condensation residual in the optical sensor (front camera) part of the windscreen

[ckj]

After having resolved the condensation issue with both my ILS headlights which was replaced by Mercedes, It appears there is also condensation residual in the optical sensor (front camera) part of the windscreen.

Has anyone come across this before?

 

[Headhurts]

Never seen this on mine which is a 2016 E350.

Robin

 

[richard]

Thats easy to take apart and clean. But there's a heating element there on newer cars to stop that fogging / icing (which is controlled from the camera itself)

Remove cover, camera slides upward and pops out. Dont touch the camera lens. Then you can dry the windscreen

R

 

[ckj]

Thats easy to take apart and clean. But there's a heating element there on newer cars to stop that fogging / icing (which is controlled from the camera itself)

Remove cover, camera slides upward and pops out. Dont touch the camera lens. Then you can dry the windscreen

R

Just out of interest, how do you activate the heating element by the windscreen camera senor? or is this done automatically?

Ok, this has now been booked into Mercedes to be carried out under warranty.

I have noticed when driving at night, the multibeam led intelligent headlight system sometimes fails to recognise cars in front of me, and therefore, unfortunately for them, they get full beamed!

Let see if the cleaning of the windscreen makes any difference.

 

[richard]

The camera controls the heating element.
R

 

[ckj]

The camera controls the heating element.
R

I see. So either the heating element is broken or there is some other contaminant on the windscreen other than water.

 

[richard]

the heating element is really there to defrost the external surface. The camera fits flush to the windscreen so it may just be water got in and has no where to go!
I’m sure they’ll sort it. R

 

[HairyBreeks]

After having resolved the condensation issue with both my ILS headlights which was replaced by Mercedes, It appears there is also condensation residual in the optical sensor (front camera) part of the windscreen.

Has anyone come across this before?

Hi. I have this on my e250 2010. Condensation in front of the camera causes the high beam assist to shut down and stay in dipped mode until condensation clears.

Basically all winter this becomes a problem and then ok again in the warmer months. As far as I can tell mine has no heater for the camera to resolve this issue, so am wondering if a poor seal is being made by the black felt shroud that fits to the screen.

Seems unduly hopeful it would be so simple though

Did you get to the bottom of it on yours?

 

[ckj]

Hi. I have this on my e250 2010. Condensation in front of the camera causes the high beam assist to shut down and stay in dipped mode until condensation clears.

Basically all winter this becomes a problem and then ok again in the warmer months. As far as I can tell mine has no heater for the camera to resolve this issue, so am wondering if a poor seal is being made by the black felt shroud that fits to the screen.

Seems unduly hopeful it would be so simple though

Did you get to the bottom of it on yours?

Yes, Mercedes removed the unit and just gave the windscreen a quick clean...

 

[Chef1]

I've been suffering from the assist functions turning off and on randomly and noticed the camera had fogged up slightly. Came here and found this thread as well as others on the net, so clearly affects more than one person. Presumably the air vents on the inside cover are there to keep the airflow reaching them? I'll take a closer look over the weekend and see if they need cleaning out.

 

[richard]

Certainly on the E class, They've changed the way the heating element works and you can buy those plastic shrouds with the new heating mechanism in them - it used to heat the screen, now it heats those shrouds instead. We had a car in the other day where the camera had become unreliable due to the condensation the diagnostic procedure tells you to change those shrouds too.

R

 

[Chef1]

Certainly on the E class, They've changed the way the heating element works and you can buy those plastic shrouds with the new heating mechanism in them - it used to heat the screen, now it heats those shrouds instead. We had a car in the other day where the camera had become unreliable due to the condensation the diagnostic procedure tells you to change those shrouds too.

R

That's great to hear, thanks and enjoy your weekend.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Certainly on the E class, They've changed the way the heating element works and you can buy those plastic shrouds with the new heating mechanism in them - it used to heat the screen, now it heats those shrouds instead. We had a car in the other day where the camera had become unreliable due to the condensation the diagnostic procedure tells you to change those shrouds too.

R

I believe the wife's car got this new part. Out of curiosity, do you (or anyone else) have the part number? I've tried to find the part in question from Parts Info but no luck.

 

[richard]

On W205/W213, single camera = A213 827 97 01, dual camera = A213 827 98 01
- its strangely on the section for the windscreen

 

[Diesel Benz]

On W205/W213, single camera = A213 827 97 01, dual camera = A213 827 98 01
- its strangely on the section for the windscreen

Thanks Richard, not the first time they put parts to an odd section, still didn't consider looking elsewhere from the camera parts. Easy with your pointer and the part number.