Condensation in E89 lights
- Thread starter strugglinauthor
- Start date
strugglinauthor
Member
Booked in to have mine done next Wednesday. The receptionist said more than once that the ingress of water had to be 'severe' before BMW would fix under warranty and when I said it was more than just condensation, he said they'd certainly look at it but repeated the 'it has to severe' mantra again. In the end we agreed that I'd send them a picture before I set off. I'm pretty sure they'll do it but there was definitely resistance.
Here's the pic - do my fellow sufferers consider this severe? :?
Here's the pic - do my fellow sufferers consider this severe? :?
My business partners 18 month old car (6k mileage) is to be collected so that they can fit a new unit. My one year extended warranty on 3 year old , i was told doesn't cover the lights, only major breakdowns.
BMW should have called these cars back long ago and sorted the problem. I ain't too impressed by BMW's if these are an example.
Its taken a whole tube of bathroom silicon sealant spread all over the back of each unit to cure the problem.
BMW should have called these cars back long ago and sorted the problem. I ain't too impressed by BMW's if these are an example.
Its taken a whole tube of bathroom silicon sealant spread all over the back of each unit to cure the problem.
Just had both rears replaced under warrenty with no quibles. The whole light unit on one failed so they picked up the car from Rach's work and took it in to Sytners in Ascot and replaced both. Rach got to drive a poverty spec 3er for one day as compensation.
Zed back on the drive now.
Sean
Zed back on the drive now.
Sean
strugglinauthor
Member
Thanks OwenT. To be fair I think the garage was covering itself and I'm sure they'll do it. If they don't, you'll hear the rage from where you are! 
strugglinauthor
Member
3rdPillar said:
strugglinauthor
Member
Rear cluster replaced under warranty. I hope that's the last I'll see of water in my lights... 
strugglinauthor
Member
Thanks.
At the moment I'm waiting for them to drop the car back (they did a pick-up/drop-off service) and although the snow here isn't terrible, it's pretty white out there...
At the moment I'm waiting for them to drop the car back (they did a pick-up/drop-off service) and although the snow here isn't terrible, it's pretty white out there...
A
Anonymous
Guest
I need to remove my lenses as I have water sloshing around in them (but no condensation). I had a quick look and couldn't work out how to remove them? I assume they are mounted from the outside with studs that pass through the body? Does anyone have a How-To guide or a TIS document relating to this?
Thanks.
Thanks.
strugglinauthor
Member
Not sure myself, but if you read earlier in the thread 'bigendbob' has removed his an attempted a seal. Might be worth a look and perhaps a PM to bob?
FFS .. Washed the car just now, condensation in drivers rear lamp. Checked the lens and its come away from the seal. Ill have to do a bigendbob on it now or pay up for a repair excess on the insured warranty.
This is the THIRD set of lamps on this car.. Clearly they STILL haven't got it right, they were only replaced last year..
This is the THIRD set of lamps on this car.. Clearly they STILL haven't got it right, they were only replaced last year..
strugglinauthor
Member
Maniac - that's absolutely nuts! :x
Is it worth approaching BMW Customer Service before calling on your warranty? After all, it's pretty much beyond doubt that there's an inherent fault - based on the fact that you've had three light clusters already. If they need more convincing then I'm sure the contributors to this thread would be happy to lend their support (I certainly would).
Is it worth approaching BMW Customer Service before calling on your warranty? After all, it's pretty much beyond doubt that there's an inherent fault - based on the fact that you've had three light clusters already. If they need more convincing then I'm sure the contributors to this thread would be happy to lend their support (I certainly would).
Ill get over to BMW ASAP to get these looked at.. I never seem to be away from that place.
I've said it before and ill say it again. Every low brand car I've ever had have been more reliable than the two Z4s I've had. Unbelievable.
You can see all along the bottom of the unit what looks like splintered plastic where the clear lens has simply snapped away from the main unit. The whole lens can be pressed in several millimetres. I've seen this noted by BMW somewhere and that its due to torsion stress on the lamps... So if they know about it.. Why has the third unit done the same?!
I've said it before and ill say it again. Every low brand car I've ever had have been more reliable than the two Z4s I've had. Unbelievable.
