Z4 foggy headlights - quick fix

mac27040

mac27040

Veteran
 Shepshed
Hi All,

Don't know if this has been posted but recently bought a Z4 (E85) and one headlight was foggy, moisture in side!!!

Anyway quick fix:

1. Turn wheels on full lock to the side you need to get access too
2. remove access panel in front wheel arch (top one for headlight)
3. pull retaining bar down on rear cover to light
4. remove rear cover
5. run engine and turn all lights on to dry out light, use hair dryer on outside to assist with drying.
6. use a small flat blade screw driver and prise out rubber gaskets on rear cover.
7. clean gasket
8. turn gasket over and refit, the gasket will fit!!!
9. rub silicon grease over rubber gasket and refit once headlight is clean of moisture.


All done.
 
Quite a common thing it seems. I've done mine the same as above but they do occasionally mist up a bit so I've got new rear panel covers to fit.

Just don't go down the same line as tomTVR did...
 
After five years from new, mine have got a degree of misting inside from plastics evaporation...dumb question but is it possible to get at the back of the headlight cover to clean it in some way?
 
lacroupade said:
After five years from new, mine have got a degree of misting inside from plastics evaporation...dumb question but is it possible to get at the back of the headlight cover to clean it in some way?
Click to expand...
Are you meaning to actually access the inside of the headlight lens? Then it's bloody difficult - you'd have to poke something in through the hole where the bulb inserts, perhaps a cotton bud or the like. But it's the only route in.
 
a11y said:
lacroupade said:
After five years from new, mine have got a degree of misting inside from plastics evaporation...dumb question but is it possible to get at the back of the headlight cover to clean it in some way?
Click to expand...
Are you meaning to actually access the inside of the headlight lens? Then it's bloody difficult - you'd have to poke something in through the hole where the bulb inserts, perhaps a cotton bud or the like. But it's the only route in.
Click to expand...

Exactly that Ally.......its the same kind of plastics evaporation you get on your windscreen :(
 
lacroupade said:
a11y said:
lacroupade said:
After five years from new, mine have got a degree of misting inside from plastics evaporation...dumb question but is it possible to get at the back of the headlight cover to clean it in some way?
Click to expand...
Are you meaning to actually access the inside of the headlight lens? Then it's bloody difficult - you'd have to poke something in through the hole where the bulb inserts, perhaps a cotton bud or the like. But it's the only route in.
Click to expand...

Exactly that Ally.......its the same kind of plastics evaporation you get on your windscreen :(
Click to expand...
Mine are fine in that respect, but there's some serious dirty stuff on the inside of my wife's Fabia's headlights and there's no easy way to get to it to wipe it off :(
 
Mine seem to have similar issue - although no obvious sign of moisture.

Does anyone know if this process will also work with Xenons?

I guess so as the sidelights are not xenon so must be same access method....so will probably try next week but thought I would check first.
 
SteveD said:
Mine seem to have similar issue - although no obvious sign of moisture.

Does anyone know if this process will also work with Xenons?

I guess so as the sidelights are not xenon so must be same access method....so will probably try next week but thought I would check first.
Click to expand...

Mine are xenons. :D
 
andysat said:
Hi are there any pics of the retaining clip?-theres not much hand room in there! :cry:
Click to expand...

Look at this post http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6150&start=30

Also, remember to open the bonnet, it will shed lots more light around the light cluster for inside the wheel arch when you are fiddling about, making it much easier to see what you are doing...
 
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