How to stop headlights from fogging up

[Wrex22]

Today it rained heavy all day when I got home I noticed that both headlights were completely fogged up. This can't be normal , plus I thought xenon lights had to be kept clear to prevent other road users from being dazzled

[Finglonga]

Perfectly normal and will clear on it's own. Every car I have had with HID's has done exactly the same. Only time to worry is when there is water droplets running and pooling and they do not go away.

[Booth11]

Very common issue.  Headlights are not sealed unit so air can get in, and similarly get out.  Some people pop silica gel packs in to speed things up.

[falconmick]

As already said, common problem, R forum has many posts relating to this.

[Wrex22]

Has anyone had any success putting silica gel sachets in their headlight units to prevent condensation ?

[monkeyhanger]

Has anyone had any success putting silica gel sachets in their headlight units to prevent condensation ?

That will not work - the dessicant will be saturated in no time and you'll be back to stage one again. The fogging clears as the warmth from the Xenon bulbs cause the moisture to evaporate. The warmth given off from the bulbs in use is why these units can't be sealed - warm air expands, and if it can't expand, air pressure builds up inside them, which is going to result in something popping to relieve the pressure (the lens casing or a seal).

[GTI_Ant]

As Rebecca says these are not sealed units so silica gel bags will saturate quickly, won't the bags be visible and look ugly?  These desiccants absorb moisture slowly so I don't think they will help day to day.  I find the fogging up disappears fairly quickly when it stops raining.  If the sun comes out park facing the sun and the lamps will clear in no time.

[itavaltalainen]

I just have mine on all the time, no digging up then.
Silica gel helps but you need to take the bags out when saturated and heat them to dry again.
Far too much work for my taste.

[Restlessnative]

Never had this problem (yet) with my GTD.Had it all the time with my Ibiza.Dealer recommended driving round with my headlights on all the time.....