Condensation Inside Headlight Lense

[Wes08M3]

Anyone else with a 2010+ 3 experience this problem? There is a TON of condensation in my passengers side headlight.

I noticed a very small amount inside the housing a long time ago and kept a close eye on it and never noticed any again so I didn't think it was a big deal. After my 15 hour drive to Barrie from Thunder Bay, I noticed this problem again, only this time it was a crazy amount of condensation and it seems to be there all the time now.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this with their gen 2. Mine is a GT, maybe a GT specific problem like the headlights frosting?

Here are some pictures of it taken on two different days, about 6 days apart:
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4721/imageuof.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5055/imagekskf.jpg
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5874/imageyaje.jpg
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2990/imageclu.jpg
Sorry I can't directly link the pictures on my iPad for some reason.

[Wes08M3]

Should mention that I have a 2011 GT not a 2010.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4721/imageuof.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5055/imagekskf.jpg

6 days later...
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5874/imageyaje.jpg
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2990/imageclu.jpg

[cSPEED]

Not sealed properly? Take it to Mazda..

[2zoom]

If you changed your bulbs make sure you put the OEM one's back before going to the dealer. Also, ensure if you did change them they are seated correctly. The reasone why I say that is they might try and point the problem at the aftermarket bulbs..

Just my 2 cents....

[Prima Tech Aaron]

mazda won't replace lights due to condesation. condensation could be caused by temperature change. the units are expensive, it'll have to have actual water inside. check it after a running a while with the lights on. the heat from the lights usually clears them up.

[cSPEED]

If you drive a 2011 and your light looks that fcked they should replace it because I doubt youve even had to change the lights yet.. Its clearly a sealing problem

[Booter22]

this happened to my gfs 2010 gx sport. just take it to the dealer and show them. should be no concern to have it replaced under warranty. can take between 2-4 hours to do both, ( depeneds how fast the tech is )

[Wes08M3]

If you changed your bulbs make sure you put the OEM one's back before going to the dealer. Also, ensure if you did change them they are seated correctly. The reasone why I say that is they might try and point the problem at the aftermarket bulbs..

Just my 2 cents....

Good point, bulbs are stock.


mazda won't replace lights due to condesation. condensation could be caused by temperature change. the units are expensive, it'll have to have actual water inside. check it after a running a while with the lights on. the heat from the lights usually clears them up.

If you look closely at the pictures it's pretty heavy condensation to the point where many droplets of water are built up inside the lens. 13 hours of driving STRAIGHT with the DRL's plus 1 hour with the HID's on and tons of water is still in there (I drove back to Thunder Bay yesterday)... If that amount of driving didn't clear it up, nothing will, I don't think anyway.


If you drive a 2011 and your light looks that fcked they should replace it because I doubt youve even had to change the lights yet.. Its clearly a sealing problem

Seems like a sealing problem, just strange that all of a sudden it just stopped sealing properly. Maybe the constant heat from the DRL's deteriorated the seal on the drive down to Barrie?


this happened to my gfs 2010 gx sport. just take it to the dealer and show them. should be no concern to have it replaced under warranty. can take between 2-4 hours to do both, ( depeneds how fast the tech is )

I will be bringing it in to the tiny, ghetto Mazda dealer sometime next week. Hopefully they don't give me any trouble. If it happens to dry up to an amount where they say it's "not bad enough to replace them" do you think the photos I have are valid to prove that they are effed?

[Booter22]

i think the photos you have are more then vaild. if there is still condensation in it now, go take one with a date and time stamp. you need the plate in the picture 1-2 pictures with the front and a direct shot of the plate, 1 shot of each side of the car. ( facing front driver fender, pass fender rear driver and pass) the vin, mileage and then the lens head on and from the side. just in case it were to dry. that is more then enough proof for them to have it on file and replace them for you under warranty. as prima tech arron said, they are expensive but i disagree with running the lights to remove condensation and mazda "defines" condesnation as water inside the lamp and if it dissipates over time it is not considered a " defect" well sadly i disagree and a sealed lens is a sealed lens it should not have water in it or condensation of any kind and if it does, its defective or there is not enough "vent" to allow the lens to breath.

i myself had to fight to have a fog light replaced so i know about condensation believe me. but if you take those pictures you should have no trouble having it replaced because if it was winter and snowing outside your lens would be frozen solid on the inside.

[Wes08M3]

i think the photos you have are more then vaild. if there is still condensation in it now, go take one with a date and time stamp. you need the plate in the picture 1-2 pictures with the front and a direct shot of the plate, 1 shot of each side of the car. ( facing front driver fender, pass fender rear driver and pass) the vin, mileage and then the lens head on and from the side. just in case it were to dry. that is more then enough proof for them to have it on file and replace them for you under warranty. as prima tech arron said, they are expensive but i disagree with running the lights to remove condensation and mazda "defines" condesnation as water inside the lamp and if it dissipates over time it is not considered a " defect" well sadly i disagree and a sealed lens is a sealed lens it should not have water in it or condensation of any kind and if it does, its defective or there is not enough "vent" to allow the lens to breath.

i myself had to fight to have a fog light replaced so i know about condensation believe me. but if you take those pictures you should have no trouble having it replaced because if it was winter and snowing outside your lens would be frozen solid on the inside.

