after a detailing during the last Italian Bimmerfest my right side E60 headlight is full of condensation.

See pic:



I noticed before some very little water stains on the headlight, but NEVER so intense to foggy it. The condensation duct just near the arrow is free and not closed.

What was the cause of that? Ideas to solve? On the first sunny day (her eis autumn now) I'll remove rear lamps cap to dry them. But how to avoid further condensation and short-circuits?

 

Have you recently changed out a bulb? Seems like the main cap or high beam cap was not secured correctly. Or you have a crack in the plastic somewhere. Gl

 

If it is not the cap or a crack then you will have to bake the headlight assembly to take the lens off and reseal it will sealant. This is the cheap way. Your other recourse is to buy a new light.

 

The seal along the TOP of the light shell is leaking. When you wash your car with a pressure hose or go through a car wash, you force water into the light enclosure. The heat of the lights will make the vapor g away.
Want a heart attack, Go to BMW Parts Catalog and look up the light assembly price??

 

That depends on what headlights he has. I have the adaptive lights which are insanely expensive. I broke down and bought a new pair (because of the fraying wires and the collison shop was covering $1200 of that ) but not the BMW version. They were the Hella version which I paid $1470 for both with a 10 year warranty.

 

Yes, I know their price. And for my high mileage E60, is not an expense I'll do.

To dry it I would try to use a dryer, without removing it. Someone ever made it?

And baking it: who have done this, has removed circuits inside? What temperature to use?

 

E60 headlights can't be opened by baking. The only way to separate the lens is by cutting it off.

 

...so assuming the crack/leak is on the intersection between the trasparent and opaque assembly, can I try with some silicone? someone had a decent result?

 

Hi Resunoiz,
When I opened up my headlight, to repair the wiring I put the lens back onto the main black body with

3M Fast' N Firm Seam Sealer Beige # 08505

It comes in a big tube like for caulking and I found it at a local store that specializes in "Auto Body Repair Supplies."
Check your yellow pages and call around.

You can spread it around the headlight where the lens meets the black body.
If you get it spread nicely it should seal your headlight and no water will get in.
I did my headlight a year ago and it is still clear and dry.
That said, I would not hit your headlights with a concentrated high pressure spray head like they have at wash your own car location.
It will probably be fine...but my thought is, "Why push it"

It is beige but after it dries you can paint it black so it blends in.
It also takes a day or two to completely harden.
You DO NOT want to use anything like a silicone sealer it will not stand up to the heat,

I did not come up with the idea of using the Seam Sealer, it came from a post on opening and closing headlights
Link Here: https://5series.net/forums/e60-parts...lights-138473/

Good luck,

Bud B

 

thanks, I will find it!