Is this normal? Water in headlights... See pictures

MikesBMW · 02-03-2015, 12:15 PM

Droplets of water, condensation, and fog in my headlights after rain or a car wash. Never fully clears up.. More noticeable after the car is wet and during temperature changes. Also noticed one of the headlights bounces just a bit when hitting bumps in the road at night. Bought the car used, it has a clean carfax, but I did notice one of the screws on the headlight bracket looks like it was twisted with the wrong size screw driver... Car is still under warranty... just hoping it wasn't in an unreported accident.

TUN3D · 02-03-2015, 01:05 PM

BMW135iMike > Nah dude. That's not normal > never is. If the droplets are excessive and there's alot of condensation, then I would recommend the following.

- First, turn off the angles/day-time running lights thru your steering controls.
- Second, If it's day time, then disconnect the headlights all together and drive home.

The reasoning is, just in case some of that condensation works it's way to the controller/module (located on the bottom of the light). You don't want to fry the unit. That module controls the adaptive functions of the headlight -- will cause an annoying in-dash code every time you start the car, until it's fixed.

Anyways, our cars are notorious for this kinda stuff happening. If you can, remove the caps on the back of the light and use a blow dryer (on low), to heat up the outside lens. Make sure you don't get too close and/or focus on one spot for too long so that you don't burn the light (difficult to do, but just in case). Nice back-and-forth strokes would be ideal. The idea is to get the lens hot, this will eliminate the condensation.

Afterwards, take your time and make SURE you place the caps on correctly.

It could be an accident that wasn't reported (always a possibility), but could also be that the previous owner had different color bulbs/angles and didn't put the caps on properly. That, or the light was replaced/changed by the dealer or previous owner.

If after you do this, it still build up condensation. Then take it to the dealer. If you're still under warranty -- you should be good. I would still run thru this exercise though...so you know what to do in the future. I hate going to the dealer.

MikesBMW · 02-03-2015, 03:33 PM

thanks man

MightyMouseTech · 02-03-2015, 03:49 PM

Get this fixed ASAP before you blow a couple grand on new headlights.

MikesBMW · 02-03-2015, 06:02 PM

trying to get an appointment, dealer is real busy and doesn't have a time slot with loaner car for at least a week

Ultimateone · 02-03-2015, 08:04 PM

I think you have already made a thread about this stuff, did you check the back headlight doors to see if they were on correctly and tight?

MikesBMW · 02-03-2015, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultimateone

I think you have already made a thread about this stuff, did you check the back headlight doors to see if they were on correctly and tight?

Yea they are on snug

TUN3D · 02-04-2015, 11:19 AM

BMW135iMike > Dry them and re-do the caps. I've had moments when I thought them to be snug and for whatever reason -- were not and condensation set. Taking them off/on, seemed to help.

Jim621 · 03-17-2015, 06:11 AM

You can use silica gels to absorb the condensation - you get them in perfectly sized small packets in the box when you buy new shoes.
try and fit it somewhere inside the cap.

highbrowed · 03-17-2015, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUN3D

BMW135iMike > Dry them and re-do the caps. I've had moments when I thought them to be snug and for whatever reason -- were not and condensation set. Taking them off/on, seemed to help.

This made me lol when I remembered how tight the fit was when I removed my headlight caps. I can see how it would be easy to think it's on when it's not. Took me about 45 minutes to get the covers on both sides with my giant man mitts.

lainmike0710 · 03-25-2015, 03:43 AM

DO NOT let this go, and I see that you aren't with an appointment set at the dealer but a year ago my fiance backed her Civic into my left fender and it caused the plastic piece that the cap's metal clip goes into on the bottom to break off unknown to me and I went through a car wash...long story short, I then had an adaptive headlight dash light for good and the headlight bulb no longer lit up. Turned into insurance and a new headlight assembly, ballast, and most importantly the part that a lot of people don't truly know about, the footwell module(LCM or Lighting Control Module) which resides in the passenger side footwell I guess were all fried and had to be replaced---with labor, about 3 grand....one headlight. Water and headlights do not mix.

