Headlight Condensation

[capjand1]

4Q said:

[e-mail]

I ordered mine (for DBS) last week and they arrived Monday, not fitted them yet but probably will over the weekend

Thanks for the help, I did reach out to Ian, and he has been helpful with the instructions.
Will order soon once I find the right car shop to do the install for my DBS!

It will be great to hear your result after your install! good luck.

[Mark6767]

My DB9 is also suffering with headlight misting, I had a venting kit on my Vantage, completely stopped the misting, she has gone now so I have ordered a kit for the DB9, it should be with me tomorrow, I can’t wait to fit it, I will update you all next week.

Edited by Mark6767 on Tuesday 15th March 11:23

[Dave Aston]

Hi Mark, did you get to fit the headlight venting system, did it work as you hoped.

[Mark6767]

Hi Dave, yes, all fitted, sorry for the late update. I fitted the kit last week, really easy and I mean EASY. I fitted it, left the fuse out, took her for a drive, stopped at a pub for some lunch (as you do) and on the return back to the car, partly misted lights. I put the fuse in and drove home. When I parked up, I checked the lights, CLEAR, I can’t believe the change it has made, clear headlights, first time this has happened, I just hope the fuel price will drop.

[Dave Aston]

Mark6767 said:

Hi Dave, yes, all fitted, sorry for the late update. I fitted the kit last week, really easy and I mean EASY. I fitted it, left the fuse out, took her for a drive, stopped at a pub for some lunch (as you do) and on the return back to the car, partly misted lights. I put the fuse in and drove home. When I parked up, I checked the lights, CLEAR, I can’t believe the change it has made, clear headlights, first time this has happened, I just hope the fuel price will drop.

Good to hear, my DB9 hasn’t suffered condensation since fitting the kit, I leave the car outside much of the time, I am so pleased I can now see better in the dark.

[BruceW75]

Hello all,

I've just used John who is based in Alton to repair my Virage rear light - absolutely brilliant!! You can find details on Ebay here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265383389373?_trkparms=...

Great chap, and quality service. Replaces damaged LEDs and reseals the unit.

Thanks,

Phil

[JohnV8V]

I went to Simply Aston in Beaulieu a couple of weeks ago, there were a number of Vantage and DB9’s with condensation inside the headlights, glad to say mine were clear due to the venting kit. Aston Installations from Tewkesbury were at the show, they said they supply and fit the kit, worth knowing should you want someone to fit the kit.

[BiggaJ]

JohnV8V said:

I went to Simply Aston in Beaulieu a couple of weeks ago, there were a number of Vantage and DB9’s with condensation inside the headlights, glad to say mine were clear due to the venting kit. Aston Installations from Tewkesbury were at the show, they said they supply and fit the kit, worth knowing should you want someone to fit the kit.

I was at the same event and like you I had the venting kit fitted not long after I bought my Vantage, I think it was a very good buy given I very rarely see condensation forming in the lights whereas previously it would mist up all the time.

[Mark6767]

Hi All,
sad to see the weather change, wet and misserable, I met up with two mates on the weekend, both DB9’s and both had the headlight condensation. They laughed at me when I bought the headlight venting kit but they don’t now, my lights were crystal clear, they are now thinking about buying a kit. Enjoy your Astons guys, I will SORN in November.

[Leroy007]

a98pmalcolm said:

Hi all and happy new year.

I know its a common thing Aston Martin with headlight condensation but is there anything that can be done to help or reduce it?
I have a 2007 DB9

Thanks

Just had the head light modification installed. £500 all in. Aston service Dorset. Basically the kit comprises of a stat sensor which activates a small PC like fan. One for each headlight. There’s a drain off pipe. Two hour job. Cleared mine instantly. And keeps them clear. Good investment. Better than Aston rip off price of £1800 each?.

[moktabe]

Got the venting lit from Ian at AMUpgrades,

Should be going in next week.

[spareparts]

I have the AM Upgrades kit and it was installed by an AM dealer. It works and does what it promises. Don't hesitate to get it done!

[Calinours]

Interesting to read this thread. It seems there’s pretty much a solution for all the niggles with the lights on these cars.

