Poor driver headlamp looks as if it's having a very good cry!! Have removed a bulb through the wheel arch and tried to heat up the clear front with a hairdryer but not much luck so far. I'm not sure if the headlamp unit can actually come apart and prob means the bumper coming off to get at it? Any suggestions?
I had the same problem with a fog lamp that received damage from a stone. I got a shock at the price for a replacement at over £200 so if you need to buy a headlight I would suggest buying a secondhand one after finding out the price of a new one. I got mine from Japan for £85. Not new but undamaged. Taking the bumper off is not that difficult but do not try to remove the 3 rear large round plastic fasteners as they are meant to remain to hold the inner wing at the rear. I did remove mine with a struggle destroying them in the process and had to replace them. The headlight remains in place in the wing so perhaps you could remove it without removing the bumper. I am sure someone will reply to help you. Just take your time removing the plastic fasteners by removing the centre pin then the rest of the plug should pull out. There is also 2 small nuts to be removed (one each side) I think I used a 1/4 drive 10mm socket. Great little car with a big heart. I would like to ask other owners if the dash instrument panel is lit when the ignition is switched on without the lights being on. Crazy but we have had the car from new but I just realized only the trip meter is lit. Our son has a new car and the dash lights come on with the ignition on.
It is not so much as drying it out, but working out why it has misted up in the first place. If you dry it but do not fix the reason then it will just mist up again.
Are the headlights meant to be sealed units ? I've got very slight condensation in both headlights, slightly more noticeable on drivers side, but I assumed it was normal particularly in the cold weather. There's no obvious damage on the outside and the silvering looks to be as good as new. I notice that the lens is plastic and when I've had this on new cars such as Jaguar XF and Landrover Discovery, the dealers have stated that it's normal and dissipates through vents.
It was 9°C outside in the morning and my headlamps were 100% fog free. Gave my car a clean today, almost forgot it was really white under all the dirt
Since I started this thread some months ago I’d better continue along the path a bit. Finally got around to removing the driver side wing to get at the damp headlamp unit and check for a suspected crack letting in lots of moisture, as it’s still showing an awful lot of droplets. This was a bit tricky as I didn’t know about the hidden bolt underneath the windscreen wiper panel just under the windscreen. Your always learning with a Copen! Removing the five black plastic screw poppers nearest the engine and a lot of lifting and gentle prising finally got the plastic panel half up but two of the rear white poppers split, bums! (On Another thread) See first photos for the hidden bolt. A 10mm socket and brute force loosened the rusted bolts (all now replaced with stainless steel ones courtesy of a nearby Toolstation shop). Two obvious bolts beside the engine, the hidden one under the plastic wiper panel, a top one tucked in by the open driver door hinge, bottom one below the lower hinge, a very rusty one that sheared off just inside the back of the wheel arch, and lastly Three tricky and very rusty hex headed screws into plastic fittings inside the front wheel arch up by the headlamp fitting. See photos. Thankfully remembered to disconnect the driver side indicator bulb unit in the wing before totally heaving the wing off. Tarahhhh............ wing is actually off!! Checked over the top half of the headlamp assembly for an obvious leak, crack or chip.......nothing! Looked again.... nothing!!!!! Took out the headlamp bulb and sidelight bulb to press in a hairdryer and proceeded to blast warm air through the bulb socket and around to dry out the fitting. Seemed to work after a long time but I know it’s just going to mist up again. I put a bead of clear silicone filler along the join between the clear lens cap and the rear black unit (9 o’clock around to 3 o’clock) but it looks like I’ll need to think about taking the bumper off next time to remove the whole headlamp unit for a total inspection, harrumph............ hopefully not a total replacement! Looked nice and dry after all the reassembly but two days later...... lots of moisture inside again! More as it happens. Ho, hum.......