Foggy fog lights

[bluepain]

Has anyone a solution to the problem of moisture fogging up front fog lights on the face lift..every year im having to take the backs off to dry out misting inside them,..rather than doing this id rather have a fix
I must also point out I do live in Cornwall close to the sea so the air moisture content here is higher than in most areas and the car is not garaged.
Is it where I live or us ut a common problem.
Cheers guys

 

[markplant]

It is a common problem,

 

[firebobby]

Sure someone posted recently, that they drilled 3 holes in the base and now, no more problems

 

[Marlon]

Yeah, mine do the same - nothing to do with where you live. I keep putting off drilling holes into the underside as mentioned above, it just seems too drastic

 

[firebobby]

I can't find the thread, but it appeared to clear the misting from the lights. Come on Marlon, your good at finding things

 

[Marlon]

I can't find the thread, but it appeared to clear the misting from the lights. Come on Marlon, your good at finding things

Heres one thread - unfortunately lots of pics lost due to photo bucket, although last page has a pic of where to drill holes
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=62003&hilit=fogs+drill

 

[firebobby]

Silly design by the sounds of it

 

[weegeoff]

What I did is to take them off and strip them down. Prising the front glass off. I went round with a with a flat head screwdriver between the glass and the casing until bit by bit I had moved them apart a little. I then got a larger flat edged tool and carried on doing this until I worked the whole thing loose. This is not for the faint hearted and you cannot rush it or you will crack the glass. I must admit at one point I did think I would have been better off buying new. I then cleared all the old adhesive out. My mirroring was buggered so I painted the inside silver. I then used clear mastic to fill the casting were the glass goes about half full and then went round the lip on the glass giving that a good coat and stuck them together. They now look better. That was about 4/5 months ago and still OK. There is a little vent on the top [a little round thing] you could look at to see if that is clean you can just pull it out. Do this first and put it to one side until you put back together again. I hope this helps. Please don't blame me if you have to go and buy new.

 

[mr.tourette]

the 3 small drilled holes do work..did mine over a year ago and they are always dry now, as Marlon mentioned it does seem a little drastic but it works and beats having orrible looking fogs

 

[Marlon]

the 3 small drilled holes do work..did mine over a year ago and they are always dry now, as Marlon mentioned it does seem a little drastic but it works and beats having orrible looking fogs

right - decision made, the drills coming out while Im off

 

[dhobbs]

Can you drill in situ or do you have to take them out?
Daz

 

[Marlon]

Can you drill in situ or do you have to take them out?
Daz

I've just drilled mine in situ - posting some pics later

 

[dhobbs]

Can you drill in situ or do you have to take them out?
Daz

I've just drilled mine in situ - posting some pics later

Cheers Marlon, look forward to the pictures.

 

[Marlon]

Following mr.tourette's and others advice I've drilled my fogs

Before pics:

Made a guide mark with a dowel, then drilled

drilled holes:

I will report back if and when they clear

 

[NickDE]

I just hid mine with a very dark tint film. I posted photos somewhere on here.

 

[bluepain]

Would it not be better drilling these from the rear some how,..
My main concern is, if its raining and your driving,there could be dome water ingress from the drilled holes.
If holes are drilled out of the air stream, water ingress would erase this issue..
Anyway ill be interested to see if your drilled fogs work.
Best of luck

 

[mr.tourette]

Would it not be better drilling these from the rear some how,..
My main concern is, if its raining and your driving,there could be dome water ingress from the drilled holes.
If holes are drilled out of the air stream, water ingress would erase this issue..
Anyway ill be interested to see if your drilled fogs work.
Best of luck

Your concerned about water getting in lights that are already permanently wet? the fogs are already soaking wet and corroding from the inside and the holes allow them to get airflow to dry them out.. mine have been drilled over a year and are dry as a bone no matter what weather conditions I drive in. no holes= soaking wet lights...3 tiny holes=dry lights...its a no brainer imho

 

[Marlon]

the 3 small drilled holes do work..did mine over a year ago and they are always dry now, as Marlon mentioned it does seem a little drastic but it works and beats having orrible looking fogs

Its started to clear - how long did yours take?
It been damp and wet since I drilled the holes - does it take a dry warmer spell for the fogs to de-mist?
Good news is that they look ok inside - no rusting.

 

[mr.tourette]

the 3 small drilled holes do work..did mine over a year ago and they are always dry now, as Marlon mentioned it does seem a little drastic but it works and beats having orrible looking fogs

Its started to clear - how long did yours take?
It been damp and wet since I drilled the holes - does it take a dry warmer spell for the fogs to de-mist?
Good news is that they look ok inside - no rusting.
fogs.jpg

Took a good while Marlon as like you i did it in the winter I think it may have been 6 to 8 weeks until they were fully dry and i guess the damp weather slows down how quick they clear, (also my car is not driven much at all in winter) at first i thought it wasnt going to work but then one day I just noticed they were completely dry..been fine ever since

 

[patriot66]

Heat them up with a hairdryer on the glass and then aim the hairdryer at the holes to blow out the warm moist air ?