OEM xenon Headlamps "dirt" from the inside

elzorro4 · 12-03-2015, 09:26 PM

Today, after washing my 135i Ive noticed that both headlamps have a strange "mark" on the inside, as if they were being damaged by the xenon beam.

I took 3 pictures and made a yellow square around the mark so you can take a look.
What do you think?

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Dackelone · 12-03-2015, 09:55 PM

elzorro4 I fixed your photos. Its always best to upload your pictures directly to our forum. That way they will always be online to help other forum members in the future. Nothing more frustrating that finding a thread with an issue you are researching only to find broken picture links.

You can upload directly by clicking ADVANCE mode when posting and then click on the paper clip icon and upload your pics. File sizes should be around 100 to 400mb.

Now... I have no idea what has made those marks. But are you really sure those marks are on the inside of the headlights? Maybe use some detailing clay and lube to see IF they come out. ?

Also a lot of guys change the AE(Angel Eye) bulbs. But no one ever puts back the bulb covers back on correctly. Then water gets inside the headlight and causes major damage. $800 per headlight! Maybe that is what happened and the previous owner did not clean out the dirt?

Dackel

elzorro4 · 12-03-2015, 10:39 PM

1- the angel eyes are the original ones
2- they are on the inside, for sure, and on the headlamps of both sides of the car...

twinboost_MD · 12-04-2015, 12:15 AM

Check it again tomorrow could just be condensation from the wash. or if you were driving the car with the lights on right before the wash the temp difference from the cold water and the hot inside on the light could possibly do this. either way its temporary

Are you using factory bulbs? is the assembly itself a replacement? (valeo, etc.)
what year is the car?

elzorro4 · 12-04-2015, 06:57 AM

1- still there, lights were off before the wash
2- all factory. The car is from 2013 and has 20k miles.

pablom2c · 12-04-2015, 11:02 AM

I think this is "normal" and is because of the Xenon lights, I have the same "U" pattern on both my headlights of my 2008 135i and have seen the same on other BMWs.

Apart from those Xenon marks I also have a cloudy/foggy look to my headlights. I took my car to a detailer to do sanding and polishing to the headlights and the cloudiness is still there, those Xenon marks are still present too. From what I can tell the problem is from inside the headlight. I never get condensation after washing my car or when it rains so the covers appear to be tight, so I don't know how the headlights get dirty from the inside. I even found a small mosquito inside?

I guess I will live with them since replacing the whole headlight is very expensive and I don't want the detailer to take my headlights apart (what he suggested to polish the inside) and then cause an expensive headlight problem.

pablom2c · 12-04-2015, 11:15 AM

In this picture you can see the cloudiness that I refer to but you can't really see the "U" shaped Xenon marks, those are mostly visible with the Xenons on at night.

mistawall · 12-04-2015, 12:50 PM

i got the same circle on mine too

Ric in RVA · 12-04-2015, 12:54 PM

Car has full warranty and maintenance right? Clearly the part has failed.

Let the dealer replace the headlamps.

Maybe it is an issue with a run of the lamp material or something.

twinboost_MD · 12-04-2015, 02:39 PM

I'd have the dealer warranty that

elzorro4 · 04-19-2016, 01:58 PM

Finally I took my car to an official dealer and they replaced both headlamps under warranty.

The day was rainy and as soon as I arrived home with my new headlamps I realized there was condensation inside both headlamps...
I took it again and they said it should dissapear in a couple of days because of the heat...
I dont understand, if its sealed, how would this happen... if there is water inside heat would evaporate it but under cold weather water will appear again...

