LED headlights fogging up

Psycho · 11-25-2013, 07:07 PM

Went take delivery of my 50i, but I noticed the headlights were fogging up. The dealer said they had noticed this, too, and had called BMW, who told them this was normal because it was cold outside. Sounds like nonsense, because we tried turning the headlights on inside the warm dealership, and they immediately fogged up (about 30%). I'm guessing the seals are bad. Needless to say I'm waiting to sign paperwork until I get clarification on this.

gblansten · 11-25-2013, 07:47 PM

Seems like it could be normal based on this thread:

http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=416230

BMWMN1971 · 11-25-2013, 09:20 PM

"Condensation is normal because it was cold outside"?????? Total BS!!! I live in MN, it was almost 0F on Saturday and I had no condensation at al of my LED headlights.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho

Went take delivery of my 50i, but I noticed the headlights were fogging up. The dealer said they had noticed this, too, and had called BMW, who told them this was normal because it was cold outside. Sounds like nonsense, because we tried turning the headlights on inside the warm dealership, and they immediately fogged up (about 30%). I'm guessing the seals are bad. Needless to say I'm waiting to sign paperwork until I get clarification on this.

Psycho · 11-25-2013, 11:55 PM

Dealers get creative when they want to close the deal. I just hope that's not the official position of BMW. As a friend just asked me, do BMW headlights fog up in Germany?

tiburonh · 11-26-2013, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho

Went take delivery of my 50i, but I noticed the headlights were fogging up. The dealer said they had noticed this, too, and had called BMW, who told them this was normal because it was cold outside. Sounds like nonsense, because we tried turning the headlights on inside the warm dealership, and they immediately fogged up (about 30%). I'm guessing the seals are bad. Needless to say I'm waiting to sign paperwork until I get clarification on this.

Maybe the headlights are fogging up because the door seals aren't sealing properly. Or could it be because the lights on the instrument cluster aren't working right? Or maybe because the top view camera is missing?

Ah, the joys of a new model.

One just wishes that BMW would be more honest about these mistakes and figure out how to fix them. I have to believe that they monitor this forum, but I can not understand how they can be so out of touch with the way things work today (at least here in America!) that they think it's OK to stick their heads in the sand and not join the conversation and tell us what they are doing about these issues.

Johndong888 · 11-26-2013, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiburonh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho

Went take delivery of my 50i, but I noticed the headlights were fogging up. The dealer said they had noticed this, too, and had called BMW, who told them this was normal because it was cold outside. Sounds like nonsense, because we tried turning the headlights on inside the warm dealership, and they immediately fogged up (about 30%). I'm guessing the seals are bad. Needless to say I'm waiting to sign paperwork until I get clarification on this.

Maybe the headlights are fogging up because the door seals aren't sealing properly. Or could it be because the lights on the instrument cluster aren't working right? Or maybe because the top view camera is missing?

Ah, the joys of a new model.

One just wishes that BMW would be more honest about these mistakes and figure out how to fix them. I have to believe that they monitor this forum, but I can not understand how they can be so out of touch with the way things work today (at least here in America!) that they think it's OK to stick their heads in the sand and not join the conversation and tell us what they are doing about these issues.

I don't think it's so much the issue for BMW but more so for how the dealership and their sales personnel approach the issue. Unfortunately, dealerships don't always represents the brand the way it should be represented.

As for the headlight issue, I have none but it should not be a huge issue to get it replaced or resealed. I see this happen all the time on many luxury makes. But I would make them do a "we owe" on the headlights.

BMWMN1971 · 11-26-2013, 08:24 AM

A BMW customer service supervisor was very clear yesterday:"we do not control the dealers. They are independently owned and we cannot influence them to do anything different than what they told younthey can do". F...off!!!! They sell you a car and after that they couldn't care less about you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johndong888

I don't think it's so much the issue for BMW but more so for how the dealership and their sales personnel approach the issue. Unfortunately, dealerships don't always represents the brand the way it should be represented.

