Locating the cause of condensated windows

[Green]

What's the best way to find out the cause of condensation building up on the inside of your windows?

I don't want to have to replace every window and door seal to see no difference so was wondering if there's actually a test or method in detecting worn seals or holes possibly that would cause moisture to get in?

[daimlerman]

Condensation forms naturally on any cold surface.The cure is ventilation.Within a closed area such as an E30,damp already present in soft,warm items such as carpets and cloth seats/foam seat cushions will not help the situation.
Allowing warmed air from the car heater to circulate will dry out the damp surfaces,but it will rarely dry out a wet carpet or seat cushion.On any wet day,just getting into an otherwise dry interior with rain soaked clothing is enough to allow condensation to form,your shoes will transfer water to the footwell,for example.

Any holes in the shell that let water in from the outside will not help,and not allowing air to circulate and be expelled via the flaps by the rear bumper will also not help.

[bigwinn]

Have you checked the passenger footwell for dampness?

[Green]

A bit of a delay getting back on to you on this and surprising to me that passenger footwell is a bit damp... the drivers one feels slightly as well actually. I am sure this isn't a good thing, I know some welding was done 2 years ago on it and is looking for a bit worse for wear now so perhaps that is one cause of it.

Hopefully not the heater matrix as I still have heating and have not noticed any coolant loss.

[DanThe]

The carpets will be wet from water getting through the floor most likely, or if your unlucky the bulkhead

[Green]

I've a week off from saturday so I'm sure I can brave the cold to cut and weld new bits in. Drying the carpet on the other hand I can imagine won't be that easy, perhaps pour a pack of rice across the footwells to soak it up.

[DanThe]

E30 carpets can hold over 2 gallons of water very easily!

[Morat]

That's impressive

[DanThe]

That's impressive

Soak the carpets before sending the car to the scrap yard.

I always hose them down, to prevent any dust of course