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2016 GLC 250d AMG pack, 2017 GLC Coupe 250d AMG pack , 2002 BMW 330Ci convertible, 2021 BMX X1 sD20i
GLC headlight - lots water condensation inside ??
Hi, our GLC wagon with Intelligent LED adaptive headlights seen to have an issue. Car is RHD in Australia,.
Passenger front headlight is ;growing water’ inside unit. Worried electrical will impact and light motors will fail.
Any experience in this Forum ? Someone said unit may have a drain hole or vent that could be blocked ?
Unit seems well bolted in and it may be major surgery to remove front bar or supports to take headlight out - any suggestions or instructions?photos appreciated.
Front lens does not appear to be cracked anywhere.
It won't take much of a gap anywhere to let air in. I'm guessing you'll need to replace the assembly. As for electronics damage, I think it would be minimal, at best, as long as it doesn't start to fill up with water. I had a similar issue on a non-MB, during the winter, and put a little heater on it to dry it out.
2016 GLC 250d AMG pack, 2017 GLC Coupe 250d AMG pack , 2002 BMW 330Ci convertible, 2021 BMX X1 sD20i
Dropped by another Dealer who said MB might consider some sort of warranty ?
But it would need removing to assess.
$300Au labour per hour, 3 hour charge to remove front bumper and replace, plus time to inspect unit, if replaced another 30 min to recalibrate 3 x motors in unit.
So around $1200Au to look and replace - if warranty denied, add cost of new headlight unit ?? Could be $4000Au ?
Sounds expensive - will investigate further with my Dealership.
Dropped by another Dealer who said MB might consider some sort of warranty ?
But it would need removing to assess.
$300Au labour per hour, 3 hour charge to remove front bumper and replace, plus time to inspect unit, if replaced another 30 min to recalibrate 3 x motors in unit.
So around $1200Au to look and replace - if warranty denied, add cost of new headlight unit ?? Could be $4000Au ?
Sounds expensive - will investigate further with my Dealership.
Looks like a weak seal indeed, I am surprised they even question if it covered or not, I mean you did say there is no damage to the housing right.
Dropped by another Dealer who said MB might consider some sort of warranty ?
But it would need removing to assess.
$300Au labour per hour, 3 hour charge to remove front bumper and replace, plus time to inspect unit, if replaced another 30 min to recalibrate 3 x motors in unit.
So around $1200Au to look and replace - if warranty denied, add cost of new headlight unit ?? Could be $4000Au ?
Sounds expensive - will investigate further with my Dealership.
Mine wasn't as bad as yours but Mercedes has a procedure for this headlight condensation issue, which is to insert silica gel bags under warranty. Everybody knows that's a temporary fix, but that's what MB does. If that still doesn't fix the issue, they will then replace the headlights under warranty. However, I read online that owners of S-class in the US have had them replaced twice or even thrice but eventually condensation came back.
If yours is still under warranty, diagnosis should be conducted free of charge. This is a fairy common issue not just with Mercedes anyway.
Last edited by pussgalore; May 14, 2023 at 07:07 PM.
Mine wasn't as bad as yours but Mercedes has a procedure for this headlight condensation issue, which is to insert silica gel bags under warranty. Everybody knows that's a temporary fix, but that's what MB does. If that still doesn't fix the issue, they will then replace the headlights under warranty. However, I read online that owners of S-class in the US have had them replaced twice or even thrice but eventually condensation came back.
If yours is still under warranty, diagnosis should be conducted free of charge. This is a fairy common issue not just with Mercedes anyway.
no don't use that "fix" I heard horror stories of those packs going through chemical reaction and simply destroying the control unit of the headlights.
no don't use that "fix" I heard horror stories of those packs going through chemical reaction and simply destroying the control unit of the headlights.
I mentioned that to the dealer and they said that that was the mercedes work procedure and they would keep replacing the silica gel bags under warranty and if the leak caused electrical problems, warranty would cover that.
I didn't want mine replaced with the new ones either because they could be worse than the original.
I mentioned that to the dealer and they said that that was the mercedes work procedure and they would keep replacing the silica gel bags under warranty and if the leak caused electrical problems, warranty would cover that.
I didn't want mine replaced with the new ones either because they could be worse than the original.
Hi
How to fix fogging of headlamps:
1. Drill 2 5mm holes either end of the top of the headlamp unit so that the holes are open to the inside of the light cavity.
2. Carefully warm the front of the light with a heat gun for a few minuets.
3. With a portable battery air pump type used for air beds fitted with a suitable narrow nozzle (mine is a Pumtech DP6) put the nozzle onto one of the holes and turn on and hold for some time.
4. Check air coming out of the other hole.
5. Taking care, play the heat gun into the air pump inlet - this all may take a while depending on how bad your fogging is.
6. When moisture gone, tape over the holes with good quality tape - you will probably need to repeat above as more moisture gets into the light from the poor seals.
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