to get the parts that I needed anyway so overall I am happy. Moral of the story? - if you start getting the runaround, copy Michael Dell on your e-mail (michael@dell.com) and you will get the matter resolved one way or another.

PXNWV Assembly bracket for #1 M.2 SSD (not available to sell)
KYMC9 Assembly bracket for #2 M.2 SSD (not available to sell)
49RK6 screws M1.6XL2 to connect the bracket to the laptop chassis (not available to sell)
DF6CG screws M2XL3 to connect the SSD to the bracket (not available to sell)

fireberd · Answer

I can't help you with Dell sales.

I looked through the Dell manual and Specifications and no where does it state or show a laptop hard drive or full size SSD option or space. It comes with one or two M.2 SSD's. If it was ordered with 1 M.2 SSD, then there is space to install a second M.2 SSD.

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/inspiron-15-5502-laptop_users-guide_en-us.pdf

https://dl.dell.com/topicspdf/inspiron-15-5502-laptop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

A comment on upgrading the RAM. First mixing brands/types of memory results in many problems, from posts over the years on this forum. Dell's also have a history of compatibility with non-Dell branded memory. Other brands will work but its iffy. For this reason we suggest Crucial memory as it is guaranteed to work in a Dell.

Here is the Crucial (US site) listing for the 5502:

https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/dell/inspiron-15-(5502)

AliBongo5 · Answer

Page 30 of the Service Manual clearly states the following:-

"If there is only one solid-state drive in the configuration you ordered, you can install another solid-state drive in the
other M.2 slot. However, you may need a solid-state drive mounting bracket (sold separately) to install the additional solidstate drive."

fireberd · Answer

Your original post suggested you were looking for the hardware to install a laptop hard drive or full size SSD, not install a second M.2 SSD. This is the usual post we get here.

I've seen other parts hard to find or non existent for after sales and cost sometimes is high. Goes back to better off ordering with the extra drive then all the parts are supplied.

This is all that is listed for available parts on the US site

Parts & Upgrades for your Inspiron 15 5000 (5502) | Dell USA

Paul_IOM · Answer

I just purchased the bracket, heat sink and screws from AliExpress for around £20 incl. postage after spending almost 2 hours on the phone to Dell getting the runaround.

Interestingly, if I lived in the US I could have purchased the bracket for $1.99 including shipping whereas over here it's almost £20 and that doesn't even include the screws!

Their support is just a joke in my opinion..

https://www.aliexpress.com/af/dell-5502-heatsink.html?d=y&origin=n&SearchText=dell+5502+heatsink&catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20201217060819

https://www.aliexpress.com/af/dell-pxnwv.html?d=y&origin=n&SearchText=dell+pxnwv&catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20201217060459

Hope this helps someone..

SgtDan · Answer

What part numbers?  I follow your links and get whole pages of misc.  parts.  Thanks!

maheshkhiste · Answer

@AliBongo5

Could you please help with exact keywords / links which you got from dell support to order this mounting bracket ? I am in the same situation , i would like to install 2ns SSD , called them about mounting bracket but they wouldn;t understand so i you could provide what to write in email / part numbers which you got from dell which will help me to expedite getting the bracket.

Also would you provide link of the SSD and RAM you purchased , assuming it worked for you , i will go for the same ..tested parts

Appreciate your help!!

AliBongo5 · Answer

Hi there,

The invoice that I was initially sent has np indication of the part numbers that were involved, however after speaking with the support team AGAIN and sending a few more e-mails they agreed to add the part numbers to the Comments box at the top of the invoice and which are as follows:-

PXNWV - 2 x SSD mounting brackets

49RK6 - 2 x screws to fix the bracket to the laptop chassis

DF6CG - 2 x screws to fix the SSD to the bracket

PLEASE NOTE: They quoted me for the installation of a 2nd SSD in Slot 2 for TWO 5502 PC`s hence there are 2 x of each of the parts shown above. Whether the above part numbers are correct or not remains to be seen, but as the parts that arrived with me were the correct ones then the assumption must be that they are, but you can never tell.

I ordered 16Gb RAM (2 x 8Gb SODIMM 3200) directly from CRUCIAL as this has always worked for me in the past, and the 1Tb NVMe PCIeM.2 2280 SSD from Amazon which is a Sabrent Rocket Q.

AliBongo5 · Answer

Just to add that if you start getting the runaround, as long as you have an e-mail chain, I suggest you contact DELL-Cares and fairly soon you will receive a phone call from the Advanced Resolutions Team who will assist, and which is how I was able to eventually obtain my brackets.

Many thanks, Alan

iNootch · Answer

Hello @AliBongo5 , are the brackets different regarding in which socket you want to install the ssd?I'm currently in the exact same situation. Maybe you have a spare bracket left? RegardsChris

iNootch · Answer

Unluckily it's not. The european support won't send me the spare parts as long I haven't bought the second ssd from them. Lol. But thank you for your answer

AliBongo5 · Answer

Hi Chris, Yes there are different brackets required for whether you install an SSD is SSD Slot 1 (hopefully already occupied) or in SSD Slot 2 (should be empty with no bracket installed. I already updated the part numbers in an earlier post which if you produce an e-mail and and send it to the Customer Services team but also include in the cc, they should be able to provide you with the necessary parts. In relation to whether I have spares, I do at present but given the issues I had when trying to initially obtain these parts I would prefer to keep them in case I need them for any future purchase, sorry Chris. The above method should prove successful.

shiba1950 · Answer

I also ordered the 2nd m.2 slot parts for my Inspiron 15 5505 which is similar to the 5502, on Jan. 8, 2021 and still waiting because they keep delaying. I did find the same ssd bracket and screw (Dell Part# KYMC9) on Amazon at much higher price (pack of 2) and in-stock as of today. I cancelled my Dell order since the Dell shipping charge alone is $23.96 for 6 screws and 1 bracket which weigh 3 grams. Using my Amazon Visa Card points, my cost for the parts and shipping is ZERO. I will never purchase another Dell product because of their terrible customer service.

Amazon part : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VDRK2ZL/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1BQWGBLWM4VYT&psc=1

opopboco · Answer

I ordered and apparently received: Screw,M2X3,Flat Pan Head,Machine Screw,Black Oxide H1M5R ASSY,BRKT,SSD,14/15 KYMC9 But I don't see how they could possibly be used:

opopboco · Answer

Okay - this is quite embarrassing - there are actually two brackets back to back.  But they also did not send me the 49RK6 screws M1.6XL2.

Inspiron

Non-Upgradeable Dell Inspiron 15 5502

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