Condensation in headlights. 330i

mrwindymiller · 01-01-2011, 12:27 PM

I know there are many posts on this problem, mostly with the rectification being replacing the light units.
How come my £30K+ car has this issue when my 18 year old Vauxhall Astra, 8 year old Transit and the mother in laws cheapie Hyundai Matrix doesn't. My previous BMW's, 2 E34's, 3 E39's never suffered from this!!!!
Can anyone shed any light (pardon the pun) on how to rectify the problem for good.
Any additional help greatly received.
Also on a different tack, the oil level indicator showed the car needed 3/4 of a litre of oil today, I put a measured half litre in it, but the indicator did not move. Any idea's?

Jeff123 · 01-01-2011, 12:42 PM

Regarding the headlights, mine had this c9 months ago. I was over keen with the hosepipe with the bonnet open (on the catch), I think. Took it to a dealer and he explained that the lights are not sealed units as such. They just told me to drive with the lights on for a while and it would disappear. I actually used a hair dryer to remove the condensation. It returned and I repeated the procedure - after that it has not come back.

My (untrained) advice would be to do as I did, but also to be very careful using a hose with the bonnet up. Water and electronics just don't mix. Some people on the forum prefer a dirty engine to one that appears too clean.

mrwindymiller · 01-01-2011, 12:52 PM

Thanks for the info Jeff, I did have the car washed at a hand car wash last week, lazy s*d I know but it was just to remove the salt and grime.
The condensation appeared after that and I do remember them being very "keen" with the steam cleaner.
Will get the wifes hair dryer to them and see what happens.

no_ball · 01-01-2011, 12:57 PM

I used a car wash last week to take the salt and grime off, small amount of condensation in the headlights which is now gone. Must be a small rat hole somewhere..

mrwindymiller · 01-01-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no_ball

I used a car wash last week to take the salt and grime off, small amount of condensation in the headlights which is now gone. Must be a small rat hole somewhere..

I will have a scoot around for rodents.

F104 · 01-01-2011, 03:13 PM

had the same after washing the dirt of the last weeks off. On top of the xenon light units there's triangular covers with an o-ring seal. Just pop them off and let them dry out or use a hair dryer

mrwindymiller · 01-01-2011, 03:46 PM

I will try the hair dryer trick as soon as we get a fairly dry day. Hope I don't have to wait until May!!!!

zltm089 · 01-01-2011, 04:07 PM

got some condensation in my right one!!!....really annoying...

Barnsleyshaun · 01-05-2011, 10:39 AM

Glad I've seen this post - as I get condensation in mnie and then it goes, I was giong to call in to my local dealer to ask about it - its pretty poor though in my opinion that this occurs on a brand new £34K motor. I have never noticed it before on any of my other cars.

Falmouthboy · 01-06-2011, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnsleyshaun

Glad I've seen this post - as I get condensation in mnie and then it goes, I was giong to call in to my local dealer to ask about it - its pretty poor though in my opinion that this occurs on a brand new £34K motor. I have never noticed it before on any of my other cars.

£34k - my friend has an £75k 750i with condensation in his headlights -

Licit · 03-03-2011, 08:16 PM

Damn anyone find a fix cause I have this in my drivers side headlight? I've used a heater fan to dry it out but it keeps coming back so obviously this isn't a fix. I looked at the headlight assembly and there is nothing uncapped or anything. Plus it's been days since I washed it or we've had any rain.

01-01-2011, 12:27 PM	#1
mrwindymiller Private 5 Rep 85 Posts Drives: E60 535d M Sport Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Rothwell iTrader: (0)	Condensation in headlights. 330i I know there are many posts on this problem, mostly with the rectification being replacing the light units. How come my £30K+ car has this issue when my 18 year old Vauxhall Astra, 8 year old Transit and the mother in laws cheapie Hyundai Matrix doesn't. My previous BMW's, 2 E34's, 3 E39's never suffered from this!!!! Can anyone shed any light (pardon the pun) on how to rectify the problem for good. Any additional help greatly received. Also on a different tack, the oil level indicator showed the car needed 3/4 of a litre of oil today, I put a measured half litre in it, but the indicator did not move. Any idea's?
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01-01-2011, 12:42 PM	#2
Jeff123 Jeff 318 Rep 1,451 Posts Drives: 330d M Sport x-drive F30 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0)	Regarding the headlights, mine had this c9 months ago. I was over keen with the hosepipe with the bonnet open (on the catch), I think. Took it to a dealer and he explained that the lights are not sealed units as such. They just told me to drive with the lights on for a while and it would disappear. I actually used a hair dryer to remove the condensation. It returned and I repeated the procedure - after that it has not come back. My (untrained) advice would be to do as I did, but also to be very careful using a hose with the bonnet up. Water and electronics just don't mix. Some people on the forum prefer a dirty engine to one that appears too clean.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-01-2011, 12:52 PM	#3
mrwindymiller Private 5 Rep 85 Posts Drives: E60 535d M Sport Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Rothwell iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info Jeff, I did have the car washed at a hand car wash last week, lazy s*d I know but it was just to remove the salt and grime. The condensation appeared after that and I do remember them being very "keen" with the steam cleaner. Will get the wifes hair dryer to them and see what happens.
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01-01-2011, 12:57 PM	#4
no_ball No Fear 13 Rep 278 Posts Drives: BMW E90 330d M Sport Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Solihull iTrader: (0)	I used a car wash last week to take the salt and grime off, small amount of condensation in the headlights which is now gone. Must be a small rat hole somewhere..
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01-01-2011, 03:13 PM	#6
F104 Captain 19 Rep 732 Posts Drives: E92 320D M-sport Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: belgium iTrader: (0)	had the same after washing the dirt of the last weeks off. On top of the xenon light units there's triangular covers with an o-ring seal. Just pop them off and let them dry out or use a hair dryer
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01-01-2011, 03:46 PM	#7
mrwindymiller Private 5 Rep 85 Posts Drives: E60 535d M Sport Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Rothwell iTrader: (0)	I will try the hair dryer trick as soon as we get a fairly dry day. Hope I don't have to wait until May!!!!
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01-01-2011, 04:07 PM	#8
zltm089 Banned 243 Rep 7,690 Posts Drives: 335i SE Coupe Space Grey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: LONDON iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 335i [10.00]	got some condensation in my right one!!!....really annoying...
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01-05-2011, 10:39 AM	#9
Barnsleyshaun Private First Class 47 Rep 120 Posts Drives: F30 330E MSport Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Barnsley iTrader: (0)	Glad I've seen this post - as I get condensation in mnie and then it goes, I was giong to call in to my local dealer to ask about it - its pretty poor though in my opinion that this occurs on a brand new £34K motor. I have never noticed it before on any of my other cars. __________________ F30 330E MSport
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03-03-2011, 08:16 PM	#11
Licit Private First Class 11 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2007 335xi Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Indy, IN iTrader: (1)	Damn anyone find a fix cause I have this in my drivers side headlight? I've used a heater fan to dry it out but it keeps coming back so obviously this isn't a fix. I looked at the headlight assembly and there is nothing uncapped or anything. Plus it's been days since I washed it or we've had any rain.
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