06-03-2011, 06:35 AM | #1 |
Colonel
303
Rep 2,612
Posts
Drives: F30 328i Luxury - Sport Auto
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lancashire, North West England, UK
|
WHAT is causing the condensation in the headlamps?
Every X3 owner I have spoken to has discovered condensation in their headlamps. Even Xenon lights!!
Why does the BMW X3 have this issue? What is causing it?
__________________
Gone: 2006 BMW E60 520d SE 6MT Gone: 2009 BMW E90-LCI 330d SE 6MT Current: 2012 F30 328i Luxury 8AT On Order: 2015 Audi A6 Avant Ultra, Black Edition (sorry!) |
06-03-2011, 07:00 AM | #2 |
Major
48
Rep 1,089
Posts |
Not me
__________________
BMW F25 X3 xDRIVE 20d SE Black Sapphire | Oyster Leather | Fineline Sienna Wood | 307 V Spokes | Auto | Prof Multimedia Package | xLine Package | Xenons | Business Radio | Sports Steering Wheel | Sports Seats | Panoramic Sunroof | Sun Protection Glass | Sun Blinds | Folding Ext. Mirrors + Titanium Grille | Chrome Exhaust Trim | Mudflaps |
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 07:02 AM | #3 |
Colonel
303
Rep 2,612
Posts
Drives: F30 328i Luxury - Sport Auto
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lancashire, North West England, UK
|
You're my first without then! Lucky you.
__________________
Gone: 2006 BMW E60 520d SE 6MT Gone: 2009 BMW E90-LCI 330d SE 6MT Current: 2012 F30 328i Luxury 8AT On Order: 2015 Audi A6 Avant Ultra, Black Edition (sorry!) Last edited by SomeRandomer123; 04-08-2015 at 06:57 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 07:34 AM | #4 |
Brigadier General
91
Rep 3,855
Posts |
Not the majority of people on this forum, including me. And if you weren't an XBimmer member and you had the problem, you'd be more likely to come here and post, so I'm guessing it's a very small number of cases. Less than 1%. Pure conjecture but there are 100s of F25 owners already and two (I think) have reported the problem on this forum.
__________________
F25 xDrive20d SE __ professional multimedia package | dynamic package | climate package | 309s | xline | xenons | electric seats | folding mirrors | business speakers |
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 07:56 AM | #5 |
First Lieutenant
7
Rep 325
Posts
Drives: 2011 X3 xDrive 28i
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Toronto
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 08:09 AM | #6 |
Colonel
644
Rep 2,294
Posts |
__________________
2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Sunset Orange
Previous BMWs - 19 others since 1971. |
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 09:16 AM | #8 |
Private
3
Rep 56
Posts |
I think this is common to all cars (very expensive cars included) especially if the humidity level is high or rainy, couple that with a sudden shift from warm to cold temp. Even my expensive divers' watch that says “water resistant up to 50m” gets this occasionally.
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 10:14 AM | #9 |
Colonel
303
Rep 2,612
Posts
Drives: F30 328i Luxury - Sport Auto
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lancashire, North West England, UK
|
Well this makes me feel much better anyway!
__________________
Gone: 2006 BMW E60 520d SE 6MT Gone: 2009 BMW E90-LCI 330d SE 6MT Current: 2012 F30 328i Luxury 8AT On Order: 2015 Audi A6 Avant Ultra, Black Edition (sorry!) |
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 10:35 AM | #11 |
Captain
42
Rep 764
Posts |
None for me and believe or not San Diego is a high humidity area! To add to the controversy here's what I just wrote on the other thread.
