Misting headlights (3R / M400)

[alastairb]

Hi,
Last apology for the noobie questions - when the search is fixed I'll start using it !!

So I've had the 3R for 5 days now and I've had to drive it in a fair bit of rain (to get it home, commute for work until I find a suitable lock-up etc).

Both headlights have misted up, Ideally I want to get the lenses off and apply some anti-fogging on the inside - can anyone recomend anything, I think Rain-X or who ever makes it has a product called Fog-X or are there better alternatives (other than leaving the Nob indoors :-)

Any pains to expect on the headlight removal - will the lenses even come away from the projector housing etc or am I wasting my time ?
Cheers guys
Al

[alastairb]

Bit more google-ing... I'll try some silica gel packs in the lights this weekend

[hoyin]

If you get a good seal it shouldn't mist up. I have a similar problem and it is playing havoc with one of my headlights.

You will need to remove the entire rear housing though to remove the lense.

[alastairb]

Thanks mate,
Just ordered some silica gel off fleabay, I'll get the hairdryer in the back of lights to get rid of the fogging, pop the in the gel (5g is supposed to do 1 cubic foot , I've got 1g bags on order so one per light should do it)

Bit of a workaround but if it means I dont have to dismantle anything that sounds good to me.

The alternative is a vent hole / pipe or similar - or is this asking for trouble ? My cars not that watertight as it is !!
Cheers
Al

[ajg31]

Hey.
As i think this is my old car (right?) i might be able to help...
I had a real problem with the drivers side light misting. What was happening was the front black silica sealant had cracked and was letting in water. Alot of water. IF i remember correctly i cut out the old stuff 1/4 of the circumference at a time and resealed it. I took the back off added a 5g bag of silica and resealed it. I also used a hairdryer to dry it out first.
When i traded it in one of the bulbs had blown the night before, so MAYBE they have replaced the bulb and not resealed it correctly???? The passenger side was always great.
Hope this helps!

[Elliott_3R]

Mine still does this and has done from new.... I just put it down as one of those things!

[alastairb]

aj,
Its your former car alright, cheers for the pm you have one back.

[wirestriker]

I had misting headlights on my 3r, too.
I tried all the known methods to keep moisture out of the lenses... new sealant, new silica gel dessicating bags... nothing worked for me.

Then I just made some 5mm holes in the lower side of the inner headlight cowl. Problem solved even in severe rain.

[alastairb]

How many holes per light mate ? No point in drilling swiss cheese if I only need one :-)

[wirestriker]

I drilled two 5mm holes in each cowling. Seems to work fine, no moisture nor dirt or dust in the headlights in the last 5000miles.