Z4 spotlights condensation

[Alan W]

I noticed that although the front fog/spotlights on my new car work, they have a lot of condensation inside them.. is this a known issue, if so why does it happen, and is there a fix or do I need to get a new set?

Many thanks

Alan

 

[GazHyde]

Yes it's a known issue with the facelift fog lights. You have several options...

• Replace them with units which will do the same thing
• Drill holes in the bottom to let the water out
• Replace the fog lights with blanking plates from BMW, never again will you have issues! You could find some way of sticking some DRL LEDs or the likes on the blanks if you fancy.

 

[t-tony]

Option 2 first then option 3 if 2 doesn't work. Common issue with any cars having low slung fog lights to be fair not just Z' s.

Tony.

 

[Alan W]

Can you not strip them down; dry our and reassemble and seal? How does ghe water get in?

Also, are front foglights an mot repquirement for a 2007 car if l were to consider going down the blanking plate/DLR lights route?

 

[mwpe]

Foglights are not a legal requirement and in my opinion they are only cosmetic anyway.

 

[GazHyde]

Can you not strip them down; dry our and reassemble and seal? How does ghe water get in?

You can, but you will likely find they are crusty inside from scaling from the water over the years. We took them out of Lee's coupe to look at tidying them up, but they were too far gone cosmetically although worked fine. Many have tried drying, cleaning and then resealing them but the same happens. The only effective way of keeping the water out is to drill drainage holes.

It's just a facelift thing, I'm ignoring mine at the moment but will likely go the blanking panel route with some LEDs. Not trying to put you off trying, but it's been discussed many many times over the year. Also access is poor, so you have to drop the front bumper if you want to take them out!

I'd imagine that front fog lights would need to be working if fitted in an MOT, but otherwise there are a lot of cars that don't have fronts - rears are a legal requirement.

 

[t-tony]

Front fog lights are not a testable item even if they work or not.
Rear fog light minimum requirement is ONE lamp fitted to face the rear and mounted anywhere from the centre towards the offside. Even if a car has 2 rear fog lights fitted only the O/S one is required to work.

Tony.

 

[Alan W]

Cheers tony