12-03-2015, 09:26 PM	#1
elzorro4 Private First Class 20 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Argentina iTrader: (0)	OEM xenon Headlamps "dirt" from the inside Today, after washing my 135i Ive noticed that both headlamps have a strange "mark" on the inside, as if they were being damaged by the xenon beam. I took 3 pictures and made a yellow square around the mark so you can take a look. What do you think?
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12-03-2015, 09:55 PM	#2
Dackelone European Editor 10539 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	elzorro4 I fixed your photos. Its always best to upload your pictures directly to our forum. That way they will always be online to help other forum members in the future. Nothing more frustrating that finding a thread with an issue you are researching only to find broken picture links. You can upload directly by clicking ADVANCE mode when posting and then click on the paper clip icon and upload your pics. File sizes should be around 100 to 400mb. Now... I have no idea what has made those marks. But are you really sure those marks are on the inside of the headlights? Maybe use some detailing clay and lube to see IF they come out. ? Also a lot of guys change the AE(Angel Eye) bulbs. But no one ever puts back the bulb covers back on correctly. Then water gets inside the headlight and causes major damage. $800 per headlight! Maybe that is what happened and the previous owner did not clean out the dirt? Dackel __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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12-03-2015, 10:39 PM	#3
elzorro4 Private First Class 20 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Argentina iTrader: (0)	1- the angel eyes are the original ones 2- they are on the inside, for sure, and on the headlamps of both sides of the car...
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12-04-2015, 12:15 AM	#4
twinboost_MD Private First Class 19 Rep 188 Posts Drives: AW 135i Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	Check it again tomorrow could just be condensation from the wash. or if you were driving the car with the lights on right before the wash the temp difference from the cold water and the hot inside on the light could possibly do this. either way its temporary Are you using factory bulbs? is the assembly itself a replacement? (valeo, etc.) what year is the car?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-04-2015, 06:57 AM	#5
elzorro4 Private First Class 20 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Argentina iTrader: (0)	1- still there, lights were off before the wash 2- all factory. The car is from 2013 and has 20k miles.
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12-04-2015, 11:02 AM	#6
pablom2c Private First Class 125 Rep 174 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: South America iTrader: (0)	I think this is "normal" and is because of the Xenon lights, I have the same "U" pattern on both my headlights of my 2008 135i and have seen the same on other BMWs. Apart from those Xenon marks I also have a cloudy/foggy look to my headlights. I took my car to a detailer to do sanding and polishing to the headlights and the cloudiness is still there, those Xenon marks are still present too. From what I can tell the problem is from inside the headlight. I never get condensation after washing my car or when it rains so the covers appear to be tight, so I don't know how the headlights get dirty from the inside. I even found a small mosquito inside? I guess I will live with them since replacing the whole headlight is very expensive and I don't want the detailer to take my headlights apart (what he suggested to polish the inside) and then cause an expensive headlight problem. Last edited by pablom2c; 12-04-2015 at 11:17 AM..
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12-04-2015, 11:15 AM	#7
pablom2c Private First Class 125 Rep 174 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: South America iTrader: (0)	In this picture you can see the cloudiness that I refer to but you can't really see the "U" shaped Xenon marks, those are mostly visible with the Xenons on at night. Attached Images
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12-04-2015, 12:50 PM	#8
mistawall Lieutenant 113 Rep 499 Posts Drives: 08 135i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: ct iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [9.50]	i got the same circle on mine too __________________ 08 135i\|1M conversion\|Montego Blue\|TFT Inlets\|Riss Racing DPs\|Riss Racing Exhaust\|Tial BOV\|VRSF 7"FMIC\|WEDGE TUNED\|BMS Short Throw Shift\|BlackLines\|PURE stg2\| follow me on instagram!
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12-04-2015, 12:54 PM	#9
Ric in RVA Bergspyder 1469 Rep 1,212 Posts Drives: '11 BMW 128i Sport 6mt Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Richmond VA iTrader: (1)	Car has full warranty and maintenance right? Clearly the part has failed. Let the dealer replace the headlamps. Maybe it is an issue with a run of the lamp material or something. __________________ Ric in RVA 2011 128i 6 MT Sport, 2009 Cayman 987.2, 2011 528i N52, 2018 F150 Platinum
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12-04-2015, 02:39 PM	#10
twinboost_MD Private First Class 19 Rep 188 Posts Drives: AW 135i Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	I'd have the dealer warranty that
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04-19-2016, 01:58 PM	#11
elzorro4 Private First Class 20 Rep 116 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Argentina iTrader: (0)	Finally I took my car to an official dealer and they replaced both headlamps under warranty. The day was rainy and as soon as I arrived home with my new headlamps I realized there was condensation inside both headlamps... I took it again and they said it should dissapear in a couple of days because of the heat... I dont understand, if its sealed, how would this happen... if there is water inside heat would evaporate it but under cold weather water will appear again...
	Appreciate 2 Quote