Defrosting LED lights

[Psythepie]

As I understand it the LED lights don't generate heat like the Xenons on my old car did so therefore they don't defrost themselves effectively. I'm loathed to scrape them as the casing is plastic & I'm not keen on using de-icer either, again because they are plastic & I don't wish to possibly damage them. Assuming I haven't missed something in translation & they do generate heat how is everyone dealing with theirs now that we have some lovely crisp weather?

[xtrailman]

Good question.
I would still use deicer unless there is a caution on the tin saying don't use on plastic.

Other than that what about a towel soaked in , hot water, or a hair dryer, perhaps they do a 12 volt version?

[BigAl]

I find that a watering can filled with COLD water is very useful for dealing with a frosted up car (provided it's not too cold so that it makes things worse).

Alan

[Deeps]

The following product appears to be very popular by CX-5 owners on the German forum. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-G17110DE-Headlight-Protectant-296/dp/B009YCTGKU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453722663&sr=8-1&keywords=meguiar%27s+g17110DE+headlight+protectant

By all accounts cleaning the headlights with this stuff applies a sort of film to which dirt and snow etc doesn't stick too very easily. It's also useful for cleaning the plastic lenses from time to time which prevents them turning slightly yellow (common with plastic lenses) and if already a touch yellow, helps to restore them to their original finish.

[Ant]

Interesting looking product for the headlights.

Does anyone know if de-icer would strip wax from paintwork? I've heard that some window cleaning products will?

Good tip about cold water - thanks. I recall seeing a neighbour regularly pouring hot water from a kettle over the frosted-up windows of his 3-series many years ago. Felt sure that would end in disaster but it never seemed to!

[Deeps]

Something else worth checking when next cleaning the headlight covers, is that whatever the lining of the units consists of, is that it's not slowly delaminating. I have it that this exercise is best conducted with the car in a dark area such as the garage, and by shining a torch inside the headlights.

[Psythepie]

My car is only 3 months old so I really hope my lights aren't delaminating just yet 

Thanks for the replies, I'll check out that Meguiars stuff but now that we seem to have dispensed with our two day cold snap there doesn't seem to be any rush!

[Deeps]

I'm just rehashing the subject of delaminating headlights for the benefit of some members that may not have read/read about it as yet and also to include an update.

A CX-5 owner in Austria has reported, and had it confirmed by Mazda,  that some headlights, be it the Mazda CX-5, 3 or 2 are affected with this delamination and will be exchanged by the dealer FOC.  It pays, therefore, to check very closely and to continue checking periodically during the guarantee period.