This normal after a heavy rainstorm

[NorCalZman]

First big rain of the season but not very cold out. I had to drive about 15 miles to the airport and when I got back I noticed this in both headlights:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/22/y2urepyt.jpg

I replaced the lenses shortly after I got the car back in spring. Is this normal?

[danewilson77]

Not normal. Replace headlight gaskets.

EDIT: Yeah....I dunno what you do for a coupe. Those are supposed to be sealed.

[NorCalZman]

bummer. I have the sedan so theyre the clip on lenses. There is a gasket back there that comes out with the lens? I had my body shop guy replace the lenses when repainting my bumper.

[Newjack]

bummer. I have the sedan so theyre the clip on lenses. There is a gasket back there that comes out with the lens? I had my body shop guy replace the lenses when repainting my bumper.

I know there is a gasket for the lenses. Check ECS, I remember it being fairly inexpensive. This happens to my zhp every once in a while.

[Crestwood1001]

Yea the gasket is cheap. Just pop the lens off and pull out the old one and replace. 15 min job


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[danewilson77]

Might as well get 2.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=63_0550&hg=63&fg=05

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/63128380210/

[NorCalZman]

Great, thanks Family. Big help. Ill order two of those (I assume they are interchangable between the sides) and change them out. Both headlights fogged up at exactly the same places. I was planning on putting in a order for the clear fog light lenses anyway. Might as well make it a whole lighting related order!

[danewilson77]

Yes.....same P/N....both sides.

[NorCalZman]

Something isn't right guys. I ordered those gaskets from ECS and

1) they look way different than the ones in there now. The ones from ECS seem to be a thick foam material and have a sticky material on the back and the stock ones seem rubber only.
2) the ECS ones seem to be too big for the housing. I had like 2-3 inches of material left over. I'm hesitant to cut t to fit because that might not make a tight seal.

Input?
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/05/a7etudy4.jpg
Replacement one is the right one. Stock is left

[danewilson77]

Are P/N's the same? Could be an improved part. Will it fit?

[NorCalZman]

I got it in by trying again but it is so much thicker than the stock one since its foam and not rubber. I'm breaking my arms trying to get the lens to clip again. Ugh I don't want to have to pull into the BMW dealer all defeated. Haha

And yes it's the same part number as that diagram on real oem

[danewilson77]

Interesting. I've not ran into this...but I haven't purchased new headlight gaskets either.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[danewilson77]

They gave you the correct part. I did my own independent research and came up with the below.

Peice 19 > http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=63_0550&hg=63&fg=05

Yields > http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/63128380210/ES173228/

All suppliers of this part....have the same pic. Thick foam, with orange that you peel off to expose sticky back.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/63128380210_GEN_E095124A.jpg

[NorCalZman]

I'm giving up. It wouldn't go in and I don't want to break anything. I was throwing my 150lb body at it and the lens didn't want to snap in. Once I put the old gasket back it the lens snapped right back on. Ill call the dealer tomorrow and reference the part numbers.

I think I need a new battery anyway. She seems to be cranking a bit slow. I'm driving up to Tahoe this weekend and would hate for the cold weather to finish it off.

On the plus side my Intravee is now updated and my clear fogs are in now:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/05/ba9evyjy.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/05/benu6yjy.jpg

[danewilson77]

Sorry we couldn't figure it out bro.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[NorCalZman]

its ok. I appreciate any help family members try to give!

[danewilson77]

its ok. I appreciate any help family members try to give!

Maybe put on 30lbs and try it again?

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[NorCalZman]

I called the dealer. The parts guy was nice enough to go look at the gasket he had and its the same one that I got from ECS. He had no idea why theyd be different. He couldnt find any part number changes in the history. A friend suggested I take a hot blow dryer to the gasket before putting it in the car. Maybe heating it up will soften it.

[terraphantm]

I would double check to make sure the lens was seated properly. I once accidentally bent in a small piece of plastic and caused it to sit between the gasket and lens... Water got in and destroyed my igniter. But it sealed fine once I realized the problem.

[NorCalZman]

I would double check to make sure the lens was seated properly. I once accidentally bent in a small piece of plastic and caused it to sit between the gasket and lens... Water got in and destroyed my igniter. But it sealed fine once I realized the problem.

Yeah I have no choice but to do that because those gaskets BMW sells just dont work. I checked out the drivers side really closely. Im going to keep an eye on them through the next few rain storms. If the drivers side looks good and the passenger still fogs Ill take the passenger side apart and try the same again.

I noticed that there is a hole in the lower center part of the light with some kind of foam in there, possibly for venting? Its where the headlights fogged up as you can see. I wonder if that has something to do with it.

Also, I just noticed I accidentally cracked my drivers side inner headlight trim (That big black piece) so if anyone has an extra one hit me up and we can discuss a sale!

[NorCalZman]

another rainstorm, more fogged lights. Im worried this is going to blow out something very expensive. I am considering just buying two new headlight assemblies (yes I know theyre 700 each or something).

[derbo]

Until you figure it out, you can put silicate in there to remove some of the moisture for the time being.

The little silicate packets from shoe boxes would work.

[NorCalZman]

interesting idea. You mean like take off the lens, the trim, and throwing them under there?

[danewilson77]

interesting idea. You mean like take off the lens, the trim, and throwing them under there?

Yes.

[NorCalZman]

Thank you. I think I found some!

http://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-1-Ounce-Moisture-Absorbing-Indicating/dp/B001UYEBNW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1354322970&sr=8-3&keywords=silicate+packet

[BavarianZHP]

Here's some tips:

"What not to do!

The initial impression is that water is entering the headlight enclosure past the large seal between the enclosure and the front glass (or plastic on the facelift models). The usual fix tried is to use a silicone sealant on the gasket but this usually makes the problem a lot worse. This is because most silicone sealants have a solvent base that evaporates during curing and this produces moisture within the enclosure. More serious is that many sealants give off acetic acid as part of the curing process, this can damage certain metals and may discolour the reflectors.

I have also seen attempts to remove the moisture by bunging in packets of desiccant. This seems a good idea except that as soon as the enclosure heats up the desiccant will release the moisture straight back to the coldest part of the enclosure which is the front glass.

The fix

The usual cause is not water getting past the front seal but is due to moisture being present in the enclosure when it was last closed. This can occur when changing a bulb in very damp weather, any moisture within the housing will accumulate on the front glass as this is the coldest part. It is certainly worth checking the front seal but this is rarely the problem, if the seal has been disturbed in the past then simply coat the seal with silicone grease, this is quite sufficient to stop water getting past the seal as long as it has not been damaged.

The method of getting rid of any moisture in the enclosure is simple, wait for a dry day and take off one of the access covers on each enclosure, start the engine and switch on the headlights (full beam). The heat generated will drive the moisture from the enclosure within 30 minutes. Switch the engine off and switch the lights off and then immediately replace the access covers. This will stop the return of any moisture, job done!"
- http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e38/Condensation.htm

[NorCalZman]

interesting. I will try that fix first. It costs me nothing :-)