May I humbly suggest that the condensation buildup is caused by being too "sealed" and not by being "sealed" up enough. Unless of course if you have obvious areas where water can penetrate. Condensation is natures way of "heating". There is too great of temperature difference between the cold outside temp and the warmer headlight housing. By increasing the amount of air going into the housing you can reduce the temp difference. Therefore reducing the need to "heat". Also increased venting would allow greater evaporation of the present moisture, which probably now exacerbates the problem by providing more available moisture. Last edited by Radioactive; 06-03-2011 at 10:38 AM.. Reason: Brain ahead of typing |
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 10:40 AM | #12 |
Lieutenant
13
Rep 579
Posts |
Haven't gotten condensation with xenons yet. Seattle is beyond humid, it just rains like 9 months out of the year. We've also been getting some crazy weather the last couple of weeks, rain for a day or two then high 70s almost 80s this weekend.
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 11:02 AM | #13 |
Second Lieutenant
28
Rep 236
Posts |
When I picked mine up last week I drove it home in a complete down pour, and was stuck in a long commute because of it. When I got home there was only a very slight condensation on the edges maybe the size of a dime or smaller, but that has gone now and I haven't seen it come back since even after driving through very rainy weather the past week.
I suspect that might have been humitity inside from when it was built and that has evaporated now since using the headlights... When I drove home last night I hit some light rain and the car was wet when I parked it in the garage last night. I just went out to check the headlights after reading this thread this morning and there is absolutely no condensation that I can see. |
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 02:26 PM | #14 |
Colonel
303
Rep 2,612
Posts
Drives: F30 328i Luxury - Sport Auto
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lancashire, North West England, UK
|
Ahh thanks for that Sabian! Im sure the UK should be okay then. Although when Fifth Gear did a (shite) review of it, the condensation did appear in low humidity wet weather.
__________________
Gone: 2006 BMW E60 520d SE 6MT Gone: 2009 BMW E90-LCI 330d SE 6MT Current: 2012 F30 328i Luxury 8AT On Order: 2015 Audi A6 Avant Ultra, Black Edition (sorry!) |
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 05:06 PM | #16 | |
Private
19
Rep 84
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
BMW F25 X3 xDrive20d SE black sapphire | black nevada leather | wave wood | 19" double spoke alloys | xline | xenons | business advanced media package | electric seats | dab | extended storage | grey shade band | auto |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 07:57 PM | #17 |
Enlisted Member
1
Rep 37
Posts |
I haven't had it on mine. Did have it on my 335i the first couple weeks I had it. Condensation occurs when the temperature on the inside of the housing is below the dew point of the air in the housing. If moisture was trapped in the housing during manufacture it will occur until it drys out assuming there is no other source such as a bad seal or something. If it's heavy and continues for a prolonged period might have it checked out?
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-03-2011, 10:06 PM | #19 |
Major
66
Rep 1,041
Posts |
What's all the whining about?
Condensation is half of the classic distillation process: Evaporation and then condensation of the evaporated fractions. Just consider your X3 a "still" on wheels. |
Appreciate
0
|
06-04-2011, 01:15 AM | #20 | |
Brigadier General
91
Rep 3,855
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
F25 xDrive20d SE __ professional multimedia package | dynamic package | climate package | 309s | xline | xenons | electric seats | folding mirrors | business speakers |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-04-2011, 07:34 AM | #21 |
Colonel
303
Rep 2,612
Posts
Drives: F30 328i Luxury - Sport Auto
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lancashire, North West England, UK
|
Well, that's cleared that up as far as I'm concerned! Thanks guys!
__________________
Gone: 2006 BMW E60 520d SE 6MT Gone: 2009 BMW E90-LCI 330d SE 6MT Current: 2012 F30 328i Luxury 8AT On Order: 2015 Audi A6 Avant Ultra, Black Edition (sorry!) |
Appreciate
0
|
04-08-2015, 02:15 PM | #22 |
Captain
126
Rep 615
Posts |
Back from the dead.....
I'm am lci owner and I had the x3 since June of last year. I had the car in storage for he winter and I have noticed today when i got it back that there is condensation buildup on both headlights. These are not the regular HID xenon headlamps. These are the more expensive led headlamps. Im really disappointed. Hope it goes away soon Last edited by MSport_Jon; 04-13-2015 at 02:07 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|