Technical Service Bulletin
Topic

Front Exterior Lighting Steamed Up/Leaks | 12-24MY

Market area

Australia E04 Bentley rest Asia and Australia (6E04),China 723 Volkswagen (Anhui)
Automotive CO (6723),China 796 VW Import Comp. Ltd (Vico), Beijing (6796),Germany E02
Bentley rest Europe (6E02),Japan E03 Bentley Japan (6E03),Korea, (South) E08 Bentley
South Korea (6E08),United Arab Emirates E06 Bentley Middle East and Africa (6E06),
United Kingdom E01 Bentley UK (6E01),United States E05 Bentley USA and rest America
(6E05)

Brand

Bentley

Transaction
2050542/8
No.
Level

EH

Status

Released for publishing

Release
date

Jun 30, 2025

New customer code

Object of complaint

Complaint type

lighting, signaling -> exterior lights -> headlamps

leaks -> water entering

lighting, signaling -> exterior lights -> fog lamp -> fog lamp
diffuser lens

component, automotive fluids
-> fogged

lighting, signaling -> exterior lights -> headlamps ->
headlamp clear-glass lens

component, automotive fluids
-> fogged

lighting, signaling -> exterior lights -> fog lamp

leaks -> water entering

Vehicle data
All Models
Sales types

Type MY

Brand Designation Engine code Gearbox code Final drive code

*

2012 E

*

*

*

*

2013 E

*

*

*

*

2018 E

*

*

*

*

2019 E

*

*

*

*

2020 E

*

*

*

*

2021 E

*

*

*

*

2014 E

*

*

*

*

2015 E

*

*

*

*

2016 E

*

*

*

*

2017 E

*

*

*

Position

> no
instruction <

*

2022 E

*

*

*

*

2023 E

*

*

*

*

2024 E

*

*

*

Documents
Document name
master.xml
testplan.pdf
checkliste_2017.doc

Technical Service Bulletin 2050542/8
Technical Service Bulletin
Front Exterior Lighting Steamed Up/Leaks | 12-24MY

Transaction No.: 2050542/8
Release date: Jun 30, 2025

Condition
Customer statement:
1. The lens of the headlights/front fog lamps are steamed up/damp from the inside with minor drips (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Important: Observe accounting instructions.

2. Water is in the headlights as water marks/large droplets (Figure 2).

Figure 2
Workshop findings:

Customer statement for 1 (Figure 1): The lenses of the headlights/front fog lamps are steamed up/damp from the
inside with minor drips.
Customer statement for 2 (Figure 2): Water is in the headlights/fog lamps, big drips on the complete lens. Leak on
the headlights/front fog lamp.

Technical Background
This TPI describes the procedure for when moisture is found in the headlights
1. Damp air settles on the inner lens of the headlights/fog lamps, with recognisable misting in certain weather
conditions (comparable with the steaming up of spectacle lenses when entering a warm room in winter or of the
bathroom mirror after a shower).
2. Leak on the headlights/front fog lamps. For example through open covers, a damaged seal of the cap or similar.

Revision history – TPI 2050542/8
Added Bentley specific photograph examples to the document

Production Solution
1. Not affected.
2. Continuous fixing of detected causes.

Service

The following points have to be completed to prevent an unnecessary replacement of exterior lighting and
another customer complaint about the front exterior lighting:
In the event of a complaint about moisture in the headlights or tail lights we recommend using the checklist and the test
plan attached to the TPI, as well as the reference photos, to determine the cause.
1. In case of a headlight complaint the light emission surface on the lens must be clear after a journey of 5-10 minutes
with sufficient ventilation (for example country road/motorway) and switched-on dipped beam .

The remaining inside surfaces may still have some condensation on them after the drive; this is not a problem.
The time for the clearing process depends on the outside temperature, the relative air humidity and the vehicle speed (at
higher speeds the ventilation of the headlights is better).
If this is the case, use the argumentation aid (physical situation under Customer information.
NOTICE
NOTE: This is normal, in this case, a replacement of the headlights will NOT fix the problem and lead to a
repeat repair.

2. In case of an obvious water ingress/leak (a lot of drips on the inside of the lens, Figure 2) use the test plan attached to
establish the cause.
Dry the affected light with filtered, oil-free compressed air.
In case of water ingress (damaged seal/lens) perform the appropriate repairs according to the repair manual/parts
catalogue and check whether the connectors or connections of any control units fitted, are damaged by corrosion.
Ask the customer to keep an eye on the situation. If despite the above repair, the customer complains again about
leaking headlights/front fog lamps and water ingress or lots of drips can still be recognised after the checks, referring to
Rep. Gr 94 - Replace the headlamps according to the repair manual/parts catalogue.

The decision whether to replace components of the front exterior lighting is yours.
A technical repair enquiry to support the warranty accounting is not effective.
Even after a repair to fix a water ingress/leak components of the front exterior lighting may be steamed-up. The
physical steaming-up must not be equated with renewed water ingress (drips in the headlight) and does not
justify the replacement of components.

Warranty

•

Components of the front exterior lighting submitted under warranty and determined as correct according
to the test instructions of the manufacturer will be redebited. As part of the check by the manufacturer a
pressure of 30 mbar is applied to the affected component of the front exterior lighting and a leakage check
performed with a water bath.

•

A simultaneous complaint on both front headlights because of a leak is very unlikely, as the fitted
headlights were not installed at the same time, on the same production line or produced at the same
location. A parts replacement on both sides would not be effective. In this case please use the customer
information below.