02-03-2015, 12:15 PM	#1
MikesBMW Banned 318 Rep 1,410 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ohio iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 BMW X1 [0.00]	Is this normal? Water in headlights... See pictures Droplets of water, condensation, and fog in my headlights after rain or a car wash. Never fully clears up.. More noticeable after the car is wet and during temperature changes. Also noticed one of the headlights bounces just a bit when hitting bumps in the road at night. Bought the car used, it has a clean carfax, but I did notice one of the screws on the headlight bracket looks like it was twisted with the wrong size screw driver... Car is still under warranty... just hoping it wasn't in an unreported accident. Attached Images
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02-03-2015, 01:05 PM	#2
TUN3D Major 193 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: none iTrader: (17)	BMW135iMike > Nah dude. That's not normal > never is. If the droplets are excessive and there's alot of condensation, then I would recommend the following. - First, turn off the angles/day-time running lights thru your steering controls. - Second, If it's day time, then disconnect the headlights all together and drive home. The reasoning is, just in case some of that condensation works it's way to the controller/module (located on the bottom of the light). You don't want to fry the unit. That module controls the adaptive functions of the headlight -- will cause an annoying in-dash code every time you start the car, until it's fixed. Anyways, our cars are notorious for this kinda stuff happening. If you can, remove the caps on the back of the light and use a blow dryer (on low), to heat up the outside lens. Make sure you don't get too close and/or focus on one spot for too long so that you don't burn the light (difficult to do, but just in case). Nice back-and-forth strokes would be ideal. The idea is to get the lens hot, this will eliminate the condensation. Afterwards, take your time and make SURE you place the caps on correctly. It could be an accident that wasn't reported (always a possibility), but could also be that the previous owner had different color bulbs/angles and didn't put the caps on properly. That, or the light was replaced/changed by the dealer or previous owner. If after you do this, it still build up condensation. Then take it to the dealer. If you're still under warranty -- you should be good. I would still run thru this exercise though...so you know what to do in the future. I hate going to the dealer. __________________ Last edited by TUN3D; 02-03-2015 at 01:12 PM..
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02-03-2015, 03:33 PM	#3
MikesBMW Banned 318 Rep 1,410 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ohio iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 BMW X1 [0.00]	thanks man
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02-03-2015, 03:49 PM	#4
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Get this fixed ASAP before you blow a couple grand on new headlights.
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02-03-2015, 06:02 PM	#5
MikesBMW Banned 318 Rep 1,410 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ohio iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 BMW X1 [0.00]	trying to get an appointment, dealer is real busy and doesn't have a time slot with loaner car for at least a week
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02-03-2015, 08:04 PM	#6
Ultimateone OG E46Fanatic 173 Rep 845 Posts Drives: 24 Champ White CTR Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (4)	I think you have already made a thread about this stuff, did you check the back headlight doors to see if they were on correctly and tight?
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02-04-2015, 11:19 AM	#8
TUN3D Major 193 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: none iTrader: (17)	BMW135iMike > Dry them and re-do the caps. I've had moments when I thought them to be snug and for whatever reason -- were not and condensation set. Taking them off/on, seemed to help. __________________
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03-17-2015, 06:11 AM	#9
Jim621 Private First Class 25 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	You can use silica gels to absorb the condensation - you get them in perfectly sized small packets in the box when you buy new shoes. try and fit it somewhere inside the cap.
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03-25-2015, 03:43 AM	#11
lainmike0710 Private First Class 29 Rep 134 Posts Drives: '10 e82 128i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (-2)	DO NOT let this go, and I see that you aren't with an appointment set at the dealer but a year ago my fiance backed her Civic into my left fender and it caused the plastic piece that the cap's metal clip goes into on the bottom to break off unknown to me and I went through a car wash...long story short, I then had an adaptive headlight dash light for good and the headlight bulb no longer lit up. Turned into insurance and a new headlight assembly, ballast, and most importantly the part that a lot of people don't truly know about, the footwell module(LCM or Lighting Control Module) which resides in the passenger side footwell I guess were all fried and had to be replaced---with labor, about 3 grand....one headlight. Water and headlights do not mix.
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