Anyone else has this? My lights are full of condensation around where the DRL strip is! Car is only 3 months old!

Anyone else got any feedback on this? Experience?

 

I've just been on to (the very helpful) local dealer to me now, Willis in Ruislip, and they have said that it's a "natural phenomenon" and it's known to Skoda UK, particularly on the L&K. Be good to know if anyone has had similar experience and what the outcome was?

 

I know I'm probably being pedantic, but I'm sure you shouldn't get condensation in a sealed headlight?

 

Cheers.

Mine hold quite a lot of water in winter months, but they work well and my car will be handed back before the warranty expires. My 3-Series lights attracted water droplets also, so I think that it may be a Xenon quirk.

FYI - I had this on my MK2.... only on one side. Took it back to the dealer and it was replaced no problem thereafter.

 

So maybe worth checking in with your dealer.

Had 2 O3s with Xenons, an Elegance and a L&K spanning over 2 years.

Neither has had any condensation issues. Seeing as the lights are the same on vRS, L&K and any other model with optional Xenons I think your dealer is spinning you a yarn.

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Anyone else has this? My lights are full of condensation around where the DRL strip is! Car is only 3 months old!

Sometimes I have this escpecially after car wash. Only 1-2 cm at the bottom around the LED DRL.

Condensation never formed waterdrops and disappear fast so I'm not worried.

Both my headlights do this.

I have this as well from time to time, exactely as decribed by aki78.

It is a known phenomenon and it is mentioned this is normal in the car user guide (at least in mine ;-) ).

Thanks for the input all.

 

Guess I'll just keep an eye out and see what happens!

Put some silica gel packets in the headlights?

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it's normal says the dealer, i see it in the morning when its been a Cold night but as soon as i turn on the lights it's gone.

Perhaps a photo would help - the OP said 'full of condensation', which to me implies a problem

 

A small amount of condensation would not be unusual though.

Anyone else has this? My lights are full of condensation around where the DRL strip is! Car is only 3 months old!

Check that the x2 rubber caps on the back of the headlight unit are securely fitted. I had one of the techs look at my lights as the drivers side xenon was bouncing in sport mode, but it was not refitted properly. Suffice to say, one wet journey later the lower half of the light unit was full of water / condensation, with water pooling in the bottom of the headlight unit and bulb out error on LED bar. It took about 3 weeks to dry out enough for LED to start working again (whilst waiting for a slot to replace headlight unit under warranty).

If you have a fine mist that evaporates when lights / outside temp is warm then what you have been told by the dealer is correct. There is usually a vent in the headlight unit to assist with this. However, if you have large droplets of water that run down the inside of the unit or puddles of water at the bottom of the unit (use a torch & small mirror with the rubber cap removed to see this) then it is not water tight. This may be due to a stone chip, break in the plastic weld on the unit or incorrectly fitted rubber caps.

Edited 30 October, 201510 yr by Black_Sheep

The headlights are not entirely sealed to allow for expansion of air inside the light unit when the light heats up. This is normal on most cars now.

I see the same thing on mine 2014 L&K but it is gone rather quickly so i dont worry about it. 

 

As said, this is supposed to be normal.

Just re-read my post. By rubber caps I mean screw caps. Swap so many headlights on many different cars I had a bit of a senior moment - sorry for any confusion.

I Had had something similar on my xenon, not just a "slight" condensation as mentioned in the User Manual. it was caused by a crack on the top of the plastic housing of the headlight, where it is bolted to its mounting. I guess a little shock on the bumper pushed the lighthouse and it cracked.

What I did: I waited for few days of sun, I opened the headlights caps and let evaporate for a while, then I completely sealed the crack with black silicone gasket and all is well now .

My advice: Check the headlight is damaged, if not, get it replaced under warranty, if it has any damage, ask your insurance to pay for the replacement or repair.

I had similar condensation before, it was due to improperly fitted rubber cap. It ended up funneling copious amount of water inside the unit, kill the DRL not long after. Apart from the DRL everything else is fine, took about two full weeks of hot Australian summer to fully dried up the moisture, I just drove without the rubber cap to let the water evaporate. It was of course replaced under warranty. 

Edited 3 December, 201510 yr by RezaE

Big difference between slight condensate accumulating by the DRLs that dissipates and volumes of water accumulating in the cluster.

Has to be remembered whilst these units are largely weatherproof, they are not hermetically sealed so certain environmental conditions along with the mild heat generated by the xenon and DRL lamps will bring about condensation.

If you get to a point where you are getting water pooling in a cluster or DRLs/Xenon lamps are failing then for sure there is a problem; otherwise just do not worry.

Which goes back to my request of a photo to clarify the OPs statement of 'full of condensation'

Edited 3 December, 201510 yr by andyvee

A bit off topic but I like the 2nd function described in the manual:

"If the visibility is poor and the lights are not on, the brightness of the instrument lighting reduces to alert the driver to switch on the lights in due time".

 

This is Simply Clever

Would be better if it just flashed up 'Turn your lights on you Muppet' in the Maxidot

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