Y51 headlight condensation

[Ilya]

Hey guys,

How is the Y51 headlight set up? I haven't gotten behind the car yet to look, but all of a sudden I'm getting condensation. Only thing that recently happened to the car which may be related was getting the front bumper and fenders resprayed but I don't recall this happening immediately after, but just noticed it this week (it's been like a month since the respray).

Anything I should look for when I get in there next time I'm changing my oil? I also need to fix my fog lights, so I'll be doing this once hopefully. Any tips of what to unclog, twist, move, etc. would be appreciated.

Thanks!

EDIT: I don't think this is the 'normal' occurrence described in this thread by a shared post from Rogue, but I will certainly monitor it over the next few days. It's supposed to hit 60 this Thursday (was 50 today) which is INSANE for upstate NY in February.

post6706452.html?hilit=headlight%20cond ... n#p6706452

[Ilya]

So, I think I had a light bulb moment today.

After I got the car back, I noticed random flickers of what seemed like both my headlights but it was like literally MS. So quick that most people probably wouldn't even notice. I chalked it up to the issue I have when I sometimes hit the brakes super hard where it does the same thing (and that's been happening since I owned the car - dealer said they couldn't replicate). This issue of it randomly happening while cruising on the highway was new though.

Then, the condensation issue out of the blue.

ME THINKS...what's happening is the following:

Guy who repainted my front end re-installed the lights and either jostled the bulb in the left assembly or completely removed it and re-installed it upside down which is doing the following:

1) Shaking around in the headlight hence the flickering
2) Didn't seat properly, or if upside down, not at all, hence the moisture

Going to get the car on the lift tomorrow and take it all apart to confirm. My fog light on the left side has also been acting up and flickering so probably similar situation there. And my EZ-Lip is peeling...he had to remove it to repaint the bumper and then used inferior 3M tape to reapply it. Luckily I have a spare EZ-Lip.

Needless to say, if my hunches are right, someone is going to be getting a talking to and I'm going to push for $100-200 refund on the work because that's BS quality work. Especially if it's damaged me $170 Osram bulbs because they've been taking a beating the last 6 weeks.

[M37xfan]

I am thinking headlights were not re-installed properly...

[Ilya]

Better hope that isn't the case...will find out tonight in the evening after I get off work and into the garage. If I even so much as have a spec of water spot after it dries, I'll be PISSED.

[Ilya]

So I didn't find any issues. Bulb was properly installed and everything seemed to be sealed. I wiped down the o-ring + cap and re-installed everything after spending about 20-25 minutes with a heat gun drying my headlight out. Hopefully it stays dry.

[TreyhunnaM37x]

hows it holding up?

[Ilya]

Happened again a few days ago but dried out. I think it's just something with the weather...it's been fluctuating like crazy. Two days ago it was 75 and last night it was single digits at night and snowed during the day. Still keeping an eye on it.

[beachbum718]

my lens on the sides are getting heat marks on the inside. I'm having them redone in a couple of weeks..

[kami_sn]

Happened again a few days ago but dried out. I think it's just something with the weather...it's been fluctuating like crazy. Two days ago it was 75 and last night it was single digits at night and snowed during the day. Still keeping an eye on it.

I know this is an old post but I just faced this moisture and condensation issue on my 2019 Q70L with AFS on the right headlight. I was wondering if you had any resolution for this?

[VStar650CL]

Unfortunately the 19's are full LED, both low and high beam. On stuff with LED low but halogen high you could turn the high beams on for several hours and let the moisture bake out, but that isn't an option with a full LED setup. Even on high beam they don't generate enough heat, and for some reason (I don't know about your Q specifically) most of the full LED housings are still vented. The only way I know about to chase moisture out of them without removal is an external infra red lamp, but make sure you shroud the heat source and be very careful of your paint. You can also pull the lamps and uncap the vent, then rig up a hair drier to force hot-dry air into the unit.

[kami_sn]

Unfortunately the 19's are full LED, both low and high beam. On stuff with LED low but halogen high you could turn the high beams on for several hours and let the moisture bake out, but that isn't an option with a full LED setup. Even on high beam they don't generate enough heat, and for some reason (I don't know about your Q specifically) most of the full LED housings are still vented. The only way I know about to chase moisture out of them without removal is an external infra red lamp, but make sure you shroud the heat source and be very careful of your paint. You can also pull the lamps and uncap the vent, then rig up a hair drier to force hot-dry air into the unit.

So what happened with mine was, I had it at detail shop to redo full front PPF, during process of removal they used lots of steam, that could be one possibility that steam got in to it, the other is while removing PPF some of the bumper paint came off so they removed bumper and sent for paint. I am wondering they may have cracked the headlight housing during removal as it has the number brackets on it.

Either way I have to drop the bumper, remove the headlight, inspect it for any signs of cracks and blow dry it from vent hole.

[VStar650CL]

Seam leaks in particular can be very hard to track down visually. The best way to check for both cracks and seam leaks is a spray bottle of soapy water and some compressed air. Uncap the vent and blow into the housing and the soapy water will bubble wherever there's a leak, just like checking a leaky tire.