Removing haze from the inside of the headlights
#1
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ellicott City, MD
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 535i M Sport
Model Year: 2010
Removing haze from the inside of the headlights
Several years ago I made the mistake of buying some cheap Ebay angel eye resistors to keep an intermittent bulb out warnings from popping up on my idrive. While the resisters did work, they also got so hot they actually burned some wire insulation and the resulting fumes created a haze inside both headlights. I ditched the resistors and did what I should have done in the first place -- coded the car to turn off angel eye bulb checks -- but the damage had already been done. Several months ago I read about someone on a Crossfire forum who used pure methanol to clean the inside of his headlights. Well, today I finally decided to give it a try and the results, as you can see from the before and after pictures, were fantastic.
The whole process was far easier than I expected. Removing the headlight takes about 3 minutes. Remove the top two torx bolts, loosen (don't remove!!) the two lower 8mm bolts, unclip the power cable (pinch the sides of the connector and pull it off) and maneuver the headlight out (it's a little tricky the first time you do it but it will come out). There are several YouTube videos showing how to remove the headlights but I've also attached some pictures which may help. Once he headlight is out, pull off one of the vent tubes (see picture) and pour in a few ounces of pure (99.5% or better) methanol (methyl alcohol). I bought a 950 ml bottle on Amazon for around $14 after shipping. Don't use anything but pure methanol! Keep the lens facing downward and swish the methanol back and forth for 3-4 minutes. Avoid splashing it on the bulbs or electronics if you can, although it shouldn't hurt anything regardless. Pour out the methanol through the vent tube and then repeat the process 3 or 4 more times. Once you're done, dry the headlight with a hair dryer (blow warm air into the angel eye opening until it all evaporates) and reinstall the headlight. There are alignment clips which help ensure the headlight is in the proper position. You'll be able to tell when it is in correctly. Also, don't forget to clip the harness back in.
Standard disclaimer: If you decide to do the above procedure, you do so at your own risk. It worked great for me but that doesn't mean everything will go as smoothly for you and I take no responsibility for any problems which may arise.
The whole process was far easier than I expected. Removing the headlight takes about 3 minutes. Remove the top two torx bolts, loosen (don't remove!!) the two lower 8mm bolts, unclip the power cable (pinch the sides of the connector and pull it off) and maneuver the headlight out (it's a little tricky the first time you do it but it will come out). There are several YouTube videos showing how to remove the headlights but I've also attached some pictures which may help. Once he headlight is out, pull off one of the vent tubes (see picture) and pour in a few ounces of pure (99.5% or better) methanol (methyl alcohol). I bought a 950 ml bottle on Amazon for around $14 after shipping. Don't use anything but pure methanol! Keep the lens facing downward and swish the methanol back and forth for 3-4 minutes. Avoid splashing it on the bulbs or electronics if you can, although it shouldn't hurt anything regardless. Pour out the methanol through the vent tube and then repeat the process 3 or 4 more times. Once you're done, dry the headlight with a hair dryer (blow warm air into the angel eye opening until it all evaporates) and reinstall the headlight. There are alignment clips which help ensure the headlight is in the proper position. You'll be able to tell when it is in correctly. Also, don't forget to clip the harness back in.
Standard disclaimer: If you decide to do the above procedure, you do so at your own risk. It worked great for me but that doesn't mean everything will go as smoothly for you and I take no responsibility for any problems which may arise.
#3
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ellicott City, MD
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 535i M Sport
Model Year: 2010
#5
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ellicott City, MD
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 535i M Sport
Model Year: 2010
#7
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ellicott City, MD
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 535i M Sport
Model Year: 2010
Pure IPA may work but I can only speak to methanol. I know it works, is safe for the headlights, and evaporates completely leaving no residue.
#8
Ive noticed what looks to be water marks that look to be on the inside of the lens. It actually looks like a few drops of water dried and left a mark on the inside lens. Not sure what would cause this but it seems to be fairly common b/c I've seen it on other E60's. Would this work for that?
Also does this solution effect the chrome (or any other parts, projector lenses, etc) on the inside of the lamp? That stuff is very fragile.
I say inside b/c I've tried using Menzerna final polish on the outside it and it didnt do anything to the water marks. The lamps are in great shape except for those droplet marks which annoy the hell out of me. When the headlights are on it looks even worse.
Also does this solution effect the chrome (or any other parts, projector lenses, etc) on the inside of the lamp? That stuff is very fragile.
I say inside b/c I've tried using Menzerna final polish on the outside it and it didnt do anything to the water marks. The lamps are in great shape except for those droplet marks which annoy the hell out of me. When the headlights are on it looks even worse.
Last edited by horse86; 03-10-2014 at 11:55 AM.
#9
New Members
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 525i Touring (E61 2005)
My headlights too have a severe haze. The previous owner has had cheap xenons for a while, but those were allready out when I bought the car. Definitely looks like dried water-drops....
The picture was taken with a flash so it looks worse than it really is (the spots on the paint are dry salt-crystals from the road). There is nothing on the oputside (besides I have had the 'glass' polished)
I am planning to try to clean the inside with Methanol as well.
The picture was taken with a flash so it looks worse than it really is (the spots on the paint are dry salt-crystals from the road). There is nothing on the oputside (besides I have had the 'glass' polished)
I am planning to try to clean the inside with Methanol as well.
#10
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ellicott City, MD
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 535i M Sport
Model Year: 2010
Ive noticed what looks to be water marks that look to be on the inside of the lens. It actually looks like a few drops of water dried and left a mark on the inside lens. Not sure what would cause this but it seems to be fairly common b/c I've seen it on other E60's. Would this work for that?
Also does this solution effect the chrome (or any other parts, projector lenses, etc) on the inside of the lamp? That stuff is very fragile.
I say inside b/c I've tried using Menzerna final polish on the outside it and it didnt do anything to the water marks. The lamps are in great shape except for those droplet marks which annoy the hell out of me. When the headlights are on it looks even worse.
Also does this solution effect the chrome (or any other parts, projector lenses, etc) on the inside of the lamp? That stuff is very fragile.
I say inside b/c I've tried using Menzerna final polish on the outside it and it didnt do anything to the water marks. The lamps are in great shape except for those droplet marks which annoy the hell out of me. When the headlights are on it looks even worse.
We finally had a nice warm weekend and I was able to get out and wash the salt off the car. Here are two pics showing how good the headlights now look.