[Steveo535]

Hi All

Anyone else suffering with the above I have it in both my headlights.

Had it on previous BMW’s I’ve owned but not this bad. I have water beading inside the lights.

[DimM3]

Had the same in my m40 during the weekend where temp was -2 during the night but is gone now when I looked yesterday.Have the icon adaptive headlights.

[Gritty]

That doesn't seem right, those should be sealed. I had a similar issue on my Mercedes after someone backed into my bumper. Ultimately insurance paid to replace, in your case you may have a warranty claim?

[spta97]

Headlights (most) have vents which should get rid of the moisture, but it doesn't seem right on a brand new car.

I would have the dealer swap them.

[j080808]

Not totally uncommon, as others have mentioned, they are vented. Ive experienced this with large temp/humidity swings and it always goes away.

[Gritty]

Originally Posted by Gritty

That doesn't seem right, those should be sealed. I had a similar issue on my Mercedes after someone backed into my bumper. Ultimately insurance paid to replace, in your case you may have a warranty claim?

Upon further thought, the issue I had was with the fog lights and the moister didn't clear. That said I've never recalled headlights with moisture like that and I'm fairly old

[russellg]

Both my lamps had the same on delivery day, before I even pulled it out of the showroom.

Before you request them swapped out I’d run them for a couple of weeks, the heat from the lights themselves should vent the condensation through the check valve.

[Gritty]

Originally Posted by russellg

Both my lamps had the same on delivery day, before I even pulled it out of the showroom.

Before you request them swapped out I’d run them for a couple of weeks, the heat from the lights themselves should vent the condensation through the check valve.

Hmm - I guess that's a new design, good to know. Thanks

[russellg]

I also think it’s an effect of sitting out in the weather for a couple of months.

My car was a Thorne car, probably sat outside since it arrived before I took delivery.

Probably in the shade too.

I’ll be keeping a close watch on mine to avoid as far as possible taking back to the dealer for a headlight problem.

Experience has shown me that setting up the adaptive LED’s is a challenge, my previous BMW was back at the dealer 3-4 time to have the headlight calibrated as it was blinding other traffic.

Historically I’ve popped desiccant bags (out of new shoe boxes) in the lamp cluster and that sorts it, but LED lamps are better sealed now get very hot in operation so it’s probably not needed theses days

[Steveo535]

Thanks for all the replies and info.

Just wondered if you guys had experience the same issue.

Like you russellg I'm not wanting to get the lights changed as I had a set changed on my F11 which also condescended up in the colder months but the ones they replaced them with condensed up even more.

[Gary pa28]

This was after a week of owning seems to be drying out slowly

[spta97]

Perhaps the LED lights generate less heat than Xenons and don't dry the lamps out as quick?

But good it's getting better.

[aamusichost]

I started noticing condensation recently in the passenger headlight after the brake fluid service (literally the next day) couple of weeks ago. And it was bad literally water went in as you can see in the Picture - 1.

Took it to the same dealer and asked them replace it, which they did yesterday saying manufacturing defect. Again, I just saw little bit condensation in the new headlight. Picture - 2.

Can someone please advice whether do I need to take it back or wait for a few days.

Thanks.

[spta97]

Having swapped the headlights on my old truck, I learned a little bit about the design of headlights in general.

- Most manufactures claim slight (temporary) condensation is normal but it should clear up in a few days

- Modern headlights are vented to allow moisture to escape

I have found there were two main culprits for my old truck:

1. Bad seal around the headlight
2. Changes in temp

With the second, think of a glass of ice water on a hot day. The temp difference on each side of the glass causes condensation. The expectation is that will normalize (assuming proper venting) and go away.

However, if you are getting water in by putting running a hose over the lamp it indicates a bad seal which needs to be repaired or the lamp replaced.

Unless this happened because you were driving on a cold night and the lamps were significantly warmer I would take it back. Moreover, if it is not happening to the other lamp that would be a good argument to replace again.

It could be a defect or bad design.

See vid below which describes headlight moisture in detail

[aamusichost]

Thank you so much for the reply.

Yes, it is only happening to the passenger headlight, driver side headlight doesn't show any condensation. Dealership replace with a new one just yesterday, I will drive back again next week to show them that it is happening again.

Have to see what they are gonna say.

Hopefully fingers crossed they will replace it again with a new one.

[honda4hundred]

similar thread, similar story

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...php?p=29884796

[PNTDG42]

Originally Posted by spta97

Having swapped the headlights on my old truck, I learned a little bit about the design of headlights in general.

- Most manufactures claim slight (temporary) condensation is normal but it should clear up in a few days

- Modern headlights are vented to allow moisture to escape

I have found there were two main culprits for my old truck:

1. Bad seal around the headlight
2. Changes in temp

With the second, think of a glass of ice water on a hot day. The temp difference on each side of the glass causes condensation. The expectation is that will normalize (assuming proper venting) and go away.

However, if you are getting water in by putting running a hose over the lamp it indicates a bad seal which needs to be repaired or the lamp replaced.

Unless this happened because you were driving on a cold night and the lamps were significantly warmer I would take it back. Moreover, if it is not happening to the other lamp that would be a good argument to replace again.

It could be a defect or bad design.

See vid below which describes headlight moisture in detail

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLKSoO_3SRE

Awesome video, thanks for sharing. Confirms what I have been preaching as my thoughts; That when a model is plagued with condensation in the headlights, it’s not a manufacturing defect, it’s an ineffective ventilation system designed into the headlight. Thus, no amount of replacements from the dealer is going to resolve the problem unless they actually update the design to the headlight.