Evenmb

My dealer says it's normal because the LED lights cannot be fully enclosed.

But to me it's looks like trouble. The fogging looks pretty ugly.

Any opinions on this?

PeteInGilroy

Wow, pretty bad. Our '04 Lexus did the same thing (eventually the headlamp assembly was recalled).


Do you notice it more if you park outside after driving in the rain and then the sun comes out?

DBOC205

That shouldn't happen. I mean headlight assemblies are never fully sealed - they'll have breather plugs (generally a plastic cap with a piece of foam), but you shouldn't be getting that much moisture into the lights unless you're blasting them with high pressure water or submerging them entirely. Certainly shouldn't just happen with rain!

I would check with another dealer or service center; all else fails, email those pics to MB for comment.

Evenmb

Well it kind of dissipates or dries off overnight while parked, or faster if the sun comes out. So it's not like the water vapour gets trapped inside for very long. I don't know if this is a silver lining or not though...LOL.

In my previous car, if moisture gets trapped in the headlight, it will take a long time to dry up.

PeterUbers

I never have that with my led lights

Merlin1

Manual says its normal in certain climatic conditions.

Eilers

It looks quite dramatic!

Will that much water not leave residue stains and marks on the inside of the glass over time?

DBOC205

Darn right it will. Living in a high humidity area, I encounter that exact issue on a triple glazed glass door of a big wine fridge we've got. Over the years the residual run-off from the condensation on the sealed part of the glass can be clearly seen (especially if the sun strikes it).

Jinzen

Mine has 0 condensation ever. Has been raining a lot lately here too.

pcdsl

I had that in mine...

Glyn M Ruck

You should only see that sort of mess after extreme temperature changes.

vic viper

It's normal, without a doubt.

c4004matic

As long as water does not accumulate in the lamp its OK in very wacky climate conditions to have a little fogging. If you have any liquid water in the dependent portion of the lamp its definitely abnormal. That happened on our new MDX. By the time I noticed it on one of the tail lamps there was basically a little fish bowl! If I hadn't been driving behind my wife I probably wouldn't have seen it till the whole thing shorted out.

HelenR

Maybe a few minutes after huge temp/dew point change, but that looks broken my friend. I'd take it to another dealer if it was mine.

vic viper

Its is not broken, and there is no need to change dealer.

bellavance

I've seen it in the upper corners of the light covers after parking car in my garage.

My "old" 2008 C300 never did that.

dbldpr

Headlights on my wife's car used to fog up every time water got on them. Took them out and sealed with clear Silicone caulk around the edges and that resealed the headlights and no more problem. That was 4 years ago and still no more fog.

PeterUbers

I am a bit disappointed in the quality of our 2014 MDX. It is now in the shop needing a new O2 sensor at only 4000 miles. Also some gremlins in the user interface.

Other than that it is such a joy to drive

Glyn M Ruck

All headlights need to breath. However previous fogging like this has been directly related to lens seal integrity.

vic viper

I have seen this exact fog pattern in over 20 205.s now, even on my own,
usually after I have washed it indoors in room temperature in very high humidity and then when it gets exposed to colder weather outside as well as lower humidity, this will happen.

c4004matic

Although in this particular case its seems excessive, a slight fogging is normal. On the other hand, if the amount of moisture is enough for water to accumulate in the housing, its definitely abnormal.

Eilers

Hmm.. I dont think that makes it OK.

Is it possible to open these LED units and clean the inside of the glass? 4-5 years worth of fogging up like in that first photo, and it is going to look like someone poured milk in there ..

vic viper

No it isnt, as c4004matic mentioned, fogging is ok, moisture or liquid water isnt.

c4004matic

Agreed, this case looks too much. In my neck of the snowy, wet and cold woods in my few days I had had a barely noticeable small patch. Maybe in your area a ill fitting or poorly installed seal is to blame. Not hard to imagine a round seal, that is supposed to be installed with a certain face out being installed the opposite way.

Eilers

clearly you can't create a different enviroment inside the lamps then outside. I understand that you get some fogging in some situations, f.ex as per your own explanation.

But that much condensation as seen in that photo, is going to create hazy glass over time. It is also focused in a certain area.

Knowing that these Intelligent LEDs are not cheap, that is going to be a long term concern for the owner of that car.

Example of similar problem here:

http://www.gencoupe.com/exterior-200...ion-wtf-6.html