Thanks for the tips! All I have is an iPhone camera unfortunately, not sure if I can date stamp with it. Anyone know?

If it's still full of water I'll go take all those shots you mentioned... The other side has some water in it too but it's not as bad, hopefully I can get them to just replace both.

[Booter22]

Thanks for the tips! All I have is an iPhone camera unfortunately, not sure if I can date stamp with it. Anyone know?

If it's still full of water I'll go take all those shots you mentioned... The other side has some water in it too but it's not as bad, hopefully I can get them to just replace both.

if anything go to the dealer tomorrow and have them take the pictures for you. better not to take the chance and have the condensation dry and then you be SOL until it comes back and hopefully not pop any bulbs leaving you blind at night.

[Wes08M3]

if anything go to the dealer tomorrow and have them take the pictures for you. better not to take the chance and have the condensation dry and then you be SOL until it comes back and hopefully not pop any bulbs leaving you blind at night.

Lol went to have the Mazda dealer here take a look at it (was already out doing errands) and found out they aren't even open on Saturdays! :(

Guess it'll have to wait until Monday...

[Booter22]

Lol went to have the Mazda dealer here take a look at it (was already out doing errands) and found out they aren't even open on Saturdays! :(

Guess it'll have to wait until Monday...

aw thats a bummer, i would have thought at least most dealers are open a half day, we are open 8 am to 4 pm.

[Wes08M3]

Now just about all the water inside the lens has dried up! :bang

It must be something about the climate in Thunder Bay. My car sat in the driveway for 2 weeks in Barrie, temperatures were warm and there was the occasional rain/thunder storm and the water NEVER dried up. Now my car has been sitting in the driveway for 3 days back in Thunder Bay (temperatures here are a bit cooler) and almost all the water is gone! Very strange...

Good thing I got those pictures at least. I might try to spray there area with the hose and see if any water builds up inside.

[Lactose]

Wonder if they can really dismiss it for aftermarket bulbs.. cuz it would be a pain in the ass to remove my lowbeam HID setup :/.

Have you had the problem return?

[kat3501]

Is it strictly condensation or is water being forced in somehow, especially with the heavy rains we've had recently. When you wash the car, does the water get in too? I have a tail light that gets water in it when I spray the car but nothing like what you have.

[Wes08M3]

Wonder if they can really dismiss it for aftermarket bulbs.. cuz it would be a pain in the ass to remove my lowbeam HID setup :/.

Have you had the problem return?

I could certainly see the dealer giving you problems if you've modified the headlights in any way. Because at that point it's hard to prove one way or the other that nothing has been done to compromise their integrity.

I have an appointment on Tuesday for them to look at mine. For a really small dealer that always seems like a ghost town when I'm in there, they sure take a long time to get people in!


Is it strictly condensation or is water being forced in somehow, especially with the heavy rains we've had recently. When you wash the car, does the water get in too? I have a tail light that gets water in it when I spray the car but nothing like what you have.

After a rainfall or when I wash it, it appears that there is a bit more water that gets inside, mostly on the right lens. But it's nothing crazy, it just sort of appears out of nowhere. Yesterday it had almost completely dried up then today it was probably the worst I've seen.

It did rain for a few minutes last night but that's it, so I dunno. Other times it had not rained for days and yet there was tons of moisture in there. Sometimes it wouldn't dry up for days and days... And when I say dry up, it never fully dries, just very close to it. It just seems like so much moisture gets in there somehow and condenses so much it turns into actual water droplets.

I've been taking pictures constantly to keep track of how bad it's been getting, if they give me a hard time on Tuesday, I'll be fuming :complain

[Lactose]

I could certainly see the dealer giving you problems if you've modified the headlights in any way. Because at that point it's hard to prove one way or the other that nothing has been done to compromise their integrity.

Well the way I look at it is the HID setup is really just a bulb replacement with an new electrical wiring, shouldn't affect the integrity of the headlights.
Fortunatly I havent had this problem.

[Wes08M3]

Well the way I look at it is the HID setup is really just a bulb replacement with an new electrical wiring, shouldn't affect the integrity of the headlights.
Fortunatly I havent had this problem.

I agree. However as you probably know, most dealers will take any opportunity they can to turn away warranty work. The less warranty claims submitted to Mazda Canada, the better, in most cases.

Something as bad as mine should be a no brainier in my opinion. We'll see...

