water in headlight

DTNJNQ · 09-21-2011, 06:59 AM

I had the car washed today. I noticed some moisture in the passenger side head light. When I check the headlight I notices in moves a bit due to one of the screw holding it being loose, however I can't see where the water has entered. Where is it getting in from and how do I dry the water out? Hopefully once I tighten the screw it will stop water getting in.

.

Drawn05 · 09-21-2011, 07:20 AM

Either the plastic lid or the indicator "thingy" (handle maybe?) is loose and needs to be tightened. I would guess that its the indicators as I forgot to put the indicators back in once and moisture got in there almost immediately.

If it doesn't dry up by the morning, use a hairdryer to dry it up - it will take a while. Make sure that that covers are on properly.

DTNJNQ · 09-21-2011, 07:24 AM

Do you mean the covers at the rear?

Wizzzz · 09-21-2011, 07:35 AM

Check the back cover. It probably doesn't have a good seal to it.

Edit: Most likely after you changed the Angel Eyes globes the back cover hasn't gone back on properly.

Eddie135 · 09-21-2011, 10:06 PM

I got the moisture from washing car also.
Spoke to the dealership, the claim it is due to condensation, nothing major.

Just parked under the sun and it will evaporate shortly.

RaihaX · 09-21-2011, 10:25 PM

just be careful my headlight had condensation and shortly after the xenon light died...

lucky it was covered under warranty as the condensation was due to a crack on the headlight allowing water in

DTNJNQ · 09-21-2011, 10:58 PM

Opened the back up last night and used a hair dryer for a while. The mositure appears to have gone. Also tightened up all the screws holding the light fitting and therefore the light fitting doesn't move any more.

Stuart@BMRAutowerkes · 09-21-2011, 11:12 PM

I had water/moisture the other day as well... and then the 'ignitor' went out... luckily got that replaced under warranty, but yeh I think it was due to me not putting the rear cover on properly when changing the angel eyes lol.

RaihaX · 09-22-2011, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

I had water/moisture the other day as well... and then the 'ignitor' went out... luckily got that replaced under warranty, but yeh I think it was due to me not putting the rear cover on properly when changing the angel eyes lol.

I quadruple check my installation and seal to make sure everything was good cause I was scared of this

ps. thanks for the help mate!

bustie30 · 09-22-2011, 12:24 AM

Yeah, get onto it quick smart, mine just died as it was missing a clip for the cover on the back and the water caused the ballast th go.

Stuart@BMRAutowerkes · 11-14-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianf2002

So mine has just gone, with dash warning. I noticed some misting in the headlamp after washing. Is this just the Xenon bulb or the ballast usually?

Very unlikely to be ballast, most probs bulb only.

Seems like it's a common occurrence, get it checked under warranty. I had my rhs headlight seal replaced under warranty as it was broken/faulty somehow

Stuart@BMRAutowerkes · 11-14-2011, 04:35 PM

Yeh my covers were definitely clipped in properly too... then one day when washing the car it was just full of moisture...

I took it to the dealer, they blamed it on the LUX (even though the covers were in 100%) but through their 'goodwill' they replaced the bulb for me and dried it out and put the covers back on etc.

Then a few months later all of a sudden the headlight fills with water and sure enough the bulb goes out. I took it back to the dealer saying well it's definitely not from the LUX this time because you guys were the last people to play around back there, anyway they replaced the seal under warranty/goodwill however said that if it happens again I'll need to get a new headlight or something which won't be covered under warranty.

long story short, yeh I reckon remove the LUX, just for 'peace of mind' and so they can't weasel their way out. Make sure you clip everything in properly though.

Stuart@BMRAutowerkes · 11-14-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianf2002

Cool, will remove LUX, as just called parts and they informed me that the bulb is $500...WTF!... they suggested I bring it in for warranty as common problem.

Yeh bulbs are ridiculously overpriced!

What dealer? would be good to know just in case mine fog up again I will remove my LUX and go play dumb at that dealer

pcockley · 11-14-2011, 08:17 PM

not the dodgy one at rushcutters

DTNJNQ · 11-15-2011, 12:35 AM

I tightened all the bolts/nuts holding the headlight and checked the rear covers. I've washed my car a few since and had no water in the headlight.

BMW may blame the installation of the LUX for this problem, however same thing may happen when replacing with OEM bulbs. The fact that it's an non OEM bulb shouldn't cause the problem. The owner's manual has instructions on how to change bulb and from what I can see it's something that can be done by the owner. The problem is more with the design of the rear covers that are so hard to remove and put back on.

Zuzu · 11-15-2011, 01:02 AM

Not to be picky...BUT it seems only you guys who have changed their lights have had this problem with moisture..

feel free to shoot me down if i am wrong..

