Any fix for headlight inside lens yellowing - "burn in"?

[elky]

Is there any fix/repair for this kind of yellowing?
It looks like it is on the inside of the headlight, on the lens. I think they call it a burn-in.

 

[t-tony]

I would clean the outside and have another look.

Tony.

 

[elky]

I would clean the outside and have another look.

Tony.

Yes I've bought a kit and I am planning to do that next week, but it is worrying because it looks very local only to the low-beam of the left headlight if you take a look at the new pic I uploaded

 

[Zephyr]

what are your bulbs? Typical “gas station” ones or some high-tech “modern” with higher wattage?
i’ve seen this happening with some Osram 60W that produce more heat than the originals.
If this is the case, the lens is fried and probably cleaning outside will no do any good.

 

[t-tony]

I’ve used 100W bulbs before and have never damaged the inside of the lenses. Have the headlights previously been “split” and Halos added? I would still say polish the outsides and have another look.

Tony.

 

[elky]

I’ve used 100W bulbs before and have never damaged the inside of the lenses. Have the headlights previously been “split” and Halos added? I would still say polish the outsides and have another look.

Tony.

I'll do that! Thanks for the insight. I bought my Z two years ago, and the previous owner was a doctor that didn't seem like the type for modifying anything. I also have all the service receipts.

 

[Stevo7682]

Its quite possible that you are right and the lamp has damage to the inner inner lense .
As you have chrome surrounds and not black this tells me that you have a face-lift model.
The inner lense on face-lift model is plastic and on the pre face-lift model it's glass.
So face-lift models prone to discolouration if high output bulbs have been used at some point due to the higher heat output.
But like Tony says clean outer lense first see how it looks as all zeds are prone to deterioration of outer lense.
Stephen.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

@Stevo7682 is spot on. Even with bog standard 55w bulbs you still get yellowing on the plastic lenses. Only options are to replace the headlights or split them and drop in glass lenses from a pre- facelift.

 

[elky]

@Stevo7682 is spot on. Even with bog standard 55w bulbs you still get yellowing on the plastic lenses. Only options are to replace the headlights or split them and drop in glass lenses from a pre- facelift.

OK, I will clean and then panic I mean, splitting them doesn't sound like a fun DIY service, but more importantly, I doubt that in Denmark I will find glass lenses from pre-facelift. There aren't many Zeds around.

 

[Stevo7682]

Your headlights i take it are also LHD so your kick up will be to the right and not the left like ours in UK.
You may be able to get them online as most European countries are LHD like i said earlier pre face-lift lights will have black lamp surround not chrome.
The biggest issue you will find in acquiring them is here in uk certainly the pre face-lift clear lense indicator lamp is only really fitted to Z3m , fiji ,orinoco and one or two other Individual model z3.
Splitting lamp if done with care is not too bad ( there will be threads on the forum about it ) .
You could always try find a cheap 2nd hand lamp to try split. If confident
Then buy a set of pre face-lift lhd orange indicators headlight ( cheaper easier to buy) then split them take out lenses split your clear indicator ones and fit the pre face-lift lenses.

Stephen.

 

[ZEDonist UK]

I second everything Stevo has said. Good advice.
I’ve come across a lot of lenses which have yellowed like this. It’s also likely the inner lens is starting to crack.
When buying second hand you have to look very carefully at the photos to make sure they’re not the same.
Halos don’t cause the damage, it’s the halogen bulbs and heat stress.

When swapping the lenses over you need to be careful of the chrome effect on the edges. It scratches very easily.

You can get the inner lens out by removing the front clear lens rather than faffing around trying to get the back off.

All the best
Martin

 

[elky]

Quick update, just for the sake of the story.

I think I need a new driver-side headlight because I spent more than an hour cleaning it with Meguiar's Heavy Duty.
Although the actual headlight front cleared, the inside remains yellow, as you can see in the pictures .... anyway now the question is, do I wait to find a used headlight or go aftermarket for a more "new/race" look with angel eyes.......

Before:

After:

 

[ExMX5owner]

Quick update, just for the sake of the story.

I think I need a new driver-side headlight because I spent more than an hour cleaning it with Meguiar's Heavy Duty.
Although the actual headlight front cleared, the inside remains yellow, as you can see in the pictures .... anyway now the question is, do I wait to find a used headlight or go aftermarket for a more "new/race" look with angel eyes.......

Before: View attachment 254455

After:
View attachment 254457

I have the same on mine, and resigned myself to new aftermarket.

 

[elky]

I have the same on mine, and resigned myself to new aftermarket.

Could you share a picture of the ones you chose?

 

[ExMX5owner]

Could you share a picture of the ones you chose?

I have not decided what flavour yet, I am still sitting on the fence so to speak. But I am having no joy finding anything to replace original. There are few Z3,s in Australia and it,s almost a crime to part one out, even one that is knackered will get a good price.
I will follow this thread with interest...

 

[Mike Fishwick]

I doubt if this problem is due to heating of the lens, as it is made of glass. I have seen this ages ago on early halogen lights, due to a small leaking of halogen gas from the bulb, which condenses on the lens. Some lamps developed a milky deposit on the inside of the lens. Cheaper types still use chlorine or bromine as the halogen, and a badly-sealed bulb will allow expension of the gas, and eventual leakage. What make bulbs do you have?

I would remove the cover and lens, and give the lens a really good clean, ideally in a dishwasher, and buy some new Philips or Osram bulbs.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

I doubt if this problem is due to heating of the lens, as it is made of glass.

They are plastic on facelift models Mike.

 

[elky]

I doubt if this problem is due to heating of the lens, as it is made of glass. I have seen this ages ago on early halogen lights, due to a small leaking of halogen gas from the bulb, which condenses on the lens. Some lamps developed a milky deposit on the inside of the lens. Cheaper types still use chlorine or bromine as the halogen, and a badly-sealed bulb will allow expension of the gas, and eventual leakage. What make bulbs do you have?

I would remove the cover and lens, and give the lens a really good clean, ideally in a dishwasher, and buy some new Philips or Osram bulbs.

Yeah, I have a facelift model... and honestly don't know what bulbs because I haven't changed them since when I bought her in 2021

 

[ZEDonist UK]

@elky are there any people breaking Z3’s in Denmark so you can get a replacement? It won’t matter the condition as long as the inner lens isn’t yellowed.

If you heat the headlight in the oven you can remove the front exterior cover which you have polished. This gives you access to the degraded inner lens to remove and replace it.

 

[Paul&Di]

I cleaned mine.but they still have condensation on the inside.i remember seeing there was a guy who converted the existing units to angel eye.it was a good price. BUT. I can't find him now on here' or bmw club site.let me know if anyone knows the chap please.