water in C230 headlight assembly
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 24
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From: Panama City Beach, FL
2007 Mercedes C230 Sport
water in C230 headlight assembly
On my way to work today, drove thru very heavy rainstorm. When i got off, the rain had stopped, & i noticed standing water inside the driver's side headlight assembly. I drove home with the lights on hoping the heat from the headlights would get rid of the water. It did for the most part, but the section with the small parking light still has a lot of condensation that wont go away. I'm guessing it's because the small parking light bulb doesn't generate a lot of heat. Any suggestions on how I can get rid of the water & condensation & prevent it from happening again? I live in Florida, so it rains down here a lot. Kinda strange that it only happened on one side & not both. I just dont want to take the chance of the constant water exposure to affect the electrical wiring inside the housing.
Last edited by TS74; Jun 25, 2011 at 12:39 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 812
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From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
open it up and re seal it using oci butyl rubber.
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=792
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=792
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 283
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From: Metro ATL
2001 E55 AMG (sold)
Unless it is a persistent problem that doesn't go away, I wouldn't attempt a repair. Just drive around with your lights on for a few days and it should dry up. There is a TSB about this and Mercedes says its normal to happen.
I had it happen to me after driving 2 hours at 60+mph through a big storm. The driver side showed moisture. It took almost a week to dry up, but hasn't showed moisture since (that was back in April).
Oddly, the passenger side was showing moisture after the last time I washed the car, but that dried up by the next morning.
I had it happen to me after driving 2 hours at 60+mph through a big storm. The driver side showed moisture. It took almost a week to dry up, but hasn't showed moisture since (that was back in April).
Oddly, the passenger side was showing moisture after the last time I washed the car, but that dried up by the next morning.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Panama City Beach, FL
2007 Mercedes C230 Sport
Unless it is a persistent problem that doesn't go away, I wouldn't attempt a repair. Just drive around with your lights on for a few days and it should dry up. There is a TSB about this and Mercedes says its normal to happen.
I had it happen to me after driving 2 hours at 60+mph through a big storm. The driver side showed moisture. It took almost a week to dry up, but hasn't showed moisture since (that was back in April).
Oddly, the passenger side was showing moisture after the last time I washed the car, but that dried up by the next morning.
I had it happen to me after driving 2 hours at 60+mph through a big storm. The driver side showed moisture. It took almost a week to dry up, but hasn't showed moisture since (that was back in April).
Oddly, the passenger side was showing moisture after the last time I washed the car, but that dried up by the next morning.
Just when i was getting all giddy about the noise being fixed, now this - if it aint one thing, it's another......
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 812
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From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
There is no way an inch of standing water is normal. Some condensation....maybe but not an inch. this sounds like either your sealant is bad or you might not have secured the doors in the back properly. You should check that first before disassembling. Sorry, I should have recommended that first. I was exhausted last night when i replied.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 283
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From: Metro ATL
2001 E55 AMG (sold)
Just wierd that this would happen out of the blue like this. I've driven thru rainstorms, sprayed the headlights directly while washing, etc. & never had an issue. There was about an inch of standing water all along the inside bottom of the housing. I checked it this morning, & there's still about a half-inch of standing water & a lot of condensation. Mercedes says this is normal?
Just when i was getting all giddy about the noise being fixed, now this - if it aint one thing, it's another......
Just when i was getting all giddy about the noise being fixed, now this - if it aint one thing, it's another......
No, not the standing water, just some occasional condensation. I didn't realize you were talking about that much water. I think that something happened during your recent repair. The mechanics probably bumped or didn't replaced the covers on the back properly, like Fookoo said.