What I find most interesting is are how differently we as owners perceive the niggles…

My V8 like pretty much all others often gets a mist of condensation in the headlights when run for a shortish time in humid or cool weather and it has never bothered me in the slightest. The heat from the HID units burns it way in minutes and as I usually drive with lights on I only ever see it if I return to a cold garage after a short run.

For a garage to fail MOT on this sounds brutal!

So this issue was never something I even gave a thought to, whereas it seems to really bug others. However, when a garage fitted early Nitron shocks the clunks I sometimes heard when cold due to the solid mounts absolutely drove me insane, something I know others don’t even notice.

A curious thing, our subjectivity.

[LTP]

Calinours said:

A curious thing, our subjectivity.

Agreed. Off topic I know, but when I test-drove my then-one-owner, 3-year-old V8V prior to signing on the dotted line I immediately heard something rattling in the drivers door every time i accelerated or slowed. I pointed it out to the salesman in the passenger seat and he agreed he could hear something too, and he'd get the techs to take the door casing off and have a look. Turns out there was a lose screw in the bottom of the door. There were no missing screws anywhere within the door assembly, so we concluded that it was probably a "bonus" piece accidentally dropped by the guy on the Gaydon line who built the door.

The previous owner must have put up with that almost from Day 1. Would have driven me mad.

Back to headlights

[bogie]

The condensation issue does seem to vary, from a bit of a mist that clears quite quickly with the lights on, to headlights that are dripping so much water eventually the headlight fails and/or the car fails an MOT.

Its a shame that Aston Martins supplier could not solve this issue, or perhaps it was solved on later models ?

On my first 2006 Vantage over 9 years I never had any lights with issues, and my current 2012 car owned for years has had a new headlight and both rears replaced due to water ingress...

[Mark6767]

Hi Guys, Happy New Year.
Just a quick update from my October message, my two mates with the DB9’s ended up buying the AM Upgrades venting kit and have swallowed their pride and admitted it was the best investment they have made, they both would laugh at me as they thought the venting kit was a gimmick, how wrong they are. Sorry, I know this is a late message but a guy (name I can’t remember) had a look at my DB9 venting system at the NEC Classic car show and I said I would find the email address for AM Upgrades, and post it here, it is [e-mail]
Sorry again for my forgetfulness, take care all.

[Andy665]

Fitted a kit to my wifes V8 Vantage yesterday, great kit with clearly a lot if thought gone into the packaging and instructions

Took 2 hours from start to end but this also includrd cleaning of arches, barrels of wheels and ceramic coating them

[bogie]

Ive just ordered a kit from AMUpgrades too. The only light unit on my car that has not been replaced is misting up really bad this winter, hopefully a few hundred quid invested will sort it out once and for all.

The new clear rear lights supplied by the dealer 2 years ago are just starting to show a little condensation, so new lights are no guarantee of re-occurrence. I guess I will end up having them taken apart and re-sealed some time in future.

It is amazing on a modern production car how this can happen on all the VH product range that used the same light units.

[spareparts]

bogie said:

It is amazing on a modern production car how this can happen on all the VH product range that used the same light units.

I think it is the physical shape of the units with such a large/horizontal expanse of plastic that is a long way away from the lights themselves. Heat from the bulbs/LEDs should normally clear/prevent formation of any condensation, but there simply isn't enough heat generated inside the units to do so. A design/environmental issue that would not have been evident when the VH platforpm was originally tested in warm/sunny climes, as most likely. It is a trade off given the superior aesthetics of the VH lights vs the narrow apertures of the current Vantage where condensation has less opportunity to form.

[bogie]

spareparts said:

I think it is the physical shape of the units with such a large/horizontal expanse of plastic that is a long way away from the lights themselves. Heat from the bulbs/LEDs should normally clear/prevent formation of any condensation, but there simply isn't enough heat generated inside the units to do so. A design/environmental issue that would not have been evident when the VH platforpm was originally tested in warm/sunny climes, as most likely. It is a trade off given the superior aesthetics of the VH lights vs the narrow apertures of the current Vantage where condensation has less opportunity to form.

That makes sense. At least there is a solution available and a few companies are doing rear light repair/reseal for a fraction of the cost of new.

Another one of those essential AM upgrades