As for the headlight issue, I have none but it should not be a huge issue to get it replaced or resealed. I see this happen all the time on many luxury makes. But I would make them do a "we owe" on the headlights.

nyalpine90 · 11-26-2013, 08:40 AM

headlights were not properly seal, ask to see another model of your X5

condensation in the headlights is not normal at all, u will have spots after it dries up smh

Psycho · 11-26-2013, 08:47 AM

A BMW engineer is going to be at my dealership today, so we'll see what he says about the foggy headlights.

gblansten · 11-26-2013, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho

A BMW engineer is going to be at my dealership today, so we'll see what he says about the foggy headlights.

Good luck getting this fixed.

Psycho · 11-26-2013, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblansten

Good luck getting this fixed.

Thanks. Since I haven't signed papers yet, it's more their problem than mine.

gblansten · 11-26-2013, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho

Thanks. Since I haven't signed papers yet, it's more their problem than mine.

While I'm not glad several of you are having QC issues we are all helped by members giving a heads up on problems.

NikonMan · 11-26-2013, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblansten

While I'm not glad several of you are having QC issues we are all helped by members giving a heads up on problems.

+1

Psycho · 11-26-2013, 11:43 AM

Got a call saying this is normal and that the BMW engineer wants to meet with me to explain why this is normal.

BMWMN1971 · 11-26-2013, 11:56 AM

Like it is normal for them to screw up on the "Build Your Own" website, offer a cheap instrument cluster with no daytime backlight without telling customers and dealers, place the heat steering wheel button under the steering wheel so nobody can see the light that shows if it is on/off, install cheap door seals that falls apart, not install top view on the 5.0 when the website says it is standard, ............. Anything else that they consider normal?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psycho

Got a call saying this is normal and that the BMW engineer wants to meet with me to explain why this is normal.

blue dragon · 11-26-2013, 01:18 PM

^ Jeez, condensation in the headlights is normal?

JustinGTP · 11-26-2013, 03:54 PM

Condensation is normal in the headlights.

Read the manual in the vehicle, it mentions it.

It happens up here in Canada all the time. However, you should not have a collection of water, but condensation is fine.

Psycho · 11-27-2013, 08:14 AM

It's a feature, not a bug! My 50i, strangely enough, is fogging up more when the lights are ON

blue dragon · 11-27-2013, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinGTP

Condensation is normal in the headlights.

Read the manual in the vehicle, it mentions it.

It happens up here in Canada all the time. However, you should not have a collection of water, but condensation is fine.

Wait what? I've never had condensation in my headlights, so you can't say it happens in Canada all the time, unless you are specifically referring to the new LED headlights

Psycho · 11-27-2013, 08:23 AM

I'm thinking there may be a bad batch of LED lights. The other problem is that when the condensation dries you have large water spots on the inside of the housing

First X5 · 11-27-2013, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWMN1971

A BMW customer service supervisor was very clear yesterday:"we do not control the dealers. They are independently owned and we cannot influence them to do anything different than what they told younthey can do". F...off!!!! They sell you a car and after that they couldn't care less about you.

That was is the same thing I got from them when my dealer sold me a lemon then told me I would get trade in value for a car that was in every week for 8 weeks. My options were to keep a car that leaked water inside from the overhead lights and had a bad tail gate rattle. So at the end of the day I lost a few thousand. Can't say I will buy another BMW.

gblansten · 11-27-2013, 09:36 AM

I wonder if the LED lights are just too cool in terms of operating temps to evaporate condensation.

