Easiest and cheapest way around this is to buy silica gel bags from Amazon.Put a couple inside each headlamp job done.Just change every now and again.

 

yep, had it on every car since light covers changed from glass to plakkie and units became more sealed.

 

Thanks Matt.
So, condensation is ok but water isn't......
I'll keep an eye on it :2thumbsup:

 

It's normal. The unit is not sealed as I understand it it is to vent the heat from the HIDs.

They will dry fine.

There should be no dirt inside.

Picture of mine in winter below, no problem with them.

Matt.

 

Here's an old topic I've dragged up!
So, is it normal?!

I washed car this PM and i now have condensation.
Whether 'normal' or not, I find it to be pretty poor and it looks terrible....
Surely this can't be right?? :thumbsdown:
I only collected car on Friday and found a problem already - not impressed

 

Just noticed the misting up/condensation this evening on both my headlamps again around the DRLs...was concerned but finding this thread and reading it I'll see what it is like in the morning. Saying that its cool and rainy here tonight and I guess the inner lamp cover would be warm from journey a couple of hrs ago again making ideal conditions for condensation. Has anyone had any major problems with this etc as this thread was started a good yr or so more ago

 

Thanks for the reply, & advice l,m going to get the headlmps replaced on thursday (dropping off on wed) not going to pay this £15 a day charge for a courtesy car on principle ,then l.m going to go to another dealer & buy my next car from there ,they were much more polite & said that there will be no charge for warranty issues.

 

i had condensation only on the first day, when i picked up the car. I had no problems since then.

 

Sounds wrong to me especially if the car is still within warranty period. I have had a call from my local dealer who have confirmed that:-

If the condensation is "misting" that goes away within a few hours, then it is normal. However, if the condensation forms droplets or drips and stays for more than 24 hours, then Audi will replace under warranty.

Hope this helps.

 

the issue regarding the mist,condensation in the headlamps,l,ve had this for 4 weeks took it to my dealers & now going to have them replaced but what i,m not happy with is l have to pay for a courtesy car £15 a day l,ve only had the car for 5 weeks & only done 1100 miles plus travelling time & effort u would of thought audi would treat u better is this normal to pay for a car l just got myself a5 s line 20tdi white few extras

 

AG - my concern would be less with corrosion of the reflector (Im guesing it is chrome plating on plastic) and more concerned with the motors for the adapative headlights getting screwed up (if you have that option).

 

As promised, I looked at this the following morning and sure enough the condensation was all gone. I guess they're made that way. I'll just keep an eye out for any corrosion on the reflector.

 

If I get bored over the holidays, I might take the headlights out and extend a rubber tube from where the headlight vents are (top-outer edge). My thinking is that by plugging the vent before going through a car wash may seal the light housing enough and prevent the moist air from getting inside.

I give it a 30% chance of actualy working.

 

Cheers. Handbook?? have you been having some quiet nights at home over Christmas?? :thumbsup:
I guess the dealer will tell me as much then and it will only really be an issue if the reflector starts to show signs of corrosion.

 

and it will only really be an issue if the reflector starts to show signs of corrosion.

how much corrosion is a warranty claim?
and what are the odds it really takes hold just outside warranty?

these progressive design/manufacturing issues that are not quite claimable within warranty are a real headache.

Warranty might be for 3yrs (only 2years if you do 30K miles/yr)

but cars are really designed for 10 year life

so anything progressively degrading other than normal wear parts is a concern.

 

I, too noticed this on one side only after washing the car. It has now done 2500 miles and after a 330-mile very wet round trip to Devon today it has returned with a vengeance in both lights. I'll check it tomorrow to see if it's still there and if it is then the dealer will be getting a visit.:no:

 

I am quite sure Audi regard this as 'normal' and say as much in the Handbook.

 

It happened on my stolen a5 & it happens on my new a5!!!!

 

I got the dreaded condensation today in both my headlights (worse on the passenger side). Its been pretty dry here lately and then it cooled down and rained a lot (and I got a car wash)....making the perfect conditions for condensation.

I took the lights out (since its so easy) and blew my hairdryer through them for a few minutes and it cleared right up.

They are definatley not sealed. There is actualy a vent with a rubber hose near the top-outside corner.

I hope this doesn't happen too often...

 

Somewhere amongst all of my various handbooks that came with the car I know I have read a paragraph which says this is 'normal'

 

I have had this on many cars with Xenon headlights and each manufacturer has said the headlights are designed to "breathe" as they have vents in them the misting clears depending on atmospheric conditions and that has always proven to be the case whether its Porsche, Aston Martin, Range Rover so I wouldn't worry about it

 

I noticed only once during my first few days of ownership that there was slight condensation, but never saw it again.

 

It was drizzling on my way home from the dealer, hopefully I don't have to see this again... I've seen first hand how water can ruin headlights before, and I def don't want to see these beautes ruined too.

 

Bring back this thread...

I noticed condensation along the bottom edge of both headlights as sj1 described. This happened to me on my STi during the first week or so of ownership... and never returned. I hope this is the case for my 5.

Is the consensus that if it continues after a couple of weeks that it is, in fact, a problem?

 

oh god please don't tell me Audi's are prone to this...

 

it happens sometimes after a wash, but the vents in the light clear it up pretty fast...

Happened on a buddy's Cayenne Turbo, same thing after a wash..

 

i had condensation the first day i got the car but it hasn't returned since

 

Audi dealership fixed condensation problem

My front fog lights were suffering from condensation. Audi Aylesbury changed them under warranty without any fuss.