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Headlamp moisture/condensation
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- Newbie
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2017 9:50 pm
Headlamp moisture/condensation
The near side headlamp on my e86 has moisture on the whole of the inside.
-How best can I get rid of this?
-Any idea why it's like it now and the other one not?
(The only post seems to be one from 10 years ago when similar cars had the lamps changed under warranty.)
Thanks
Robert
-How best can I get rid of this?
-Any idea why it's like it now and the other one not?
(The only post seems to be one from 10 years ago when similar cars had the lamps changed under warranty.)
Thanks
Robert
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- Member
- Posts: 696
- Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2017 12:32 pm
- Location: Newbury, Berks UK
Headlamp moisture/condensation
The seal has dried out and taken a set on the rear cover, allowing water or at least damp air into the light. You can take the rear cover off and pull the seal out to reverse it dry the light out with the help of a hairdryer and apply some silicone grease to the seal before reassembly, or else buy a complete new rear cover from BMW for about £15.
Chris
Chris
08 Z4 3.0si Sport Coupe in Montego Blue
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- Member
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- Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2017 12:32 pm
- Location: Newbury, Berks UK
Headlamp moisture/condensation
BTW - rear of headlight is accessible from the wheel arch once you take off a wheel and the removable panel in the wheel arch liner.
08 Z4 3.0si Sport Coupe in Montego Blue
- paddy wright
- Lifer
- Posts: 7664
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:00 pm
- Location: south yorkshire
Headlamp moisture/condensation
As above but do it sooner rather than later and in as warm an environment as possible to ensure all moisture gone- if you have xenons it is important to do this before you get moisture in the ballast unit.
Z4 2.2 sterling grey,Msport seats,retrofit cupholders,cruise,footwell lights,sound gen and mfsw,18"ellipsoids,xenons+light washers,ZHPknob,folding mirrors,3"stubby,update wheel caps,gateway300 ipod, wind deflector to keep the wife happy!
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- Senior Member
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Headlamp moisture/condensation
I can testify to the importance of this! A new ballast is not the best way to be spending your moneypaddy wright wrote: ↑Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:27 pm As above but do it sooner rather than later and in as warm an environment as possible to ensure all moisture gone- if you have xenons it is important to do this before you get moisture in the ballast unit.
- RustyZ4
- Lifer
- Posts: 3622
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:23 pm
- Location: Maidstone, Kent
Headlamp moisture/condensation
I had this on my E85, I cured it by removing the back cover, using a hairdryer (not mine lol) to dry it out, not to hot setting and rested it on the tyre, then fitted a new cover and gasket to seal it properly, the cover with the gasket built in is about £15 from BMW so not an expensive bit to replace
Z4 Mineral Grey, 28i MSport Auto, lots of goodies
Z4 E85 3.0, gone but now with son
Growing Old is Mandatory But Growing Up is Optional
Z4 E85 3.0, gone but now with son
Growing Old is Mandatory But Growing Up is Optional
- GregE85
- Member
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- Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 9:55 pm
- Location: Hampshire
Headlamp moisture/condensation
Hi, i also had this problem! Wheel on full lock, you can access the wheel arch panel. Took off the headlight cover, I had a lot of water in mine so used a spray head from a window cleaner bottle to spray out as much of the water as i could!!
With headlights on, I went for a drive with head light cover off (wheel arch panel in place and in dry weather!) moisture gone! replaced the headlight cover jobs a good'en!!
With headlights on, I went for a drive with head light cover off (wheel arch panel in place and in dry weather!) moisture gone! replaced the headlight cover jobs a good'en!!
Previous 2.5 Si Monaco Blue | Cream interior | M Seats | current 3.0si Montego Blue | Cream/Black extended Leather interior | M Sport Seats l
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- Member
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- Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2017 11:08 pm
- Location: Peterborough
Headlamp moisture/condensation
Did mine with a hairdryer at the weekend. Genuinely shocked at the amount of water in there (luckily not xenon's.).
Montego blue 2006 BMW Z4 coupe 3.0si with black interior, ZHP, Whippy, 12mm front/16mm rear spacers on BBS 108's wrapped in Michelin PS4's. :driving:Brand new Pierburg water pump fitted at 101k after failure (should have done it at 100k)
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- Member
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- Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:11 am
Headlamp moisture/condensation
Just done this to one of my headlights, which had fogged up badly after I washed it recently. Upon inspection I had trapped a wire in the seal as I fitted the rear cover. Reversed the seal, dried out the inside with a hairdryer and hopefully all the moisture has now gone.
The problem I am now faced with is that in drying out the moisture with the hairdryer I am left with some water marks/spots on the inside of the lens! How the heck am I going to get those off without cutting the unit open?
The problem I am now faced with is that in drying out the moisture with the hairdryer I am left with some water marks/spots on the inside of the lens! How the heck am I going to get those off without cutting the unit open?