Noticed this on one of my headlights. Doesn't seem to be condensation so I'm thinking maybe impact damage? At the moment I can't decide if im bothered enough to do anything about it.

Is it on the inside or the outside ?

If it's on the outside does it feel different to the touch to the rest of the headlamp ?

It's on the inside, glass feels smooth like normal and there's no cracks, chips or dents in the surface, it's totally normal. Also it never seems to change size or shape whether it's hot or cold or raining or dry so I've ruled out condensation. Just can't work out how it happened it's baffling me a bit.

Heat damage from the bulbs ?

Are they standard bulbs ?

Heat damage from the bulbs ?

Are they standard bulbs ?

i think its from bulbs - im pretty sure i have seen this before from too much heat given from bulbs...i've just upgraded my sidelight bulbs to led ones but am worried about this too!

what sidelight bulbs are you using?

No idea, what ever came with the car. They look like normal bulbs to me. I'll have to take the light off and see if I can make it better. Probably best to get a new bulb too if it's putting out that much heat something's not quite right with it.

Is the other headlamp showing the same issue ?

If it's heat related logic would dictate, & I would expect a similar issue in the O/S lamp - unless just the N/S bulb is iffy

There were early worries about condensation in these & Mondeo headlamps - later found to be '' normal '' & nothing to worry about

The other lamp is fine. Maybe the bulb went and the previous owner bought the wrong replacement for it. Ill check it all out. Thanks for the info as I hadn't considered the bulbs.

Hello

I have the same markings on my headlamps its from the side light bulb

I have fitted a set of led side light bulbs to stop the problem from the bulb getting too hot.

Ford headlights require low UV bulbs to prevent that type of damage its not really about the heat but the uv light they emitt you may also find some less are hotter than normal bulbs

Heat damage from the bulbs ?

Are they standard bulbs ?

+1 mate

standard gas filled bulbs get mighty hot,

I recommend led but not regular led because the resistors get hot and fry the led chip.

these metal cased leds are currently lasting me four years

the metal casing acts like a heat sink,

black sleeve

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281214995706

Chrome sleeve

Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silver-Style-LED-Side-Light-Bulb-BMW-1-Series-E87-E81-12V-501-T10-W5W-Canbus/271331320680?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D33840%26meid%3D680e23d82a8343e1ad84685a375a05d2%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D281214995706

Size comparison:

Nicely hidden thanks to coloured metal casing

In regards fixing the lens;

You could mask up headlight units and spray the Brower line like mine,

Hmm, I want some whiter side light bulbs but hadn't even thought about this being an issue! I'm not a fan of LED's having had previous ones that were terrible in other cars lol.

I have factory Xenons so the HID bulbs make the sidelights look really yellow which annoys me lol.

Are there any normal bulbs that are whiter that won't ruin the lenses? Or is LED really the only option?

thanks for the links Lenny :D

lights look good ;)

thanks for the links Lenny :D

lights look good ;)

Cheers mate,

I can't believe there lasting this long for led's they don't usually last six months due to ceramic voltage resisor frying the led circuit.

This metal casing design seems to be an absolute winner,

Looking at them now; the black has gone a bit tarnished but still function 100% and no white on lenses

Hmm, I want some whiter side light bulbs but hadn't even thought about this being an issue! I'm not a fan of LED's having had previous ones that were terrible in other cars lol.

I have factory Xenons so the HID bulbs make the sidelights look really yellow which annoys me lol.

Are there any normal bulbs that are whiter that won't ruin the lenses? Or is LED really the only option?

well there are blue tinted bulbs but the T10 gas bulbs get that hot; they melt the blue tinted turning black,

I'm not tied to any sellers but I'm so happy with my own set of leds purchased four years ago;

That if you purchase a set of these and are not happy with my recommendation I'll refund you and only yourself this isn't a public offer 😀

Thanks for the advice Lenny, I think I'll be ordering those then as I've noticed it starting to happen on the other side and with the evenings drawing in I'll be using my lights a lot more often.

I'm thinking of replacing the entire lamp as when I wash it, it gets condensation on the inside as well. I think the integrity is compromised somehow. Plus it's one of those things, it's only a small mark on the light but I can't help staring at it and it's doing my head in.

Problem is won't they make my mainbeam look yellowish in comparison? Do you have any recommendations for matching mainbeam bulbs that are easy to install? Then I can upgrade the whole lot at once.

Ok cheers Lenny, I'll order a set of them then. :)

Thanks for the advice Lenny, I think I'll be ordering those then as I've noticed it starting to happen on the other side and with the evenings drawing in I'll be using my lights a lot more often.

I'm thinking of replacing the entire lamp as when I wash it, it gets condensation on the inside as well. I think the integrity is compromised somehow. Plus it's one of those things, it's only a small mark on the light but I can't help staring at it and it's doing my head in.

Problem is won't they make my mainbeam look yellowish in comparison? Do you have any recommendations for matching mainbeam bulbs that are easy to install? Then I can upgrade the whole lot at once.

I would be the same mate it would bug me too.

I've fitted Cree H11 Fog light bulbs so at dusk I cruise with parking and fogs on all looks 6000k white.

This is Cree H11 led fog lights but picture was taken with standard parking bulbs non led

I have Osram NightBreaker Plus fitted in

H7 dipped beam

H1 High beam

there a nice white light I'm very happy with the configuration,

The Cree fogs are not the brightest in terms of putting light on the road, but they match the parking lights perfectly and look just like HID

"Pictures of lights coming now"

I'll also upload dash cam footage of lights at night when driving

Thanks Lenny, that's one hell of a comprehensive answer!

Looks much better than standard.

So I don't need any special adapters or anything like that they're all 'plug and play' ?

Thanks Lenny, that's one hell of a comprehensive answer!

Looks much better than standard.

So I don't need any special adapters or anything like that they're all 'plug and play' ?

all plug & play mate,

I wouldn't fit anything that required messing with resistors etcetera.

There all straight swap

Oh, interesting thread. Have exactly the same issue, same mark on one side. Was looking at LED replacements last night.

Is it possible/easy to get into these headlights to attempt removal of these marks or are they all fully sealed these days? Don't really like the look of the painted brows.

I took the light off and had a look as I was hoping I could clean off the burn mark. There are plastic clips all around the outside and it looks as though in theory it could be opened but I didn't want to attempt it. The clips look as though they'd break easily.

They'll be sealed as well, need to heat to open them up. I've seen other car lights opened in an oven on low heat but think Focus ones are probably a bit big lol.

On another note...I ordered a pair of those LEDs yesterday, they're here today!! They're silver cased despite ordering the black ones, but I don't think it'll matter (may change my mind on that wen fitted lol).

I ordered some of the black ones aswell yesterday. Not turned up yet though. Lets see what colour they are when they arrive.

If my wife caught me putting my headlight in the oven i think she'd call the men in white coats and have me hauled away lol!

So, my LEDs lasted less than 30 minutes. :(

They worked when I put them in...got home after a 30 minute drive and neither work now...which does look better tbf but not overly legal lol. Do Halfords do any of that type of bulb but whiter, and without being LED lol? I have a trade card so price shouldn't be too much of an issue.