Chas
Senior Member
I was driving home last night when there was an extremely heavy downpour. It was so heavy I had to pull in to the side as did other drivers.
When I got back I noticed the headlamps had condensation , about 2 inches all the way along the bottom. This was about 1 hour after I switched the engine off and it had stopped raining. The condensation had gone the next day, it was a dry windy night and the car was outside.
They are MB halogen projectors 1 year old. I didnt have this problem on my old headlamps.
I found lots of stuff about air circulation in the headlamp and vents at the back to allow air in and I found this post below.
Is this normal or just poor build quality?
ALLDATA Online - 1999 Mercedes Benz E 320 Sedan (210.065) V6-3.2L (112.941) - Lighting - Condensation in Headlamps
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1999 Mercedes Benz E 320 Sedan (210.065) V6-3.2L (112.941)
Vehicle Level Technical Service Bulletins All Technical Service Bulletins Lighting - Condensation in Headlamps
Lighting - Condensation in Headlamps
Date: December 30, 2004
Order No.: P-B-82.10/419
Supersedes:
Group: 82
SUBJECT:
Model 170, 171, 203, 208, 209, 210, 211, 215, 220 and 230
Moisture in Headlamp(s)
Note : For Information Only!
If you receive customer reports in the above model vehicles moisture or water inside the headlamp(s), please
offer the following explanations.Surfaces fog up whenever they are cold and come in contact with warmer, humid air. An example of this is
the mirror in the bathroom. It often fogs up after showering because it comes in contact with the warm
humid air from the shower enclosure. The same thing occurs to the headlamps. Moisture or water on or
around the engine evaporates and this vapor condenses on the coldest surface in the surrounding area.
This is frequently the headlamps since they are frequently in contact with cold air or cold rain.
The headlamps have ventilation holes on the back. Without these holes, pressure would be produced when
the headlamps are switched on damaging the headlamps.
A malfunctioning headlamp can be identified as follows. As a prerequisite, the headlamp(s) must be fogged
up when the vehicle is brought into the workshop.
1. Is there a puddle of water inside the headlamp? If yes, the headlamp is malfunctioning and should be
replaced.
2. Does the headlamp show signs of external damage? If yes, the headlamp is malfunctioning and must be
replaced. This is not covered by warranty.
3. If there is only an appearance of moisture on the inside surfaces of the headlamp and there is no external
damage, the headlamp is then okay.
Note :If the owner complains of fogging but the fogging is not present when the car is brought in, then this is
normal and not an indication of any malfunction.
OK
ALLDATA Online - 1999 Mercedes Benz E 320 Sedan (210.065) V6-3.2L (112.941) - Lighting - Condensation in Headlamps
Clearing fogged headlamps and/or fog lamps.
1. Drive the car into the workshop and connect the exhaust extractor. In dry weather, this can also be
performed outside.
2. Start the engine and switch on the low beam + high beam, front fog lamps and hazard warning lamps.
3. Leave the vehicle in this state for 20 minutes.
4. Switch off all lights and the engine.
5. If the headlamps and/or fog lamps are completely clear, the observed fogging or water is normal. If not,
the headlamp or fog lamp is not functioning correctly and should be replaced.
© 2006 ALLDATA LLC. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use
When I got back I noticed the headlamps had condensation , about 2 inches all the way along the bottom. This was about 1 hour after I switched the engine off and it had stopped raining. The condensation had gone the next day, it was a dry windy night and the car was outside.
They are MB halogen projectors 1 year old. I didnt have this problem on my old headlamps.
I found lots of stuff about air circulation in the headlamp and vents at the back to allow air in and I found this post below.
Is this normal or just poor build quality?
ALLDATA Online - 1999 Mercedes Benz E 320 Sedan (210.065) V6-3.2L (112.941) - Lighting - Condensation in Headlamps
Log Out | Help
SPL SEATTLE PL
Select Vehicle | New TSBs | Technician's Reference Component Search:
Conversion Calculator
1999 Mercedes Benz E 320 Sedan (210.065) V6-3.2L (112.941)
Vehicle Level Technical Service Bulletins All Technical Service Bulletins Lighting - Condensation in Headlamps
Lighting - Condensation in Headlamps
Date: December 30, 2004
Order No.: P-B-82.10/419
Supersedes:
Group: 82
SUBJECT:
Model 170, 171, 203, 208, 209, 210, 211, 215, 220 and 230
Moisture in Headlamp(s)
Note : For Information Only!
If you receive customer reports in the above model vehicles moisture or water inside the headlamp(s), please
offer the following explanations.Surfaces fog up whenever they are cold and come in contact with warmer, humid air. An example of this is
the mirror in the bathroom. It often fogs up after showering because it comes in contact with the warm
humid air from the shower enclosure. The same thing occurs to the headlamps. Moisture or water on or
around the engine evaporates and this vapor condenses on the coldest surface in the surrounding area.
This is frequently the headlamps since they are frequently in contact with cold air or cold rain.
The headlamps have ventilation holes on the back. Without these holes, pressure would be produced when
the headlamps are switched on damaging the headlamps.
A malfunctioning headlamp can be identified as follows. As a prerequisite, the headlamp(s) must be fogged
up when the vehicle is brought into the workshop.
1. Is there a puddle of water inside the headlamp? If yes, the headlamp is malfunctioning and should be
replaced.
2. Does the headlamp show signs of external damage? If yes, the headlamp is malfunctioning and must be
replaced. This is not covered by warranty.
3. If there is only an appearance of moisture on the inside surfaces of the headlamp and there is no external
damage, the headlamp is then okay.
Note :If the owner complains of fogging but the fogging is not present when the car is brought in, then this is
normal and not an indication of any malfunction.
OK
ALLDATA Online - 1999 Mercedes Benz E 320 Sedan (210.065) V6-3.2L (112.941) - Lighting - Condensation in Headlamps
Clearing fogged headlamps and/or fog lamps.
1. Drive the car into the workshop and connect the exhaust extractor. In dry weather, this can also be
performed outside.
2. Start the engine and switch on the low beam + high beam, front fog lamps and hazard warning lamps.
3. Leave the vehicle in this state for 20 minutes.
4. Switch off all lights and the engine.
5. If the headlamps and/or fog lamps are completely clear, the observed fogging or water is normal. If not,
the headlamp or fog lamp is not functioning correctly and should be replaced.
© 2006 ALLDATA LLC. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use
