Xenon headlight letting moisture inside

respectBMW · 03-10-2012, 04:55 PM

So i installed my xenons today and then i took my car to get washed. When i got it back I noticed some condensation inside my passenger side headlight. I looked at the back cover and I noticed that one of the small raised pieces of plastic has broken off. So part of the back cover has nothing to grab on to and it is not sealed all the way.

So am I screwed? or can should i get some velcro and zip ties to properly seal it?

Alpineweiss e90 · 03-10-2012, 08:55 PM

Just buy a new cover. I think it's like $20 or something like that

respectBMW · 03-10-2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpineweiss e90

Just buy a new cover. I think it's like $20 or something like that

Its not the cover that is broken. It is the tab on the headlight, which connects to the cover, that has broken off.

respectBMW · 03-10-2012, 09:07 PM

Here you can see some of the minor condensation that has built up.

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dant111 · 03-12-2012, 11:01 AM

Sry for hijacking thread.

@respectBMW - where can i get a new lens to replace my cracked lens?

Bendercle · 03-12-2012, 11:24 AM

I had this exact problem, the previous owner or some incompetent service person broke that little thing off. Depending on which clip it is, you may be able to still have an airtight seal as long as all the other clips are on tight. Just to be safe, you can do what I did and get a tube of silicone sealant and apply it on the loose side. It's waterproof and comes off easy in case you ever need to get in there again.

PINeely · 03-12-2012, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dant111

Sry for hijacking thread.

@respectBMW - where can i get a new lens to replace my cracked lens?

The headlights are a one-piece assembly so I'd be surprised if you could buy a replacement cover. In order to replace the cover you'd have to crack the housing open, replace, then reseal it to be airtight or moisture will get in. You're better off replacing the headlight.

dant111 · 03-12-2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PINeely

The headlights are a one-piece assembly so I'd be surprised if you could buy a replacement cover. In order to replace the cover you'd have to crack the housing open, replace, then reseal it to be airtight or moisture will get in. You're better off replacing the headlight.

I have the adaptive assembly. its gonna cost me 1200 to replace........

Can you recommend where i can get aftermarket? I will probably replace both in this situation....

PINeely · 03-12-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dant111

I have the adaptive assembly. its gonna cost me 1200 to replace........

Can you recommend where i can get aftermarket? I will probably replace both in this situation....

Tough question. Depo Projector headlights ( http://www.ebay.co.uk:80/itm/BMW-E90...item35aeae247e) are popular and run $400 to $500 for a set but I don't know if you can PNP them with adaptive headlights without codes or not. Most of the people who get them are upgrading from halogens.

NiVeDh · 03-12-2012, 12:45 PM

Give it a day or two. Any time you open the cover (to install bulbs, etc.), you are trapping some moisture in there. Let it evaporate and leak out. If it doesn't clear up, then you have a problem. It's very common for those tabs to break but the cover will still seal up just fine.

respectBMW · 03-12-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bendercle

I had this exact problem, the previous owner or some incompetent service person broke that little thing off. Depending on which clip it is, you may be able to still have an airtight seal as long as all the other clips are on tight. Just to be safe, you can do what I did and get a tube of silicone sealant and apply it on the loose side. It's waterproof and comes off easy in case you ever need to get in there again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

Give it a day or two. Any time you open the cover (to install bulbs, etc.), you are trapping some moisture in there. Let it evaporate and leak out. If it doesn't clear up, then you have a problem. It's very common for those tabs to break but the cover will still seal up just fine.

Thanks for the replies. The moisture is completely gone. Just to be safe I bought some industrial strength velcro and now the back cover is sitting very firm now. I hope that solves the problem.

Shahaed · 03-12-2012, 01:40 PM

If it does not I'm always here to buy those headlights.

NiVeDh · 03-12-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shahaed

If it does not I'm always here to buy those headlights.

I have a set with 200 miles on it. Pre-LCI w/ AHL. Interested?

respectBMW · 03-12-2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shahaed

If it does not I'm always here to buy those headlights.

Yeah..no way. You better buy from Nivedh.

respectBMW · 03-12-2012, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PINeely

The headlights are a one-piece assembly so I'd be surprised if you could buy a replacement cover. In order to replace the cover you'd have to crack the housing open, replace, then reseal it to be airtight or moisture will get in. You're better off replacing the headlight.

What i mean by cover is the back dust cover that you have to open when you want to replace a bulb.

respectBMW · 03-12-2012, 06:27 PM

Well it started raining and no moisture got into my headlight. So it looks like everything is holding up.

03-10-2012, 04:55 PM	#1
respectBMW Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 226 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Roswell, Georgia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	Xenon headlight letting moisture inside So i installed my xenons today and then i took my car to get washed. When i got it back I noticed some condensation inside my passenger side headlight. I looked at the back cover and I noticed that one of the small raised pieces of plastic has broken off. So part of the back cover has nothing to grab on to and it is not sealed all the way. So am I screwed? or can should i get some velcro and zip ties to properly seal it? Last edited by respectBMW; 03-10-2012 at 09:05 PM..
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03-10-2012, 08:55 PM	#2
Alpineweiss e90 Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 221 Posts Drives: AW 330xi Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: . iTrader: (0)	Just buy a new cover. I think it's like $20 or something like that
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03-10-2012, 09:07 PM	#4
respectBMW Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 226 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Roswell, Georgia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	Here you can see some of the minor condensation that has built up.
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03-12-2012, 11:01 AM	#5
dant111 New Member 0 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328xi Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Sry for hijacking thread. @respectBMW - where can i get a new lens to replace my cracked lens?
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03-12-2012, 11:24 AM	#6
Bendercle Banned 17 Rep 263 Posts Drives: 2007 335xi 6MT Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: North Shore MA iTrader: (3)	I had this exact problem, the previous owner or some incompetent service person broke that little thing off. Depending on which clip it is, you may be able to still have an airtight seal as long as all the other clips are on tight. Just to be safe, you can do what I did and get a tube of silicone sealant and apply it on the loose side. It's waterproof and comes off easy in case you ever need to get in there again.
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03-12-2012, 12:45 PM	#10
NiVeDh Major General 422 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	Give it a day or two. Any time you open the cover (to install bulbs, etc.), you are trapping some moisture in there. Let it evaporate and leak out. If it doesn't clear up, then you have a problem. It's very common for those tabs to break but the cover will still seal up just fine.
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03-12-2012, 01:40 PM	#12
Shahaed Second Lieutenant 21 Rep 268 Posts Drives: BMW E90 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0)	If it does not I'm always here to buy those headlights.
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03-12-2012, 06:27 PM	#16
respectBMW Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 226 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Roswell, Georgia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	Well it started raining and no moisture got into my headlight. So it looks like everything is holding up.
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