You can see all along the bottom of the unit what looks like splintered plastic where the clear lens has simply snapped away from the main unit. The whole lens can be pressed in several millimetres. I've seen this noted by BMW somewhere and that its due to torsion stress on the lamps... So if they know about it.. Why has the third unit done the same?!
Sorry to hear that, just a PITA when it shouldn't be doing it, I don't understand why the units are failing, I checked mine earlier whilst washing as worried they might be going the same way but they appear to be OK. I'm just wandering if theyre being screwed on too tightly over stressing them and its just the luck of the draw who fits them at the factory and whether they over tighten them otherwise all units would be failing :?
Tim.
Tim.
For some reason i have been blocked from signing on as bigendbob so have reregistered as flybobbie.
I will try to put something together so that you can see how to get the light units off.
I wonder how many not on the forum have these problems. My colleagues car as done 6k and has the problem, and have seen others.
To have a quick look;
Open boot.
There are four pieces of trim to remove, 3 black plastic and 1 with the grey carpet material.
Work from the highest piece of plastic, remove the 3 plastic push pins with a blunt knife. Next the piece below is clipped on so pull it towards the front and it will unclip.
Next is the curved piece with the access panel to bulbs, remove further 3 push pins (bit of a challenge to find the third one!). Close boot. Open the boot as though stowing roof, and this piece of plastic can be withdrawn. Close boot and reopen from rear. Finally remove push pins from grey carpetted piece, don't forget the one under the little door.
This should expose the rear bulkhead. Unclip the electrical connector.
I found it safer to remove all bulbs.
Next remove 3 10mm a/f nuts.
Finally from out side pull the lamp out starting at the pointed inboard end as there are two locating pins that fit into the rear quarter where the lamp housing curves. If you look on the inside there two black rubber oval shaped seals these will come away with the lamp unit.
Refit in reverse, making sure the oval seals reseal otherwise water will get into boot.
Forgot to mention may need to pull up the rubber boot seal above the lamp assembly.
Overall a crap design.
Once the lamps are out, there are plenty of access holes to blow warm air from a air dryer to dry out unit after the worst has been shaken out.
Then the piece of plastic on the rear shaped like goggles can be unclipped, be careful as the clips are fragile. This will then expose the culprit. The rubbish rubber they have used to seal the unit. Squeeze the seal and you probably find water drips out, because its not closed cell foam, a pretty basic error where ip grade sealing is required.
Wouldn't suprise me with all the euro crap that the car manufacturers have gone all self certification when it comes to lamp design as in the traffic light industry, and this is the result. Come back the BSI!
I will try to put something together so that you can see how to get the light units off.
I wonder how many not on the forum have these problems. My colleagues car as done 6k and has the problem, and have seen others.
To have a quick look;
Open boot.
There are four pieces of trim to remove, 3 black plastic and 1 with the grey carpet material.
Work from the highest piece of plastic, remove the 3 plastic push pins with a blunt knife. Next the piece below is clipped on so pull it towards the front and it will unclip.
Next is the curved piece with the access panel to bulbs, remove further 3 push pins (bit of a challenge to find the third one!). Close boot. Open the boot as though stowing roof, and this piece of plastic can be withdrawn. Close boot and reopen from rear. Finally remove push pins from grey carpetted piece, don't forget the one under the little door.
This should expose the rear bulkhead. Unclip the electrical connector.
I found it safer to remove all bulbs.
Next remove 3 10mm a/f nuts.
Finally from out side pull the lamp out starting at the pointed inboard end as there are two locating pins that fit into the rear quarter where the lamp housing curves. If you look on the inside there two black rubber oval shaped seals these will come away with the lamp unit.
Refit in reverse, making sure the oval seals reseal otherwise water will get into boot.
Forgot to mention may need to pull up the rubber boot seal above the lamp assembly.
Overall a crap design.
Once the lamps are out, there are plenty of access holes to blow warm air from a air dryer to dry out unit after the worst has been shaken out.
Then the piece of plastic on the rear shaped like goggles can be unclipped, be careful as the clips are fragile. This will then expose the culprit. The rubbish rubber they have used to seal the unit. Squeeze the seal and you probably find water drips out, because its not closed cell foam, a pretty basic error where ip grade sealing is required.
Wouldn't suprise me with all the euro crap that the car manufacturers have gone all self certification when it comes to lamp design as in the traffic light industry, and this is the result. Come back the BSI!