Drill a few holes to vent and stick on 3M Goretex Patches you can find them online for a few dollars. I think there is a dealer bulletin for the moisture issue as well to add a vent line. The patches were a easier fix for me.

 

The fogging is a chronic issue with XK8/XKR cars. I found that leaving the inspection covers off until dry, then adding a couple of silica gel packs to each light before closing back up solved the problem. But the silica gel requires replacement frequently. I have now had the "proper" fix done with the vent tubes

 

This may seem unorthodox but I solved my headlight problem in the following way:

First, I pulled the clear "inspection" piece on the headlight which allowed me to put a hairdryer in the opening to dry out the lens. This took about an hour with the hairdryer on medium heat.

Once it was dry inside I replaced the "inspection" piece making sure it had some silicon grease on the rubber gasket.

Next I found that the water was running down the hood channel and literally splashing right on the seam where the headlight lens is secured by the retaining tab letting the water seep into the lens.

I took some clear silicon sealer (the kind that stays flexible and doesn't harden and sealed the headlight seem where the water runs over it. Not unlike caulking a window seam on a house.

Since then I have been driving in constant heavy rain and not a single drop of moisture has appeared inside the lens. I have a better idea I may try this summer but for now I enjoy having dry headlights for the first winter in years.

 

I pulled my clear covers off last night. This morning the fogging is gone! Thanks! I did reinstall them but only partially clicked them into position to allow moisture to escape.

 

I am not very confident with this, do I need to take the whole headlamp units out of the car to drill this vent hole? Is this something I can do, I am not so experienced at this kind of work. What do I need to get ready for, how do i prepare to make sure I do not damage anything?
Sorry if I seem confused

 

which cover are you talking about drilling, the oval-ish transparent cover or the main black body and where exactly did you drill, can you post a picture please?

 

There are additional threads that cover this, but the TSB procedure can be found here:

http://www.jagrepair.com/images/TSB/XK8/417-05.pdf

I was able to do this without pulling the headlamp. I used a right angled drill bit and then a BBQ skewer with inverted tape for cleanup.

Best

 

I installed the vent tubes on both headlamps and have had absolutely no more problems with condensation. If you use a Dremel tool, you can drill the hole as specified in the TSB without removing the headlights. The key is to install the vent tubes exactly as shown in the diagram, i.e. the "curved" part attaches to where the hole is drilled and curves downward. The "straight" part of the tube is positioned so that it is parallel to the ground. As you drive, air passes through the straight part of the tube; this creates a vacuum which sucks moisture out of the headlamp via the curved part. It may take a little fiddling around to get it in position correctly but the tube is flexible & not difficult to bend and maneuver.

 

Here's a pic of the T-piece. Hole is drilled into side of the headlamp (a blanked off male spigot is already moulded into the headlamp plastic) for the T piece to fit onto.

 

You might find this a useful read. Click me to Read

 

Part available at Jagbits for under $10 each. Just ordered 2 of them.

 

What part? T piece or the Headlamp seal?

 

Just a data point, but I have two cars I have done this to and one I have not. Weather here (Durham, NC) is humid in the summer, wetish in the fall. The 'fix' may decrease the duration and frequency of the 'condensation event', but it has not eliminated them entirely on my two cars. Each car appears to have a preference on which side to fog.

On my recently purchased 'virgin' car, however, the lights started heavily condensed. A couple of days, but not nights sitting in the sun with the tops open cleared them well, and following a cleaning of the gaskets, etc. I've had no events since even with the other cars having minor spates of wetness. I expect this will not last, but time will tell whether I do the 'fix' again.

 

The T pieces. I didn't look for the seals as they were replaced
by the PO 2 years ago.

 

the cause on my 2000 XKR was the clear oblong removable access panel on top oh headlamp housing, just visible with bonnet up. The channel edge of fender next to hood would direct water to it, so I put a doubled piece of aluminum foil over the top of the unit and used duct tape to secure it in place, not wanting to go through the hassle of taking the whole unit out. It works, even in car wash. Also, that little clear panel can be removed using the tab-latches, and then you can direct a hair dryer over it to dry reflector surfaces.

 

Short 3/8" vacuum hose, elbow and T looks similar to the Jaguar part and works perfectly.
Drilled hole in headlight same place the Jag bit goes and glowed in the elbow facing down. connect hose and T at bottom facing front to back fro air flow.
Works perfect, cheap and readily available parts.

 

I did this mod a while ago with parts from Jagbits. I left the headlights in place and it took 15 minutes
to do both sides with an angle drill and a 16 inch long 3/8 bit. Haven't had any problem since.

 

Just noticed this phenomenon a couple days ago after a wash. Don't remember seeing the fog before but, my car is garaged all the time. I took the large rubber caps off the back of the headlight assemblies and in the morning good to go. I don't think I have a major problem here so think I'll try the silica packs.

 

Oz,
Just went back and found your response on the headlight correction. Did you remove the hood(bonnet) or were you able to move it to the forwardmost position to get to the drain stump.

Sam

 

I was able to reach it with the hood in the forward / service position.