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Andrew Rolland 
Moderator Group
Go away rain
Joined: 19-August-2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 6579
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 Topic: Bad Smell
Posted: 19-August-2004 at 12:52 |
Just bought my first Beamer - 98 S 523i SE.
I picked her up on Monday night from the garage and I drove home. After a few miles I started to smell something like bad body odour coming from the vents. Thinking that it was just some really sweaty bloke in the garage who had cleaned the car before I picked it up. I got home and sprayed cockpit shine with air freshener into the vents and the smell seemed to go away but it came back last night.
This smell doesn't happen when the air con is on.
Any thoughts ?
Andrew
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e34m5
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 26-June-2003
Location: Near Rugby, Warwickshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1344
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Posted: 19-August-2004 at 13:16 |
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Sounds like you have mould growth on the airconditioning evaporator, try getting the car nice and warm and leaving the heater set to full hot on recirculate mode for 10 minutes, if that doesn't cure the problem any good airconditioning specialist should be able to sort it out for you.
Miles
Edited by e34m5
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318is-joe
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 04-March-2004
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 314
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Posted: 19-August-2004 at 15:22 |
Check the pollen filters are clean, there the two big black plastic boxes just under the windscreen looking in at the engine bay with the bonnet raised, sometimes the drain pipes get blocked and stagnet water sits on the element, sticks to say the least.
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danio2020
Newbie
Joined: 26-February-2004
Status: Offline
Points: 39
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Posted: 19-August-2004 at 19:33 |
Hi, you can use a product called airco fresh, which is sprayed into the inlet system for the aircon, and will kill the bacteria which has developed on the aircon evaporator. To stop this happening, keep the aircon on all year round as recommended by BMW, this will stop the smell returning, and also stop your car steaming up on rainy/cold days as it also acts as a dehumidifier.
Hope this helps, Dan.
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studyolic
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 09-July-2004
Location: Inchture, Dundee, Scotland.
Status: Offline
Points: 427
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Posted: 19-August-2004 at 20:19 |
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Danio2020
you leave your air con on ALL the time? I always get a slight feeling of guilt, driving around with the A/C switched on, thinking it's stressing the engine, wearing out the A/C unit, using more fuel; I believe it does say in my BMW handbook to leave it on most of the time. I'm probably just being old-fashioned......
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Richard.
Current; 2000 316i Compact 1.9
previous; 1999 535i V8,
1995 316i Compact 1.6
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danio2020
Newbie
Joined: 26-February-2004
Status: Offline
Points: 39
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Posted: 19-August-2004 at 20:29 |
Hi studyolic!
Indeed I do, it saves on regasssing so often as the gas fails to escape past the seals so easily, I'm not worried about the minimal increase in fuel cons, cos the benefits are worth more-no dodgy smells, nice n cool in the summer, and good clear visibilty from all windows in the winter!
Also if the engines worn out, or the aircon fails through over usage, I'll just get the failed parts replaced under my BMW ext warr terms-even at 155k miles!!!!
Nothing to lose really have I!
Dan
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group
Go away rain
Joined: 19-August-2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 6579
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Posted: 20-August-2004 at 07:44 |
Dan
Thanks for the tips guys.
Where is the inlet for the air con system. This is my first Beamer and I am a bit green still when it comes to details.
I know of the two filters at the back of the engine bay. Should I remove the filters and then put this stuff down the air tube? IS that the inlet you are referring to?
Don't think I'll be driving with the air con on 24 7 somehow!
Andrew
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Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series!
Current
'13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto
Previous
'04 04 E60 545i SE Auto
'03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen)
'98 S E39 523i SE Auto
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318is-joe
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 04-March-2004
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 314
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Posted: 20-August-2004 at 08:23 |
Andrew
Yes the air inlets are the two large tubes, left and right of the pollen filter boxes.
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danio2020
Newbie
Joined: 26-February-2004
Status: Offline
Points: 39
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Posted: 20-August-2004 at 19:24 |
Hi, you can either do it that way, or on some cars, and depending on the nature of the cleaner you get, you can insert a long tube up the air outlets under the dash for the footwell vents.
Cheers, Dan
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group
Go away rain
Joined: 19-August-2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 6579
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Posted: 10-September-2004 at 08:22 |
Bad smell now gone!
A big thanks to everybodys suggestions
I bought an air con cleaner spray thingie and put a few squirts down the air inlets and it seems to have done the trick. Just as well as the little can (smaller than a can of Irn Bru) cost �11.99 out of Halfords!
Even thought mine is FBMWSH and hve receipts for the pollen filters the rubber drainage tubes at the bottom of the filter housings were full to the brim with small leaves and other organic rubbish. Definatley not cleared out when the filters were changed!!!
Andrew
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Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series!
Current
'13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto
Previous
'04 04 E60 545i SE Auto
'03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen)
'98 S E39 523i SE Auto
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Toxic
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 14-October-2003
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 841
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Posted: 10-September-2004 at 08:35 |
I found the guts of a tree in my inlets last week. I'd say they were never cleaned out.
I heard some body before found a couple of smelly socks under the kick panels on the drivers side. Took months to find them...
(if I ever find the b&5t&rd who put them there...I'll  )
Hey Homer...you're talkin out loud again...DOH!!!
Edited by Toxic
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Tom
E39 1997 523i
Oxford Green (Sold)
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Bad Smell
