[NickP]

A friends garage recently replaced one of my Xenon control units for me (FOC), and ever since when it rains heavily after driving I get fairly bad condensation in the headlight -
Is there a cover/seal that may not have been replaced correctly?
And if so is it fairly easy to fix?
I'd prefer to try and do it myself if possible - as the garage did me a favour initially.....

[Ant Man]

There are 2 venting black hoses. I'm sure the units are fully sealed (the E46s were) but should not be hard to check. Are all the bonnet rubbers in place?

[NickP]

I'll have a check tonight - thanks Ant

[dirtydarthdub]

I did once stupidly leave the cap off my headlight overnight when changing my old golfs bulb. A nice load of condensation appeared the next day d'oh.

Ended up going to Jessops and getting some large silica gel packs that they sell for keeping your expensive camera nice and moisture free, tied two of them together like dipping teabags and left them inside the headlight with the cap screwed on.

Take the silica gel tea bag out and dry on radiator then back in for a second time and I never had any visible condensation again....and always double check the cap now!

Worth a go for the cheapness of the things;

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/...7422/show.html

ETA you must tie it on as I nearly lost the first one I put in when it went further to thr front than I wanted.....and you can't really tip the car up to slide it back out!

[parapaul]

That would be my first suggestion too. It's entirely possible there's nothing wrong with the light itself, and that during whatever work was done, the cap was left off for long enough to allow the damp air into the unit.

Silica gel is cheap, quick and easy.

[NickP]

Right have ordered some Silica Gel and will also check seals etc at the wknd

[NickP]

Sorted - they hadn't clicked the back cover on properly and it was rattling around!
Have clicked it back on and when the silica gel arrives I'll pop a couple of bags in using the piece of string method!

[Siciliano611]

back cover? Wait so there is a back cover to the headlights AND the headlight cap on top? I have similar condensation issues (not as bad) and i made sure my top cap is on ok and still get slight condensation in rain/car washes....