Are uk xenons vented??

[mattyboyc]

Hi all,
I have a problem with condensation build up on my s4 xenon headlights, i have checked the seal where the glass meets the housing but can't see anything obvious, i have new bulb covers but still condensation, search results mainly throw up forums ftom the U.S who seem to have vents on theire xenons to allow the heat to escape and simply replacing the "0" ring cures the condensation problem, just wondering if uk spec xenons are vented if so where are they and has anyone else with factory xenons had the same problem and managed to cure it? On the etka picture of a U S Spec light the vent is around the indicator area!
Thanks
matt

 

[JasonS]

I've noticed I get a small misting in mine.. On both lights, symmetrical on the inside edge.

Spotted it this morning after 1.5hr commute.

 

[mattyboyc]

Seems to be a very common problem in the USA maybee their temoretures are a little more extreme than ours,
here is a pic of a US spec headlight with number 4 showing the vent.

 

[dpbayly]

Mine are xenon and they suffered badly from misting when i bought the car 7 weeks back,

What i did to fix the problem (so far no more misting) is what Ive done to many of my cars that this problem has effected is simple, after speaking a few years back to a head light manufacture (through work Im a mechanic) he informed me the reason the moisture gets in there is because as the air heats up in the light it expands ever so slightly and as it expands it expels through the breather holes (at the base) but the problem arises when the air cools and contracts and the sucks cool damp air back into the unit once it's done that a few times then the moisture starts to show up on the inside of the lens,

So what i was advised to do is block off the vents BUT make sure the units are completely dry pop them over a heater then when putting them back together in the house in the dry popped one of these in the back of each unit:

Jessops - Silica Gel 25g x 2 - Jessops - Cleaning & Maintenance

then refitted the lights back and Ive had no faults since....

heres what the vents look like which i removed, they just pull out.

 

[mattyboyc]

Mine are xenon and they suffered badly from misting when i bought the car 7 weeks back,

What i did to fix the problem (so far no more misting) is what Ive done to many of my cars that this problem has effected is simple, after speaking a few years back to a head light manufacture (through work Im a mechanic) he informed me the reason the moisture gets in there is because as the air heats up in the light it expands ever so slightly and as it expands it expels through the breather holes (at the base) but the problem arises when the air cools and contracts and the sucks cool damp air back into the unit once it's done that a few times then the moisture starts to show up on the inside of the lens,

So what i was advised to do is block off the vents BUT make sure the units are completely dry pop them over a heater then when putting them back together in the house in the dry popped one of these in the back of each unit:

Jessops - Silica Gel 25g x 2 - Jessops - Cleaning & Maintenance

then refitted the lights back and Ive had no faults since....

heres what the vents look like which i removed, they just pull out.

Thanks for that, I will try this next, I left work at 5 this morning and drove for about 30 mins, checked lights and they had started to mist, checked again when I got up and lights are all clear but I bet they will mist again on the journey to work tonight, I think I will remove the vents and stuff some rag in there first to block the little hole at the bottom to see if it works before I fill it up with sealent.
What did you use to block your vents up?
Thanks again,
Matt

 

[dpbayly]

Thanks for that, I will try this next, I left work at 5 this morning and drove for about 30 mins, checked lights and they had started to mist, checked again when I got up and lights are all clear but I bet they will mist again on the journey to work tonight, I think I will remove the vents and stuff some rag in there first to block the little hole at the bottom to see if it works before I fill it up with sealent.
What did you use to block your vents up?
Thanks again,
Matt

I didn't permanently seal them i stuffed rolled up insulation tape in the hole jamming it in to make it air tight then put a strip of duct tape across the opening to make double sure its sealed,

you will still need to dry them out before sealing them up as there will still be moisture in the light even if you cant see it and it will collect on the lens again once the lights have been on warming it up inside the light and to be 100% you have no moisture in there using a silica sack in each will retain anything left.

 

[mattyboyc]

I have a few days off at the end of the week so I will remove the lights, stick them in the airing cupboard for a day or so to dry them,seal the vents and try again ,I'll let you know.
Thanks again for your help,
Matt