[Booter22]

I agree. However as you probably know, most dealers will take any opportunity they can to turn away warranty work. The less warranty claims submitted to Mazda Canada, the better, in most cases.
Something as bad as mine should be a no brainier in my opinion. We'll see...

nah warranty isnt that bad.. lol but if the car has 55W ballasts and it should have a max of 35W then yea it could be declined. or a bulb in the headlight / fog light that is over the OEM Watts then yea it could be declined. otherwise for replacement lamps you should be ok as long as the seal is good on the bulbs installed you shouldnt have any problems with it, unless.. its that kind of dealer.. :bang then maybe but lets hope not. at worst case put the bulbs to stock and take it in if your worried about it.

[Wes08M3]

nah warranty isnt that bad.. lol but if the car has 55W ballasts and it should have a max of 35W then yea it could be declined. or a bulb in the headlight / fog light that is over the OEM Watts then yea it could be declined. otherwise for replacement lamps you should be ok as long as the seal is good on the bulbs installed you shouldnt have any problems with it, unless.. its that kind of dealer.. :bang then maybe but lets hope not. at worst case put the bulbs to stock and take it in if your worried about it.

Yeah that's the problem... Sounds as if there are people at your dealership who are actually smart, reasonable and logical. I unfortunately, haven't always had such luck with Mazda dealers.

I have stock bulbs in there so I shouldn't have anything to worry about. The guys at the Mazda dealer here seem nice at least.

[Booter22]

Yeah that's the problem... Sounds as if there are people at your dealership who are actually smart, reasonable and logical. I unfortunately, haven't always had such luck with Mazda dealers.
I have stock bulbs in there so I shouldn't have anything to worry about. The guys at the Mazda dealer here seem nice at least.

we do what we can :D but i myself had to fight myself as ive had to replace my fog lights as the have had condensation and even though mazda has an "acceptable" amount. but i dont think any sealed light should have condensation.. if it does.. theres something wrong with a seal

[Wes08M3]

we do what we can :D but i myself had to fight myself as ive had to replace my fog lights as the have had condensation and even though mazda has an "acceptable" amount. but i dont think any sealed light should have condensation.. if it does.. theres something wrong with a seal

This is exactly my thinking. So I brought it in today and was told that I'll have to bring it next Tuesday for a few hours so they can follow the inspection procedure outlined by Mazda Canada.

Apparently the light bulbs have to be removed and the housing have to be fully dried. Once dried they have to be sprayed down with water to see if any water actually gets in. If it does, only then are they "defective". When he's telling me this, I'm thinking wtf even if no water gets in from spraying it! there is so much condensation getting in there somehow that water droplets actually do develop in there. The service manager said that Mazda Canada states that condensation is normal, even a heavy amount of condensation. But this is an insane amount of condensation. I thought it would have just been a no brainier, send in a few of the many pictures I took and I don't see how anyone with any sort of intelligence could deny this claim.

Just because water doesn't pour inside when spraying it, doesn't mean there isn't a problem with the seal... Like I told him, I saw a pretty small amount of condensation in there a year ago but wasn't worried about it then. It didn't really seem to come back until now and it's much worse. This makes me think the seal is just deteriorating.

Good thing is that some water does actually get into the passengers side headlight when you spray it with the hose but not a ton of water. The drivers side however, it is not very easy to tell if any water is getting in there.

I just hope when I go back in a week (another week? sheesh!) he'll be reasonable and at least attempt to submit the claim with some of the pictures I have. The service manager seems to be a nice guy, so hopefully he'll help me out.

EDIT: Another thing that is rather strange, today I went outside and looked at the lights before bringing it to the shop. It was essentially moisture free in there. I drove to Canadian Tire (15 min.) and then drove another 5 minutes to the dealership. After this bit of driving, the passenger side headlight was now FULL of condensation. Drove it home and all the condensation was still there! It was a sunny, warm day here too... Seems as if driving it actually somehow makes the problem worse.

[Lactose]

nah warranty isnt that bad.. lol but if the car has 55W ballasts and it should have a max of 35W then yea it could be declined. or a bulb in the headlight / fog light that is over the OEM Watts then yea it could be declined. otherwise for replacement lamps you should be ok as long as the seal is good on the bulbs installed you shouldnt have any problems with it, unless.. its that kind of dealer.. :bang then maybe but lets hope not. at worst case put the bulbs to stock and take it in if your worried about it.

Well I'm not sure how warranty works or is tracked. If I had problems with my headlights I'd swap the bulbs back in and take it for work. My only concern is that they wave my warranty when I go for my regular maint. Too much of a hassle to remove my HID setup for every servicing.

[Wes08M3]

So I brought my car back in to have them "water test" the lenses. And sure enough water got inside both of them, only after 30 seconds of spraying them too!

He snapped a couple pictures to send to Mazda Canada and he said they'll order both housings for me. They should be able to install them early next week. Overall a very pleasant experience.

I think I might consider some LED DRL's once the new lenses are in, just in case the stock halogen bulbs had anything to do with causing this problem.

Oh, and all that water that was in my passenger side lens caused my marker light to burn out lol. I'm sure it was only a matter of time before more damage was done.