11-25-2013, 07:07 PM	#1
Psycho Private First Class 14 Rep 112 Posts Drives: ex-'12 X6M, waiting on ? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: West Texas iTrader: (0)	LED headlights fogging up Went take delivery of my 50i, but I noticed the headlights were fogging up. The dealer said they had noticed this, too, and had called BMW, who told them this was normal because it was cold outside. Sounds like nonsense, because we tried turning the headlights on inside the warm dealership, and they immediately fogged up (about 30%). I'm guessing the seals are bad. Needless to say I'm waiting to sign paperwork until I get clarification on this.
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11-25-2013, 07:47 PM	#2
gblansten Brigadier General 1977 Rep 4,225 Posts Drives: 23 Tesla S Plaid Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Thick ascending limb iTrader: (0)	Seems like it could be normal based on this thread: http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=416230
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11-25-2013, 11:55 PM	#4
Psycho Private First Class 14 Rep 112 Posts Drives: ex-'12 X6M, waiting on ? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: West Texas iTrader: (0)	Dealers get creative when they want to close the deal. I just hope that's not the official position of BMW. As a friend just asked me, do BMW headlights fog up in Germany?
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11-26-2013, 08:40 AM	#8
nyalpine90 Lieutenant General 7433 Rep 11,843 Posts Drives: MY24 G01 AW Msport Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: L.I. NY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2016 BMW X4 [9.33]	headlights were not properly seal, ask to see another model of your X5 condensation in the headlights is not normal at all, u will have spots after it dries up smh
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11-26-2013, 08:47 AM	#9
Psycho Private First Class 14 Rep 112 Posts Drives: ex-'12 X6M, waiting on ? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: West Texas iTrader: (0)	A BMW engineer is going to be at my dealership today, so we'll see what he says about the foggy headlights.
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LED headlights fogging up

11-26-2013, 11:43 AM	#14
Psycho Private First Class 14 Rep 112 Posts Drives: ex-'12 X6M, waiting on ? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: West Texas iTrader: (0)	Got a call saying this is normal and that the BMW engineer wants to meet with me to explain why this is normal.
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11-26-2013, 01:18 PM	#16
blue dragon Lieutenant Colonel 1192 Rep 1,544 Posts Drives: '22 Tesla MY + '23 Tesla MY Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Land of high taxes and crappy healthcare iTrader: (2)	^ Jeez, condensation in the headlights is normal? __________________ \| '22 Tesla Model Y P - My daily \| '23 Tesla Model Y LR - Wife's daily \| '17 F15 35D - missed daily \|
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11-26-2013, 03:54 PM	#17
JustinGTP Captain 58 Rep 602 Posts Drives: '13 MINI Paceman JCW Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta iTrader: (0)	Condensation is normal in the headlights. Read the manual in the vehicle, it mentions it. It happens up here in Canada all the time. However, you should not have a collection of water, but condensation is fine. __________________ '09 LCI 335i E90 in BSM over Oyster Dakota Leather, Manual, Sport, Navigation, Individual Audiophile, Executive, Active Steering, JB4 + MHD BEF, 335is Exhaust w/AWE Tuning Tips, AFE DCI, Euro Tails/Fog Light Switch, various painted and other OEM + mods, 19" M5 reps summer '13 MINI Cooper S Paceman JCW R61in Light White & Black Roof/Mirror Caps/Sport Stripes, Loaded + Rare
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11-27-2013, 08:14 AM	#18
Psycho Private First Class 14 Rep 112 Posts Drives: ex-'12 X6M, waiting on ? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: West Texas iTrader: (0)	It's a feature, not a bug! My 50i, strangely enough, is fogging up more when the lights are ON
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11-27-2013, 08:23 AM	#20
Psycho Private First Class 14 Rep 112 Posts Drives: ex-'12 X6M, waiting on ? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: West Texas iTrader: (0)	I'm thinking there may be a bad batch of LED lights. The other problem is that when the condensation dries you have large water spots on the inside of the housing
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11-27-2013, 09:36 AM	#22
gblansten Brigadier General 1977 Rep 4,225 Posts Drives: 23 Tesla S Plaid Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Thick ascending limb iTrader: (0)	I wonder if the LED lights are just too cool in terms of operating temps to evaporate condensation.
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