condensation in the headlight??

[incognito]

Does anybody know anything about condensation inside the headlight.... I asked Audi about it and I believe they said there was nothing possible to do or someshit like that. You guys and girls got any suggestions?

[jgun81]

I've seen many E46M3 owners who had problems with
condensation inside of the headlight after installing
halos or after painting the part inside of the headlight with
body color. If you didn't do anything to your headlight, just
go to dealers and ask them to replace the headlight.
some one I know installed halos and had problems with consendation inside of the headlight. He went to dealers and got
it replaced. He probably had an excuse, or the dealer was just nice.

[audirs6sport]

Originally posted by incognito
Does anybody know anything about condensation inside the headlight.... I asked Audi about it and I believe they said there was nothing possible to do or someshit like that. You guys and girls got any suggestions?

I've had this problem since DAY 1 when I picked the car up from dealer upon delivery. It is due to the fact that they do not seal these housings air tight nor fully. You can purchase silicone and apply around it.

[Benman]

Originally posted by jgun81
If you didn't do anything to your headlight, just
go to dealers and ask them to replace the headlight.

Agreed. It's a warranty issue as long as you didn't moddify it. Just get it replaced.

Ben:addict:

[audirs6sport]

You can get it replaced, but it will not go away. Hella does not air tight seal the housing and they never will.

[Benman]

Originally posted by audirs6sport
You can get it replaced, but it will not go away. Hella does not air tight seal the housing and they never will.
But then why aren't all of us getting that issue? It would lead me to believe defect issue rather than manufacturing issue.

BTW, off topic, will you be thinking of coming along on the Julian ride? Should have @ 4 or more RS 6 folk there along with 80 or more Audis!

Ben:addict: :incar:

[audirs6sport]

Probably not... I got no weekend now a days. :(

I guess some are just lucky. =) I've had my housing swapped three times already due to the condensation that kept building up, but unfortunately, it never went away. Until I applied silicone all around after I had taken the housing apart.

[incognito]

thanks for all the information.... so do you guys think i should go to my audi dealer (well going to put on tires on monday), should i tell them to buy me a new headlight housing and when they install it to add some more silicone??

i never had this problem with the orginal headlight, when it was replaced, this started happening...

[audirs6sport]

Just keep getting it replaced. Once it reaches the fourth time and you cannot get the problem resolved, you can lemonaid your rs6 if you choose to do so, as long as you have purchased your vehicle from a licensed dealer.

[Robert Wendel]

14629
Have a headlight that condenses after car wash. I tried to upload photo - not sure it is there.
Is there a seal that I can easily approach and repair?
I don't see a crack in the lens etc

thanx

[lswing]

Resurrected thread award....

Never had a headlight condensate, my car lives outside year round in Oregon, gets washed a lot.

Guess would be bad seal, glue it? Pop the hood, seal along top of light right?

[1uglymug]

This seems like a great opportunity to clear your corners. If you need to remove your headlamp to add silicone follow these instructions by nene.

http://www.rs6.com/showthread.php/3862-Removing-headlights-instructions-no-pix?s=

[RAUDI]

I almost mentioned the decade long hiatus of this thread earlier, but felt like too junior of a member. :) Wouldn't the right answer be to remove, separate, dry, and seal it? Otherwise it's just getting sealed with all of the moisture in it. Is there a nice option for aftermarket that retains use of the leveling system? Then he could just make sure the new ones are sealed and replace 'em.

[Robert Wendel]

Can the light be sealed without taking the car apart as suggested in the link by "1uglymug" above?
When I lift the hood it looks like the plastic cover over the lights is held in place by metal clips....my finger pointing

There is a bead of black sealant along the top edge that is absent in areas....my finger pointing

1464914650

is it possible that the water gets in along this line?

[DHall1]

+1

With the amt of water in that housing....taking it apart is the only choice



I almost mentioned the decade long hiatus of this thread earlier, but felt like too junior of a member. :) Wouldn't the right answer be to remove, separate, dry, and seal it? Otherwise it's just getting sealed with all of the moisture in it. Is there a nice option for aftermarket that retains use of the leveling system? Then he could just make sure the new ones are sealed and replace 'em.

[Robert Wendel]

What do the metal clips do? "taking it apart is the only choice" - how?

[DHall1]

Look around for a clear corner DIY

Same process

Bumper comes off


What do the metal clips do? "taking it apart is the only choice" - how?

[Bigglezworth]

I've split headlights on one of my other cars and simply used some boiling water. Let the light sit in the water for 3-4 mins to soften the sealant, and then pulled apart. No oven required for that effort. Will be removing the yellow signal lenses over the next 24 hours on my headlights while I have the front all apart. Can report back some quick thoughts for your consideration.

[Robert Wendel]

DIY means = http://www.rs6.com/showthread.php/3862-Removing-headlights-instructions-no-pix?s=

???

[lswing]

Take it out, let it dry, seal it up....you can do a partial clear without opening the light. Also the silver blinker bulbs look great, forget the name of them...

[JSRS6]

Stealth bulbs

www.stealthbulbs.com

[lswing]

^^^So clean, love them. Removed some of the orange internals with needle nose, just a small piece left in each corner, clean...and no need to crack open lights.

Honestly, OP, why not just let the car/lights dry for a week in the garage then seal the top seam where the water is coming through?, might be an easy option.

[Bigglezworth]

What do the metal clips do? "taking it apart is the only choice" - how?I completed the clear corner effort for both lights in less than a half an hour. The metal clips appear to merely hold the lens to the body while the seal is setting I do believe. I used a heat gun to quickly melt the sealant and pulled the lens off the body. Popped out the amber reflector and then seated the lens back on the body. Clipped things up tight and then heated the entire perimeter to melt the butyl mastic and close things up.

14751147481475014749

You could simply use a heat gun or the oven to melt the mastic to ensure it's not dried out and creating a break in the seal, or like many others have suggested, dry the light out buy opening the inside to air and then using some exterior sealant. Doesn't look great, but can be done. If you're doing the clear corners, then just ensure adequate coverage for the mastic as part of the reseal.