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Condensation in rear lights
- Thread starter Rooster6655
- Start date
Glan gluaisne
Active Member
I'd be inclined to not bother with the leak test, and just remove the lights, dry them out, seal them up and put them back. The plastidip stuff dries pretty quickly, so the longest bit of the job is probably drying the light units out.
Yes, I think you're right, the leak test isn't really needed if you can see there's a lot of water in the assembly. Just dry it out and seal it.
The amount of water I've seen in a lot of these lights is not from moist air being sucked in, it's water drawn in by capillary action.
The Gore patch is doing a useful job as long as the light unit is properly sealed and dry, so it's a backward step to remove it and leave a gaping hole in the unit!
The amount of water I've seen in a lot of these lights is not from moist air being sucked in, it's water drawn in by capillary action.
The Gore patch is doing a useful job as long as the light unit is properly sealed and dry, so it's a backward step to remove it and leave a gaping hole in the unit!
Yes, the faulty units seem to be sucking in actual water rather than the "acceptable" light misting that clears naturally ... I've sometimes welded some bits of plastic with an old soldering iron myself and when I look at the seams on these light units they don't look a whole lot better than my own ropey efforts!
I am sorry to say I have a brand new 2021 refresh M3LR. Came 9th December, has not been washed yet, never mind jet washed, done 415 miles. Both head lights, and both lights on the rear drivers side are full of condensation. Preheating the car and a 23 mile drive in the dark with the lights on made no difference.
These are the refresh European headlights so I guess they have not fixed the problem
These are the refresh European headlights so I guess they have not fixed the problem
Rustybkts
Member
Wow, built in humid Californian conditions? My Feb 2020 car has only had a couple of drips in the headlights which have now vanished.
Those headlights can't be "fit for purpose".
Those headlights can't be "fit for purpose".
I'd say it's more likely headlights will clear after a while as they run hotter than tail lights and should be sealed better.
Mine, new yesterday, is exactly the same. I am not sure I want to remove them and seal them.
rincewind
Member
rincewind
Member
Well, an update. I removed the right bootlid light cluster, thouroughly dried it out on a radiator for about 5 hours, until there was no visible water moisture anywhere. I then used a high quality clear silicone sealant all around the factory seal, let it dry for a further 3 hours and then refitted the unit. 4 days later, and I have condensation back in that unit!!!!
I did check for cracks, but did not do a leak test and I did put the Goretex back before I refitted the unit. That said, I find it hard to believe that the moisture is ingressing via the factory seal now that I have further sealed it.
I did check for cracks, but did not do a leak test and I did put the Goretex back before I refitted the unit. That said, I find it hard to believe that the moisture is ingressing via the factory seal now that I have further sealed it.
MrBadger
Badger out
How much condensation? Misting <-> water droplets?
I'll give them light misting being normal design, but water droplets isn't imho.
rincewind
Member
I would do a leak test to be sure it's properly sealed. I dried and sealed both of mine and it's been over a month and zero condensation now. They were very misted up before and leaking in several places around the weld.
Andrew_SE23
Member
I’m having a ranger visit in a few days to service the light cluster on the right in the photo. The car is about 14 months old and I think the water retention is new. Other rear lights have been misty, but never standing water.
FYI: people have mentioned approving high value cost estimates - I just checked and my estimate was £0.00.
FYI: people have mentioned approving high value cost estimates - I just checked and my estimate was £0.00.
Got mine booked in on 29th for the 2nd Service since having it. This time with a RANGE of issues since pickup (brake lights being one). My rear brake lights both have pretty bad misting/condensation. They attempted to tell me it was "Within" standard, I promptly told them any kind of water or misting in any light isn't a "Standard" and that sounds like your talking utter *sugar*. (Excuse the state of car just came from a 65 mile round trip in snow)
Anyways 29th they will replace it all.
Anyways 29th they will replace it all.
rincewind
Member
Good luck with the the replacements. They replaced one of mine recently and it’s now just as bad as the others. Not fixed at all.
HenryT
Active Member
I get the impression they are simply not capable of making properly sealed lights and/or the gortex patch doesn't work.
My replacements - both outer units - were foggy today, as well as both inner units (the ones on the boot lid). No droplets but it just looked crap, even after a hour and a half drive.
Beginning to wonder whether it’s not worth doing the sealing thing in that YouTube video posted earlier on all 4 units. As said above, I just don’t think the manufacturing process for these is up to scratch.
Beginning to wonder whether it’s not worth doing the sealing thing in that YouTube video posted earlier on all 4 units. As said above, I just don’t think the manufacturing process for these is up to scratch.
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