Condensation in new headlights (see pics, it's bad)

[abwmma]

Excuse, Excuse, Excuse… If they think this is not a failure, then why all the factory light don’t that. Luck?!!

[pnoyako85]

Originally Posted by e30mpower

Dear fishcake321,

Hey man, I've got one headlight that maybe wasn't sealed properly (the other one is absolutely fine). I went through the car wash today and the inside of the light is absolutely wrecked with condensation. I've got a post up on the BMW forums asking if there's a simple fix I can carry out myself, but if there's not, I'm going to need to exchange just that one defective unit (passenger side). Take a look at this pic. https://ppswaa.bay.livefilestore.com...713.JPG?psid=1



And here is what dude man said..... this after a few years of buying stuff from him (fishcake321 on eBay)....



Dear charlestonearle,

Please note that during the first week or two, the condensation built up in the light is possible as the headlight seal is trying to adjust to its new enviroment. And it is not recommended during the first week or two after install to have a car wash.

Here is what to do to clear it out easily. Open up the rubber headlight cover from the back to let the moisture come out, and also it equalize the pressure between the inside and outside of the headlight. If you want to use hair dryer to speed up the process, it actually helps, but make sure you don't get too close to get it too hot to melt anything. Once all the moisture is out. Re-seal the headlight cover tiely and before you close it, you can throw in and secure a few dessicant packs. This will for sure avoid any moisture built-up in the future.

ps. I am also sending you the manufacturer sheet about condensation via email, and why there is such thing and not because it's not sealed properly.

Regards,

Simon

- fishcake321


Here is the pic he sent:

He's about to piss me off and make me call eBay/PayPal and/or American Express and have them charge the guy back. This was supposedly a "limited lifetime warranty"

^^^^^^^:bs flag:
THAT is total BS.....this should be warrantied i would everything in my power to get them back....

[e30mpower]

My latest message from fishcake321:

Each side is on its own, because each light has its own heat venting tube, so you can not expect one side has mist and the other side must have it too.

Anyway, to determine it's bad seal or not is simple, if you have followed my suggestion I sent yesterday which is not much to ask, open up the rear headlight cover, park indoor over night so the mist is gone and the put the headlight cover back on and see. Once the inside and outside air is equlized, you normally won't have a mist.

And also you start having the issue after you get car wash further proves that during the car wash, little water get in (might even be from the back where the heat venting hole is), which should not be from the seal because if it's bad seal, you gonna have water leak, water leak is not condensation, water leak, you can see water running around inside. What you have is typically small amount of moisture gets in and trapped and becomes mist after you turn on the light which the heat drives it to the lens. So, open the rear headlight cover to let the water vent, once it's gone, it shouldn't come back.

I ask you to please try it first which does not require you to do almost anything except opne the rear cover up and park your car indoor overnight.

Regards,

Simon

- fishcake321

I took a hair dryer to it, cleared most of it up except for the lateral side where the turn signal is, so I pulled the light and examine it. Melted/bad seals all over the lateral side.

Here's some more pics:











I'd say beyond repair, would anyone else agree?

[mrbmwx5]

bad silicone plus the air vent tubs...reseal them with 3m silicone and replace those air vent with your stock one.the correct way to do is you have to bake those mofo open and reseal them.using hair dryer is too muck work,just use the table small fan and let it blow air into the high beam bulb .

[mrbmwx5]

btw l repair those all the time.

[pnoyako85]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

btw l repair those all the time.

^^^^ he is good.......


otherwise seal bake blow dry....and thats it....and fight the shit out of them bastards that sold you those headlights...send them the pics...its poor quality,sub-par, POS,worthless,disgrace that they actually sell this, total disappointment, totally ridiculous......

[e30mpower]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

btw l repair those all the time.

Well, assuming I don't get anywhere with this dickhead, can I ship it to you and let you have at it? I'm starting back to school next week and really don't have the time to do this myself. I'm taking it to my Indy tomorrow (with a copy of this thread) to see if he can do anything. You don't happen to know any technically capable board members in the Charlotte area, do you?

Oh, couple of more pics. These are of my lights >3 hours after running my (newly, semi-repaired) headlight washers.

[e30mpower]

Latest message from dudeman.

If you believe it's a bad seal, then you can send that side back for us to investigate further, we can even take it up to manufacturer for them to do the testing. They can fix any bad seal if there is any.

WTF??? I'm supposed to drive around with either A) a gaping hole on the passenger side of my car where my headlight is supposed to be, or B) reinstall my original halogens, wait a few months for the people in Taiwan to "investigate further," and then pay for them to be reinstalled?

Somebody for the love of God tell me how to deal with this bastard before I have an aneurysm.

This was my response to him:

I'll be happy to do that, but only if you'll send me a new unit, minus the ballasts, bulbs, whatever else I can salvage. I've checked with several local sources and they're all in agreeance it's a bad seal. I don't think it's fair for me to have to drive around with a missing headlight while you send the unit back to the manufacturer in Taiwan for "testing.". All I'm asking for is a new or refurbed unit, and once I receive that I'll pay cost of shipping + insurance of the old unit back to you where it can be refurbished and resold. I think that's pretty fair, don't you?

And if you'd like to call and discuss this this weekend I'd be happy to speak with you. My number is......

Am I being a dick here?

[pnoyako85]

best thing....get refund bring everything back...put NEGATIVE feedback......and buy from MR BMW.i bliv he sells the units too.....

[msammy]

I agree, at least the fogged up one needs to go back. 10 years ago, our 2002 X5 had a fogged-up headlight unit. The dealer told us it's "normal" each time we brought it in to complain. Well yes, after 7 years of "FOG" and the car no longer under warranty that headlight got dimmer and dimmer over time. I replaced the bulb, same problem, swapped ballasts, same problem. Took apart the headlight, and take a look at what we found. The bright silver coating inside the headlight reflector was all corroded, dulled and pitted so the light would no longer shine brightly and focused - all caused by the moisture "fog". I had no recourse but to pay over $1K for a replacement headlight unit since the car was out of warranty and the dealer didn't want to hear about it. Don't let anyone tell you the "fog" is normal.