Jun 5, 2015, 12:57 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
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Headlight Condensation
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
Yeah I think that's what mine was related to...my fault not Benz's. Anyway..I redid the whole thing and sealed them extra well and have had no problems for a year now. Knock on wood.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
C200
So, changing aftermarket HID (drilling dust cover) will probably getting condensation? let's make a poll though.....
Because I am about to change the halogen to aftermarket HID, please help your opinion guys....
Thanks a lot
Because I am about to change the halogen to aftermarket HID, please help your opinion guys....
Thanks a lot
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 2
From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
If you just like the sound of the word xenons, then go for it but if you're wanting more light, you may be better served with the brighter versions of the halogens.
You'll also avoid some of these weird problems like moisture in the headlight housing.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
2015 Carrara White Metallic Porsche Cayman
If MB wasn't dumb and didn't include something as basic as hids ONLY with P2 we wouldn't have these issues either. Thank God they remedied that with the lighting package.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 811
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, ON
2011 E350 4Matic Wagon, 2013 C350 4Matic Sedan
Sorry to re-hash this thread but I've been trying to deal with the condensation for two seasons now. It first appeared in the summer of 2009. I took pictures of it and emailed by SA. He said he spoke to the mechanics and believe that is normal. I dried it off and thought maybe it was a fluke. The problem reoccurred last month and I haven't had to the chance to dry it out. Tonight I got the warning on my dash to check the left low beam. Low-and-behold it is malfunctioning (i.e., not working). This is the third car I have had with HID (all OE) and the first time I have encountered a burnout. In hindsight, I should have persisted to have it repaired at the first occurrence as I have never had an issue with condensation inside a headlamp housing before. I don't think that it's normal... (or is it?)
Have you guys had any luck in getting the dealership to replace this under warranty? Did they make all sorts of excuses about it?
Have you guys had any luck in getting the dealership to replace this under warranty? Did they make all sorts of excuses about it?
Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, GA
1987 300D Turbo, 2007 ML63 AMG
Headlight condensation on 98 E320.
When I washed the car the front of the car got sprayed really good. Later on I noticed a lot of condensation on both left side lamps.
The housing is supposed to have a drain on the bottom and a vent on the top, which takes care of normal condensation. (The heat from the head lights circulates the air inside the housing. The warm humid air rises and vents and dry fresh air replaces it from drain below.)
I had an incorrectly secured rear cover of the headlight assembly, which allowed a lot of water to enter when I washed the car. WhenI removed it I saw wetness on the bottom portion where the cover was attached to the housing. There even was standing water in front at the bottom of the smaller inside part of the headlamp housing.
I got a syringe and sucked the water out and then used a hair dryer, blowing on low and aimed it into the housing. The condensation disappeared from the inside of the lenses.
Putting the cover back on make sure that it is properly secured on both sides.
When I washed the car the front of the car got sprayed really good. Later on I noticed a lot of condensation on both left side lamps.
The housing is supposed to have a drain on the bottom and a vent on the top, which takes care of normal condensation. (The heat from the head lights circulates the air inside the housing. The warm humid air rises and vents and dry fresh air replaces it from drain below.)
I had an incorrectly secured rear cover of the headlight assembly, which allowed a lot of water to enter when I washed the car. WhenI removed it I saw wetness on the bottom portion where the cover was attached to the housing. There even was standing water in front at the bottom of the smaller inside part of the headlamp housing.
I got a syringe and sucked the water out and then used a hair dryer, blowing on low and aimed it into the housing. The condensation disappeared from the inside of the lenses.
Putting the cover back on make sure that it is properly secured on both sides.
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Newbie
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa Beach Fl.
2013 SLK350 Sport & 2012 R350
Headlights
Well I traded my 2012 E350 in on a 2013 SLK 250. Picked it up Saturday and by Monday it was in the shop. It needs a new radar head. I asked them to take care of the condensation in both headlights. Today I called and spoke to the service writer who said that the part they next day aired from Germany didn't show up. He told me that he had a letter from Mercedes that he want's to go over with me when I pick it up tomorrow about the condensation in the headlights...
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa Beach Fl.
2013 SLK350 Sport & 2012 R350
Well they called me and I went to get it. Mercedes said that condensation inside the headlights is within tolerable limits and they will reject all claims for it. 
Kinda nice when you blow over 70 grand on a car and they tell you that something that on my last car would mean rebuilding the headlamp case but it is now tollerable.
Kinda nice when you blow over 70 grand on a car and they tell you that something that on my last car would mean rebuilding the headlamp case but it is now tollerable.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2017 C300
Dummy Mercedes HQ
Well they called me and I went to get it. Mercedes said that condensation inside the headlights is within tolerable limits and they will reject all claims for it. Kinda nice when you blow over 70 grand on a car and they tell you that something that on my last car would mean rebuilding the headlamp case but it is now tollerable.
Kinda nice when you blow over 70 grand on a car and they tell you that something that on my last car would mean rebuilding the headlamp case but it is now tollerable.I find it really ignorant of Mercedes HQ folks that they push their "tolerable limits" on us. Well, may be tolerable for you because recall costs millions, but guess what, not for me.
Have 2017 C300, 15 days old and right headlight condenses to the extent that the water will get heavy and there will be a dribble line all the way down! Sucks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,764
Likes: 567
From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
I find it really ignorant of Mercedes HQ folks that they push their "tolerable limits" on us. Well, may be tolerable for you because recall costs millions, but guess what, not for me.
Have 2017 C300, 15 days old and right headlight condenses to the extent that the water will get heavy and there will be a dribble line all the way down! Sucks
Have 2017 C300, 15 days old and right headlight condenses to the extent that the water will get heavy and there will be a dribble line all the way down! Sucks
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 290
Likes: 22
From: Weaverville, Ca
1992 MB 190E, 2016 MB C300
After several days of heavy rain, my driver's side had condensation. I took the back bulb covers off and used a hair dryer on the lenses to warm. After clear, I used clear Plasti Dip spray rubber coating around the entire perimeter of the housing. It's almost invisible and sprays on as liquid. It worked. No condensation since. Sounds like it would be messy, but its not. Can hardly see the stuff.
Last edited by dennish; Feb 16, 2017 at 03:21 PM.
