Sorry - Non-BMW question, but I trust you guys!

R

RCT_Z4Coupe

Member
 East Sussex
I have an issue with condensation on my headlamps and this is the dealer response. Is it bullsh*t? I have never experienced it on any other car.



After sending the photo I got this response. They reckon this is normal, but I am not happy that this is how the car will look after every time I drive in the rain.

"Our service department are of the opinion that this is quite normal on the CLS due to the light design. The 'misting' clears very quickly when the lights are on due to the heat they generate. If there was water/ condensation then this would not be normal and we would need to change the complete units. The slight misting you experienced was due to the lights being on whilst on test drive and the cooler rain falling on them when we got back. When parked the car has no air flow".
 
Absolute bullshit..

There should be nothing on the inside of the light lens.. Especially droplets of water as it will defract the light output.

They wont want to change the light units as they are really expensive.
 
Interesting a quick google seems to be a common problem on a number of forums... found this which seems to back up your dealer response.. However I would be pissed, looks bad and any moisture in headlights cannot be a good thing.

"There is a TSB on this. It reads partially as follows:

As the headlamp is cooling down, e.g. after switching off, in rain or when washed, air is drawn in and the moisture from the air condenses on the headlamp lens.

The ventilation of the headlamps ensures that this condensation is dissipated again after a short period of operation.

If the customer complains about fogging that is not present at the time of the workshop visit, then this is condensation. For these reasons, condensation is a natural phenomenon and does not indicate a defect or malfunction; warranty and goodwill claims with this complaint will be rejected."
 
Most TSB's are created by the manufacturers to save the manufactures money..

The condensation inside the headlight should not be to the point where water droplets are present and running down the inside lens.Fogging can appear,but is usually around the extremities of the light lens.

When the light is fully condensated like the OP's,it is acceptable.
 
Got rid of a CLS that I had two years ago. Lovely car. Had it for three years and never experienced the problem you describe.
 
It looks like the water droplets are on the outside, and the misting is on the inside where the water droplets are ? That would seem to back up the TSB. Light units will always be vented, so moist air from outside will get in... And then be heated by the lights, so when it cools the moisture will condense. That's science that is :P

I'd say keep an eye on it - if it disappears every time and stays as light misting and not drops of water then it should be ok I'd have thought. If you start getting big drops then that would be a problem.

Just my opinion of course :D
 
It may be a question of scale. I think there is some truth in what the dealer says - after all, I've experienced the same thing on my Z4, which is described in the owner's manual, and it does indeed disappear quickly. That said, on your photo the misting looks quite extensive, to the point where it would concern me. I know with BMW the pivotal point seems to be where the mist condenses into droplets. Either way, it still looks heavy enough that I could see it affecting the performance of the lights... :?
 
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