Cracked headlight

drbru · 05-05-2020, 03:11 PM

So I've had a crack in my headlight for the last 3-4 years. Visually it doesn't look that bad but over the last couple of weeks the headlight has been getting a lot of moisture in them when it rains...and every now and again i will get some kind of error message related to the lighting if i drive the car so looks like the moisture is getting through to the various modules at the back of the headlight

I can't even seem to completely remove the moisture even if i heat the headlight up or if I remove the cap at the top of the headlight to help...When its warm, the moisture simply disappears but then re-appears when the temp drops at night or if it rains again

I am assume the crack is where the water ingress is coming from.. Other then clear tape to help seal the crack does anyone know of any potential fixes?

If it is infact the crack that's letting water in I know this is going to cost me around 3k to repair and won't be covered under warranty so looking for any potential solutions that I can try as 3k is a lot of money for a new headlight!!!

PoolCar · 05-05-2020, 03:25 PM

Can you post a picture of the crack?
It would help to assess possible fixes.
In some countries or jurisdictions cracks in light lenses are not allowed.
I assume, seeing as you have had this crack for some time, that it is not
effecting the operation or light pattern from your headlight.
Although not damaged, the headlights on my car fog up on very wet days
but clear quickly.

M5Rick · 05-05-2020, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbru

So I've had a crack in my headlight for the last 3-4 years. Visually it doesn't look that bad but over the last couple of weeks the headlight has been getting a lot of moisture in them when it rains...and every now and again i will get some kind of error message related to the lighting if i drive the car so looks like the moisture is getting through to the various modules at the back of the headlight

I can't even seem to completely remove the moisture even if i heat the headlight up or if I remove the cap at the top of the headlight to help...When its warm, the moisture simply disappears but then re-appears when the temp drops at night or if it rains again

I am assume the crack is where the water ingress is coming from.. Other then clear tape to help seal the crack does anyone know of any potential fixes?

If it is infact the crack that's letting water in I know this is going to cost me around 3k to repair and won't be covered under warranty so looking for any potential solutions that I can try as 3k is a lot of money for a new headlight!!!

You could try covering the whole headlight with a tailored self adhesive plastic cutout specially to protect F10 M headlight from impacts to a point, which would seal the crack. Have a pair somewhere which I haven't fitted yet.

*They are from aliath.co.uk.A fellow poster OneExtra put me onto them and they come posted in a small roll tube.

AlisterB · 05-05-2020, 06:57 PM

I would be replacing the headlight ASAP, either with a new one (potentially through insurance) or a used item from eBay/a wrecker etc. Just make sure you match the part number and you shouldn't have any issues.

Any other 'fix' would just be leaving a problem for later and I hate doing that (I'd just want to tick it off as fixed and move on with life!).

OneExtra · 05-06-2020, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

You could try covering the whole headlight with a tailored self adhesive plastic cutout specially to protect F10 M headlight from impacts to a point, which would seal the crack. Have a pair somewhere which I haven't fitted yet.

*They are from aliath.co.uk.A fellow poster OneExtra put me onto them and they come posted in a small roll tube.

Still not fitted mine either

drbru · 05-06-2020, 03:33 AM

a few people have said that using some kind of film will be a good way for a fix...

Either way. I know this is a temporary fix and as much as 3k for a headlight is gonna hurt I know it has to be done... but with dealers closed etc due to covid need to hope that the film method works

drbru · 05-06-2020, 03:59 AM

here is a picture

Dwaynos · 05-06-2020, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbru

a few people have said that using some kind of film will be a good way for a fix...

Either way. I know this is a temporary fix and as much as 3k for a headlight is gonna hurt I know it has to be done... but with dealers closed etc due to covid need to hope that the film method works

Don't buy new, get a used one from ebay, as long as the one you buy has all the same features/matching part numbers then its plug and play. If you bought new you would need to buy 2 to make them match..

drbru · 05-06-2020, 05:56 AM

why would it not match??

OneExtra · 05-06-2020, 06:00 AM

Are they LED or Xenon?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=63_1210

You may need a gasket set also

Dwaynos · 05-06-2020, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbru

why would it not match??

Ones old and ones new, unless you give the old one a good polishing, doesn't usually last long though.

drbru · 05-06-2020, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneExtra

Are they LED or Xenon?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=63_1210

You may need a gasket set also

Its a 2011 UK spec so assuming they are Xenon although how do i check for sure....I have the spec list for my car and there is no mention of LED as i think this was an option, or standard time for the younger cars unless anyone can tell me otherwise

M5Rick · 05-06-2020, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbru

Its a 2011 UK spec so assuming they are Xenon although how do i check for sure....I have the spec list for my car and there is no mention of LED as i think this was an option, or standard time for the younger cars unless anyone can tell me otherwise

They are xenons on yours as the LED's with squared off bottoms were available from '14 or late '13 on lci as an option but there are different specs of xenons with the patterns on the side.
You have to remove bumper to get h/light off.
Why don't you de-fog the lamp in the sun then apply the sealer sheet after and seal the edge of the lamp carefully with some clear sealer glue.

AlisterB · 05-06-2020, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbru

Its a 2011 UK spec so assuming they are Xenon although how do i check for sure....I have the spec list for my car and there is no mention of LED as i think this was an option, or standard time for the younger cars unless anyone can tell me otherwise

Definitely xenon (LED was introduced in the LCI model).

drbru · 05-06-2020, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

They are xenons on yours as the LED's with squared off bottoms were available from '14 or late '13 on lci as an option but there are different specs of xenons with the patterns on the side.
You have to remove bumper to get h/light off.
Why don't you de-fog the lamp in the sun then apply the sealer sheet after and seal the edge of the lamp carefully with some clear sealer glue.

