bi-xenon moisture

[candywhite12]

for a while now, my driver-side bi-xenon looks to have gathered moisture on the inside of the glass.  Doesn't seem to go away ever.  Also the same bi-xenon bulb looks to have been covered with dirt or something and in any case doesn't look all that shiny and 'glassy'.  Anyways, I had the passenger-side headlamp unit changed so there's noticeable difference between the new and the old one, both on the inside of the glass and on the xenon lamp.

Help anyone??

[dubber36]

Put a couple of silica gel packs in the lamps, that will suck up the moisture. It might take a few goes, drying the bags out time, but should do the trick.

[candywhite12]

Put a couple of silica gel packs in the lamps, that will suck up the moisture. It might take a few goes, drying the bags out time, but should do the trick.

use them open or closed?  Also what do you mean 'in the lamps'? I can't really seem to have any access to the inside of the unit, i can only remove the bulb of the xenon, not the actual front cover of the xenon light.

[Jimble]

Put a couple of silica gel packs in the lamps, that will suck up the moisture. It might take a few goes, drying the bags out time, but should do the trick.

use them open or closed?  Also what do you mean 'in the lamps'? I can't really seem to have any access to the inside of the unit, i can only remove the bulb of the xenon, not the actual front cover of the xenon light.

There should be a cap on the back of the light unit in the engine bay, pop it off and put a couple of bags inside.

[candywhite12]

Put a couple of silica gel packs in the lamps, that will suck up the moisture. It might take a few goes, drying the bags out time, but should do the trick.

use them open or closed?  Also what do you mean 'in the lamps'? I can't really seem to have any access to the inside of the unit, i can only remove the bulb of the xenon, not the actual front cover of the xenon light.

There should be a cap on the back of the light unit in the engine bay, pop it off and put a couple of bags inside.

hmmm, would i be able to remove them later then??

[Jimble]

Why wouldn't you?

[dubber36]

Just wedge them in against something to stop them from moving around and they'll be fine. Or stick them to the back of the cap that you would remove to access the indicator bulb. (obviously don't tape over them so that the moisture cant attract to them)

[candywhite12]

Just wedge them in against something to stop them from moving around and they'll be fine. Or stick them to the back of the cap that you would remove to access the indicator bulb. (obviously don't tape over them so that the moisture cant attract to them)

right then, i;ll give this a try.  any help with cleaning the bulb?  i am pretty sure it cannot be easily removed from the unit

[dubber36]

By the "bulb", I guess you mean the projector lens? If it's dirty, there is likely to be a hole in the light unit that is letting dust as well as moisture in. Perhaps one of the rear covers isn't secure, or a drain tube missing? The only way to check this is to remove the lamp. To clean it, you'll need to dismantle the lamp to remove the xenon unit. It is doable with care, but you may prefer to take it to the dealers and try them for a replacement light unit.

[candywhite12]

By the "bulb", I guess you mean the projector lens? If it's dirty, there is likely to be a hole in the light unit that is letting dust as well as moisture in. Perhaps one of the rear covers isn't secure, or a drain tube missing? The only way to check this is to remove the lamp. To clean it, you'll need to dismantle the lamp to remove the xenon unit. It is doable with care, but you may prefer to take it to the dealers and try them for a replacement light unit.

yes, i do mean the projector lens.  Dealers said they can't remove it and its out of warranty anyway. They only said it looks 'dirty' because of the constant use - it's a 3.5 years old car.  I;ll try to dismantle it somehow, do you happen to know whether that would jeopardise how the xenons are balanced?