Headlight Misting up!

C

CornishRob

Senior member
It it normal for the Xenon headlights to mist up a bit?

I noticed it this morning after I walked back to the car after it had been parked for an hour.

It was both headlights and the condensation has settled in the same place on the lights!

Should I be going back to BMW about this or is it normal!

Not great for a premium car! Apparently
 
Misting to a limited extent is common and normal on almost any car. Temperature today has dropped a lot in much of the country so no suprise.

Keep an eye on it for a day or 2, use the headlights and it should settle down and go. If not try the dealer, but unless water is running down the inside they generally won't touch them.
 
you purchased this summer?

the previous owner probably did then - your only having issues now as the cold weather has kicked in
 
When I removed my headlights to do the clear light conversion, I also attached some large silica gel moisture sachets insides the lights to soak up any moisture which could condensate inside the headlights. So far I have not seen any condensation. The sachets were from Jessops and are normally used to keep moisture out of camera equipment.

Andrew.
 
Yes, they are OEM from a Z4M.

Purchased inthe summer. I'm just wandering if I should be hassling the dealer about it or if there is literally no point. I have the AUC warranty. Not sure if that will help!
 
The rear doors are most common problem. you ca buy new seals for around £25 but i just added a bead of silicone ontop of the seal and let it dry before re fitting rear doors, sorted mine! no more misting up :thumbsup:
 
andrewr said:
When I removed my headlights to do the clear light conversion, I also attached some large silica gel moisture sachets insides the lights to soak up any moisture which could condensate inside the headlights. So far I have not seen any condensation. The sachets were from Jessops and are normally used to keep moisture out of camera equipment.

Andrew.
Click to expand...

I did exactly the same, even bought them from the same place.

I got a bit nervous as there was a post on here a while back where someone fried his lights by putting desiccant crystals in. It turned out they were carbon chloride and not silica gel. Silica gel is fine though, it's fitted to the backs of some headlight casings as standard, even Aston Martin do it.
 
So just go and buy one of this things and attach it on the back of the headlight inside the engine bay and it will draw all misting off the headlights?
 
Nope, on the inside of the headlight on the panel that you remove to replace bulbs


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
is it normal
Click to expand...

It's a design fault on coupes. Rainwater runs off the vast impermeable tin roof area directly into the headlghts.

You should have bought a roadster as the differing roof material and design channels rainwater towards the rear of the car instead thus protecting the headlights and storing any troublesome moisture in the roof motor casing.
 
I to have the same problem as many others! 1 of my headlights is completely condensated up and the main bulb has gone. GREAT! Took it to my local garage and they said that they drained out half a pint of water (sealed it up with silicon) and said it should clear up the condensation... which it didnt! Also, they couldnt change my light as they had never seen one like it before and the water has blown the connection! I've looked online and it looks as if the car I have bought has LED headlights! Should I buy completely new normal xenon headlights? Or will they condensate and blow up as well? Any ideas - I am at a loss with this!? Have your normal headlights condensated or is just aftermarket?
 
Well, that sounds like a bit of a confused mess if I'm honest.

If they headlight is misted, the rear cover needs replacing, it's about £12 from BMW.

Unless the unit is cracked, this is the only time silicone should be needed, so it sounds as if they've made a right mess of it.

How do you mean they couldn't change your light? it's quite simple, remove front bumper, undo three bolts, undo plug, remove unit.

Or if it's the bulb, remove the rear cover, (by moving the locking wire aside) (easy when you see it) and replace the bulb.

What year's the car? Xenon's or normal lights? Might be worth looking for a replacement light to solve the issues tbh.
 
I have only noticed it the once when I initially posted about it. It hasn't been a problem since.

Not sure how to explain that really!
 
The garage said the water was getting through the front where the bumper meets the headlight... For the light they said that they had never seen anything like it (this didnt feel me with confidence) They look like this... http://www.xenonsonline.com/t10-501-w5w-canbus-error-free-8-smd-led-bulbs.html I dont know whether you can tell but I am not that clued up on headlights, the guy I bought it off said they were Xenon so I assume they are xenon with LED bulbs? If thats possible? The year is 2005 with non standard headlights. Do you have BMW standard lights in your Z4?
 
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