Definitely something I'm thinking about...Problem is i don't appear to be able to properly clear the headlight.....When its warm, the condensation disappears but then it re-appears as soon as the temperature drops....I appreciate that if the seal is damaged, your idea may help but I still need to address the issue with the crack in the headlight itself and the only viable solution that there appears to be for this is some type of watertight film/tape

OneExtra · 05-06-2020, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbru

Its a 2011 UK spec so assuming they are Xenon although how do i check for sure....I have the spec list for my car and there is no mention of LED as i think this was an option, or standard time for the younger cars unless anyone can tell me otherwise

Are they adaptive as if not these look OK at £500 new

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/...SAAEgIYLvD_BwE

If you wanted OEM then I am sure they would be about £1100 max with Cotswold BMW (Alex in Parts)

Adaptive would be more

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/...SAAEgL5tfD_BwE

drbru · 05-06-2020, 08:01 AM

yep its the adaptive one....thanks for the tip with Alex..Either way I think the replacement price is going to hurt!

J11SEK · 05-06-2020, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbru

So I've had a crack in my headlight for the last 3-4 years. Visually it doesn't look that bad but over the last couple of weeks the headlight has been getting a lot of moisture in them when it rains...and every now and again i will get some kind of error message related to the lighting if i drive the car so looks like the moisture is getting through to the various modules at the back of the headlight

I can't even seem to completely remove the moisture even if i heat the headlight up or if I remove the cap at the top of the headlight to help...When its warm, the moisture simply disappears but then re-appears when the temp drops at night or if it rains again

I am assume the crack is where the water ingress is coming from.. Other then clear tape to help seal the crack does anyone know of any potential fixes?

If it is infact the crack that's letting water in I know this is going to cost me around 3k to repair and won't be covered under warranty so looking for any potential solutions that I can try as 3k is a lot of money for a new headlight!!!

You could try covering the whole headlight with a tailored self adhesive plastic cutout specially to protect F10 M headlight from impacts to a point, which would seal the crack. Have a pair somewhere which I haven't fitted yet.

*They are from aliath.co.uk.A fellow poster OneExtra put me onto them and they come posted in a small roll tube.

I've just ordered some of these to save any cracks happening to my lights!!! Don't fancy a new one at 3k

Thx for the site M5theonlyone

M5Rick · 05-06-2020, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J11SEK

I've just ordered some of these to save any cracks happening to my lights!!! Don't fancy a new one at 3k

Thx for the site M5theonlyone

That's why we're here to help each other.

05-05-2020, 03:11 PM	#1
drbru Lieutenant 119 Rep 483 Posts Drives: f10 m5 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Cracked headlight So I've had a crack in my headlight for the last 3-4 years. Visually it doesn't look that bad but over the last couple of weeks the headlight has been getting a lot of moisture in them when it rains...and every now and again i will get some kind of error message related to the lighting if i drive the car so looks like the moisture is getting through to the various modules at the back of the headlight I can't even seem to completely remove the moisture even if i heat the headlight up or if I remove the cap at the top of the headlight to help...When its warm, the moisture simply disappears but then re-appears when the temp drops at night or if it rains again I am assume the crack is where the water ingress is coming from.. Other then clear tape to help seal the crack does anyone know of any potential fixes? If it is infact the crack that's letting water in I know this is going to cost me around 3k to repair and won't be covered under warranty so looking for any potential solutions that I can try as 3k is a lot of money for a new headlight!!!
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05-05-2020, 03:25 PM	#2
PoolCar Enlisted Member 18 Rep 47 Posts Drives: F10M5, 997 - 911 Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Can you post a picture of the crack? It would help to assess possible fixes. In some countries or jurisdictions cracks in light lenses are not allowed. I assume, seeing as you have had this crack for some time, that it is not effecting the operation or light pattern from your headlight. Although not damaged, the headlights on my car fog up on very wet days but clear quickly. Last edited by PoolCar; 05-05-2020 at 03:32 PM..
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05-05-2020, 06:57 PM	#4
AlisterB First Lieutenant 185 Rep 361 Posts Drives: F10 M5 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	I would be replacing the headlight ASAP, either with a new one (potentially through insurance) or a used item from eBay/a wrecker etc. Just make sure you match the part number and you shouldn't have any issues. Any other 'fix' would just be leaving a problem for later and I hate doing that (I'd just want to tick it off as fixed and move on with life!).
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05-06-2020, 03:33 AM	#6
drbru Lieutenant 119 Rep 483 Posts Drives: f10 m5 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: London iTrader: (0)	a few people have said that using some kind of film will be a good way for a fix... Either way. I know this is a temporary fix and as much as 3k for a headlight is gonna hurt I know it has to be done... but with dealers closed etc due to covid need to hope that the film method works
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05-06-2020, 03:59 AM	#7
drbru Lieutenant 119 Rep 483 Posts Drives: f10 m5 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: London iTrader: (0)	here is a picture Attached Images
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05-06-2020, 05:56 AM	#9
drbru Lieutenant 119 Rep 483 Posts Drives: f10 m5 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: London iTrader: (0)	why would it not match??
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05-06-2020, 06:00 AM	#10
OneExtra Lieutenant Colonel 812 Rep 1,847 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Are they LED or Xenon? https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=63_1210 You may need a gasket set also
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05-06-2020, 08:01 AM	#17
drbru Lieutenant 119 Rep 483 Posts Drives: f10 m5 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: London iTrader: (0)	yep its the adaptive one....thanks for the tip with Alex..Either way I think the replacement price is going to hurt!
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