condensation in front drivers lights

S

sherlock

Member
 Salisbury
I have only had my car for a couple of days but have just noticed heavy condensation inside the front drivers light lenses. Has anyone seen this before and know what to do as I suspect over time this will corrode the insides.

Ta in advance
 
Pain. May sound odd, but try a search for hairdryer :oops:

I think the most likely suspects are the seals on the light covers. I believe these can be replaced. Good luck!
 
I've replaced my rear covers (had new seals), and fingers crossed they dried out over a few weeks (no need to hair-dry), and they have been fine since... and they were really bad and had stayed bad for a while with the old covers...

The old seals really do get bad!

Dave
 
I took mine to the dealer as they do the same when it rains and they said its normal for the xenons to do this a little :?
 
When I was last at the dealers for a few warranty issues one of them being condensation in the fog lights. My dealer told me the the front headlight are breathable, but any condensation would dry out PDQ if you have xenons so assume you have an issue with your seals if its reoccurring.
 
Dealers do give me a good laugh. OK so why would it be normal on a xenon in the same housing same, same everything as a halogen, yet it can dry out quicker with a 35w xenon than a 55w halogen. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
 
to be precise guys it is the front lower driving/fog lights and not the head lights and these are not xenon's
 
cj10jeeper said:
Dealers do give me a good laugh. OK so why would it be normal on a xenon in the same housing same, same everything as a halogen, yet it can dry out quicker with a 35w xenon than a 55w halogen. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Click to expand...


I think he ment headlights in general they heat they create would dry out any condensation, I didn't have condensation in my headlights, I had it in the fogs, which he said would never dry out, so they would need replacing, which they did under warranty.
 
Both front fog lights on my zed have condensation. I asked the dealer and they are not covered by Insured Warranty. But as you just collected your car days ago, you should get the dealer to replace them free of charge.
 
jan_tekin said:
When I was last at the dealers for a few warranty issues one of them being condensation in the fog lights. My dealer told me the the front headlight are breathable, but any condensation would dry out PDQ if you have xenons so assume you have an issue with your seals if its reoccurring.
Click to expand...


~I was just referrencing aquasis post where the dealer referenced xenon specifically.

My point really is that dealers make up excuses on the spot for anything to get rid of customers and avoid warranty claims. These end up becoming sort of accepted facts and all mixed up.
 
cj10jeeper said:
jan_tekin said:
When I was last at the dealers for a few warranty issues one of them being condensation in the fog lights. My dealer told me the the front headlight are breathable, but any condensation would dry out PDQ if you have xenons so assume you have an issue with your seals if its reoccurring.
Click to expand...


~I was just referrencing aquasis post where the dealer referenced xenon specifically.

My point really is that dealers make up excuses on the spot for anything to get rid of customers and avoid warranty claims. These end up becoming sort of accepted facts and all mixed up.
Click to expand...


Among other things they also thought the ZHP wouldnt fit my car :lol:

Take everything they say with a pinch of salt.
 
They would dry out with lights on, but not moving. When you get them misted up it's usually cos it's really cold, and when it's cold the lenses get cooled when moving, and that is why they have condensation on them in the first place!

If they fog up, it's the seals imo.

Mine are perfect now.

Also, if they get lots of droplets in there, like mine did (looked like someone had just fired a power shower in there), the light pattern is really not so great, a bit dangerous really. Dull and undefined beam isn't ideal.

Dave
 
First post on the forum after betting my new Zed last weekend (previously a proud 2.8 Z3 owner). This thread interests me as I have the condensation problem inside my passenger side xenon headlamp unit; looks like she's winking all the time!

Anyway, am posting a picture as it seems pretty fogged up and I'm sure its not helping my vision at night. Have also written to BMWUK to see if there's anything they can do; isn't this a manufacturers defect on the seal/housing etc and therefore a safety issue subject to extended warranty work? Maybe that's me just wishing but if you don't ask...



Took out the panel in the wheel arch to inspect but its pretty tight back there. Other than the panel and the retaining spring whats the routine for removing the rear housing so it can be dried out? And any tips other than those posted on how to reconstruct and keep dry?

Thanks in advance for all advice and I looking forward to checking out the rest of the site.
 
:o the condesation in those is mental.

I had some very light condesation at the bottom of my indicators after the cold spell and heavy snow - took it to a dealer who said all xenons do that after the cold/wet - after a bit of a push they replaced the back panel under the warranty - no condensation since (but then it has also warmed up now)

I would remove your covers, try drying them with a hair dryer - or wrap the front in foil and put the lights on for 10 mins to clear all that moisture. Maybe some silicon lub spray will relubricate the rubber seals around the rear covers if they have dried up - or maybe you will need to replace them.
 
Just noticed this on another link: http://68.230.199.103:8080/SI%20B%2063%2012%2007%20-%20Moisture%20in%20Headlight%20-%20Aug%202007.pdf

Posted with TouchBB on my iPhone
 
Thanks aquazi, I hadn't thought of the foil trick so will ready myself for some drying action and hairdresser jokes!

Appreciate that link too Breaker. Looks official enough for me to try and get BMW to sort this out for me so once [if] they come back to me I'll use as my ace and report back what kind of reaction I get. As i say, if this is a manufacturing issue then they should all be covered as a repair free of charge.

Great site by the way. Have a feeling I'll be on here pretty much constantly! Here's a pic of my new currently-damp-eyed pride and joy...

 
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