09-21-2011, 06:59 AM	#1
DTNJNQ Captain 110 Rep 994 Posts Drives: M2, 135i, Xclass Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [8.66]	water in headlight I had the car washed today. I noticed some moisture in the passenger side head light. When I check the headlight I notices in moves a bit due to one of the screw holding it being loose, however I can't see where the water has entered. Where is it getting in from and how do I dry the water out? Hopefully once I tighten the screw it will stop water getting in. . Attached Images
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09-21-2011, 07:20 AM	#2
Drawn05 Captain 67 Rep 853 Posts Drives: Yes Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Left iTrader: (0)	Either the plastic lid or the indicator "thingy" (handle maybe?) is loose and needs to be tightened. I would guess that its the indicators as I forgot to put the indicators back in once and moisture got in there almost immediately. If it doesn't dry up by the morning, use a hairdryer to dry it up - it will take a while. Make sure that that covers are on properly.
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09-21-2011, 07:24 AM	#3
DTNJNQ Captain 110 Rep 994 Posts Drives: M2, 135i, Xclass Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [8.66]	Do you mean the covers at the rear?
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09-21-2011, 07:35 AM	#4
Wizzzz Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 232 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Check the back cover. It probably doesn't have a good seal to it. Edit: Most likely after you changed the Angel Eyes globes the back cover hasn't gone back on properly.
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09-21-2011, 10:06 PM	#5
Eddie135 N55 Commando 55 Rep 797 Posts Drives: 135i - DCT - N55 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	I got the moisture from washing car also. Spoke to the dealership, the claim it is due to condensation, nothing major. Just parked under the sun and it will evaporate shortly.
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09-21-2011, 10:25 PM	#6
RaihaX Major General 156 Rep 4,995 Posts Drives: 08' 135i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia, Perth iTrader: (2)	just be careful my headlight had condensation and shortly after the xenon light died... lucky it was covered under warranty as the condensation was due to a crack on the headlight allowing water in
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09-21-2011, 10:58 PM	#7
DTNJNQ Captain 110 Rep 994 Posts Drives: M2, 135i, Xclass Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [8.66]	Opened the back up last night and used a hair dryer for a while. The mositure appears to have gone. Also tightened up all the screws holding the light fitting and therefore the light fitting doesn't move any more.
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09-21-2011, 11:12 PM	#8
Stuart@BMRAutowerkes Major General 808 Rep 5,530 Posts Drives: a black car Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sydney iTrader: (3)	I had water/moisture the other day as well... and then the 'ignitor' went out... luckily got that replaced under warranty, but yeh I think it was due to me not putting the rear cover on properly when changing the angel eyes lol.
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09-22-2011, 12:24 AM	#10
bustie30 New Member 3 Rep 26 Posts Drives: E30 325e Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Canberra Australia iTrader: (0)	Yeah, get onto it quick smart, mine just died as it was missing a clip for the cover on the back and the water caused the ballast th go.
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11-14-2011, 04:35 PM	#12
Stuart@BMRAutowerkes Major General 808 Rep 5,530 Posts Drives: a black car Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sydney iTrader: (3)	Yeh my covers were definitely clipped in properly too... then one day when washing the car it was just full of moisture... I took it to the dealer, they blamed it on the LUX (even though the covers were in 100%) but through their 'goodwill' they replaced the bulb for me and dried it out and put the covers back on etc. Then a few months later all of a sudden the headlight fills with water and sure enough the bulb goes out. I took it back to the dealer saying well it's definitely not from the LUX this time because you guys were the last people to play around back there, anyway they replaced the seal under warranty/goodwill however said that if it happens again I'll need to get a new headlight or something which won't be covered under warranty. long story short, yeh I reckon remove the LUX, just for 'peace of mind' and so they can't weasel their way out. Make sure you clip everything in properly though.
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11-14-2011, 08:17 PM	#14
pcockley Banned 43 Rep 1,719 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: sydney iTrader: (1)	not the dodgy one at rushcutters
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11-15-2011, 12:35 AM	#15
DTNJNQ Captain 110 Rep 994 Posts Drives: M2, 135i, Xclass Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [8.66]	I tightened all the bolts/nuts holding the headlight and checked the rear covers. I've washed my car a few since and had no water in the headlight. BMW may blame the installation of the LUX for this problem, however same thing may happen when replacing with OEM bulbs. The fact that it's an non OEM bulb shouldn't cause the problem. The owner's manual has instructions on how to change bulb and from what I can see it's something that can be done by the owner. The problem is more with the design of the rear covers that are so hard to remove and put back on. __________________ __________________________________________________
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11-15-2011, 01:02 AM	#16
Zuzu Major General 2816 Rep 7,637 Posts Drives: M2C HS 6MT Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sydney Australia iTrader: (0)	Not to be picky...BUT it seems only you guys who have changed their lights have had this problem with moisture.. feel free to shoot me down if i am wrong..
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