•

The completed checklist (in the attachment) and photos of the complaint must be attached to the sent-in
components of the front exterior lighting.

•

If a warranty claim is made, the complaint must be documented (including photos and vehicle
identification number).

•

Relevant photos of the complaint must be attached to every vehicle report.

Additional Information
Argumentation with LED lights:
When switched on, lights with LED technology do not warm up the lens, as there are no infrared segments in the
emitted light. Here only the pressure difference on the vents caused by the driving provides a through-flow and thus a
clearing-up. The vents are arranged in such a way that the lens is cleared after driving a few kilometres.

Argumentation with conventional headlights/front fog lamps:
There are often complaints about steamed-up lenses on headlights/front fog lamps.
Air from outside circulates in ventilated headlights/front fog lamps. The open, splash water protected ventilation system
(necessary for pressure compensation) leads to different "climate zones" in the headlight/front fog lamp. For example
very hot sections where the lens is warmed up by the light and relatively cool ones where the lens is cooled down by the
air stream.
High air humidity and temperature differences between headlight interior and surrounding area (sometimes when
driving) can lead to condensation on the inside of the lenses, mainly in winter or in wet weather.
The steaming-up of the headlights/front fog lamps can be compared with a steamed-up windscreen but which can be
kept clear by the defroster vent.
This can for example occur particularly after driving through a car wash, steam jets of the engine or the front end or
overnight temperature changes.

Particularly in the after-heating phase when the hot engine heats up the back of the headlight/front fog lamp while the
lens is cooled down by fresh air, the slightest humidity settles straight away on the inside of the lens. On lenses with
clear glass optics this phenomenon is more recognisable.
The physical steaming-up of the headlights/front fog lamps is an optical phenomenon which does not affect the function
of the headlights (light output). Because of the materials used the steaming-up cannot lead to corrosion in the headlights
/front fog lamps.
If the headlights/front fog lamps are steamed up, the light emission surface on the lens must be clear after a journey of 510 minutes with sufficient ventilation (for example country road/motorway) and switched-on dipped beam . It is no
problem if the remaining surfaces of the inner lens are steamed-up after a journey.
This phenomenon can occur on every headlight/fog lamp, as it is physically related.

A replacement of the headlights/front fog lamps with physically related steaming-up is not permitted, as this is
not a technical fault in the sense of warranty.

Please mark test steps
followed.

Date: _____________

Test plan
Is there condensation inside the light?
Yes

No

Are large drops of water or trails of water
visible?
Yes

Reassess if complaint occurs

No

Drive on a major road/motorway with sufficient ventilation at an average
speed of approx. 80km/h for approx. 10 – 30 minutes (required duration
depends on outside temperature, relative humidity, vehicle speed) and with
headlights switched on
Average speed driven:

Duration:

Outside temperature/weather:

Component still with condensation/not leak-tight or no significant reduction
in condensation?
• On rear lights, it should be possible to detect a reduction in condensation.
• On headlights, the light emission surface should be clear.
Yes

No

Remove light which is subject of
complaint

Not a fault covered under warranty
- Inform customer about topic of
physical condensation

Breather hoses clear, not kinked and
correctly fitted?
Yes

No

Document cause with photos
All service covers, filters and plugs
closed/sealed?
Yes

No

Seals on light/control units
positioned correctly and
undamaged?
Yes

No

External damage (e.g. cracks)
visible?
Yes

No

Replace light
Fill in checklist and test plan;
document complaint with photos

INTERNAL

•

Carefully dry component with oil-free compressed air
Attachments may need to be removed and installed for
this purpose
Reposition
seals; replace
according to
ETKA/Worksh
op Manual if
necessary

Close service
covers

Position
breather hoses
correctly;
replace if
necessary

Have complaint reassessed
Did the complaint
reoccur?
Yes

No

No further
measures
necessary

Checklist:
Headlamps leak/steamed-up
Dealer number:
Dealer name:
Order number:
Contact person:

/

Customer:
Registration number:
Vehicle type (6 digit):
Vehicle identification number:

Tel.:
Fax No.:

Date of registration:
Mileage:

Points to be checked: Headlamps: Halogen

Xenon

LED

Fog lamp:
Tail light cluster: Interior

Exterior

Side indicators:

Workshop findings:
Steamed-up

Leaks

right

left

Both sides

Right part number:

Left part number:

Please read from fitted headlamps
Yes
Are the headlamps / fog lamps / rear lights / side indicators steamed up now?
Has the customer accepted the argumentation (as in service info: 2050542)
Repeat repair?
Have the points in the Service info been completed?
Are there traces of dried-up water drops inside the headlamps / the fog lamps / the rear lights / side indicators?
Are all service lids on the headlamps / fog lamps / rear lights closed?
Spray water on headlamps / fog lamps / rear lights / side indicators or put vehicle in car wash: Does water get in?
Is there any mechanical damage which could cause a leak?
Park the vehicle in the workshop area (normal temperature): Do the headlamps / fog lamps / rear lights / side indicators thaw?
Is the thawing speeded up by switching on the vehicle light?
Have the headlamps / fog lamps / rear lights / side indicators been removed and dried?
Have the headlamps / fog lamps / rear lights / side indicators been replaced before?
After being in car wash/high pressure cleaner
When did the complaint occur?

After journey
Urban

Country road

The car was parked:

Outside

Motorway
In the garage

Was the light switched on
Weather:

Dry

temperature ca.

°C

Fog

Rain

Is the "Coming Home" function used (if fitted)?

Remarks:

Note:

The check list is used to support the assessment and completion of the complaint.

Snow

No