Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Unpleasant Smell

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
Post Reply
Alpine Z
Member
Member
Posts: 90
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:09 pm

Unpleasant Smell

Post by Alpine Z » Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:34 pm

Apologies if this has been discussed before, I've a number of search criteria without success.

Since my car has come back from the MoT two weeks ago, I've noticed an unpleasant smell in the car. Somewhat similar to cats pee.

First thoughts were that it was the day after I'd been out to get a fish supper. It wasn't that.

The smell persisted, so I've checked for damp possible leak in the roof, no, all seals bone dry.

To the mats out, they were bone dry, hoovered and cleaned them.

Checked the floor mats again dry.

Looked in the boot again dry and no smell there.

Engine bay, that's clear.

So my only other thought is that it's coming from the air ducts and could be A/C related, done the usual heating on full blast, still there.

OK, so after all this checking it is not as bad, but it's still there.

Is there something that can be sprayed into the air vents to try and remove this, if it is indeed A/C related?

Sensible comments appreciated.
Alpine White S Drive 3.5i DCT

Maniac
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 8202
Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 2:52 pm

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by Maniac » Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:50 pm

You can get aerosol bombs to sort this. They are anti bacterial to remove smells.

Odd that you noted only after its MOT tho?

Eg. http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/331644710576?_t ... 3641.l6368

firebobby
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 9538
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:09 am
Location: South west Buckinghamshire

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by firebobby » Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:55 pm

Maybe the garage mouser took a liking to your interior and gave it a rear end spray
BMW Z4 30i 2003 auto 107's Whippy Toledo Blue
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981

Alpine Z
Member
Member
Posts: 90
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:09 pm

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by Alpine Z » Sun Nov 08, 2015 9:54 pm

You could be right there firebobby.

Thanks for the replies, I've got a few options now, off to order a can now.

The video was helpful.
Alpine White S Drive 3.5i DCT

Hugman
Member
Member
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 7:07 am

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by Hugman » Sun Nov 08, 2015 10:13 pm

Autoglym do a aircon cleaner
Never used it myself tho so don't no how good it is

Online
User avatar
ronk
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 14226
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:50 am
Location: Durham

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by ronk » Mon Nov 09, 2015 12:56 am

Where was it mot'd ?
I would go back and have a bellyache!
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with. :thumbsup:

User avatar
dr_john
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3412
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 4:20 pm
Location: Barrow Upon Soar

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by dr_john » Mon Nov 09, 2015 12:58 am

I've noticed this in some cars but never in the zed.

It's always been related to the aircon. I guess condensate trapped in the pipework.Turn the aircon up to max and run it for a few minutes, that should do it.
Sapphire Black G29 2.0 MSport with Technology pack

Online
User avatar
ronk
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 14226
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:50 am
Location: Durham

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by ronk » Mon Nov 09, 2015 1:20 am

Why would it happen immediately after its been in the garage tho?
You don't stop playing when you get old - You get old when you stop playing!
So I bought a 35is with all the toys to play with. :thumbsup:

Alpine Z
Member
Member
Posts: 90
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:09 pm

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by Alpine Z » Thu Nov 12, 2015 11:09 pm

Well it was around that time, in the space of a week it had been to the tyre fitting centre and two visits to the BMW Dealer.

I noticed it after this.

So, thinking about this, I decided to clean the seats, Baby wet wipes are well known to work well on leather car seats, so I liberally used a few on the seats yesterday.

Get in the car today. The odour appears to have gone.

Hopefully, sorted.
Alpine White S Drive 3.5i DCT

User avatar
imported
Member
Member
Posts: 141
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2015 12:22 pm

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by imported » Fri Nov 27, 2015 10:59 am

If it comes back and only when air-con is on then first buy 3 cans of Detol anti-bac and unload it all over the air vent under hood on passenger side. 1 can during cooling, 1 can during max heat and 1 can during demist.

If it's still there you have to buy the air-con cleaner (the one thats about £20 on amazon) take it to a BMW specialist and tell them to use it on the rad intake pipe. You can't do this yourself.

User avatar
buzyg
Legend
Legend
Posts: 26532
Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
Location: Cornwall

Re: Unpleasant Smell

Post by buzyg » Fri Nov 27, 2015 5:49 pm

Glycol Coolant smells of cat's pee. If there was coolant pooled somewhere I'd want to find it not mask the smell. Just some thing that popped into my head, may be a total red herring. :)
Image

Post Reply