Smells awful inside the cabin.

slowlyprogressing · 07-12-2016, 05:42 PM

Hello.
I have this problem no matter what season it is, mind you, i live in California so most of the time the weather is warm. When the car has been driven for a while, you'll start to hear a fan run. From my research, I have concluded that the fan runs to disperse the heat trapped in the engine bay. However, it'll start to smell awful inside the cabin. Most of the time, it's unbearable to sit inside without the A/C running. Also, when the car has been running for a while and I park it in a garage, I'll come back in 3 hours and it smells very musty. Is there a solution to this?

Thanks in advance!

F22_Raptor · 07-12-2016, 05:52 PM

Have you changed the cabin filter?

elons335i · 07-12-2016, 05:55 PM

Have you had your door actuators or window motors replaced recently?

MightyMouseTech · 07-12-2016, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F22_Raptor

Have you changed the cabin filter?

This!

Good idea to let the HVAC run with the A/C off for several minutes before you shut the car off. Prevents all that mold from growing on the evaporator.

satz · 07-12-2016, 06:48 PM

and if changing the microfilter doesn't work, you may have mould on the actual evaporator. I had this issue in my Golf GTI and could never resolve it. But it usually happened when I would start up the AC, just for the first few minutes.

Also make sure you use a good quality HVAC filter, with carbon to absorb smells.

Maybe also run an HVAC cleaner through your system?

Or it could be mould on some damp carpet (maybe from a water leak under windscreen or sunroof?)

Also...make sure you're running the AC on 'fresh', not recirc...

08njSTEP · 07-12-2016, 07:16 PM

Remove dead hooker from trunk.....FIXED!

mike-y · 07-12-2016, 07:42 PM

also, do you leave your AC on recirculate? that could contribute to getting the musty smell as it seals off the system from outside air.

whenever I run the AC, I always change it to outside air once the car cools down. and then I turn off the compressor and let the fan run for a minute or two before I get to my destination to dry everything out. been doing this for very 10 years and have never had a musty smell problem.

GATORB8 · 07-12-2016, 07:57 PM

Did you ever find the solution to you're "gurgling" problem?

Does it smell sweet? Could it be a leaking heater core?

slowlyprogressing · 07-13-2016, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F22_Raptor

Have you changed the cabin filter?

Not yet. I'm trying to figure out alternative solutions whilst waiting for the parts to arrive.

slowlyprogressing · 07-13-2016, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elons335i

Have you had your door actuators or window motors replaced recently?

Not too sure one that one. Did get into an accident about a year ago. Had to replace the whole drivers side of the car including front and rear bumpers. Might have to check whether any of the things you mentioned were replaced. Any specific reason as to ask why those were replaced?

slowlyprogressing · 07-13-2016, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

and if changing the microfilter doesn't work, you may have mould on the actual evaporator. I had this issue in my Golf GTI and could never resolve it. But it usually happened when I would start up the AC, just for the first few minutes.

Also make sure you use a good quality HVAC filter, with carbon to absorb smells.

Maybe also run an HVAC cleaner through your system?

Or it could be mould on some damp carpet (maybe from a water leak under windscreen or sunroof?)

Also...make sure you're running the AC on 'fresh', not recirc...

I've never came across a good HVAC cleaner that people agreed on. Do you have any recommendations based on your experience with them? Also, it's defenitely not coming from a damp carpet because the smell smells like my engine bay after its been running. I try to always avoid recirc in any of the cars I drive.

The smell is exactly the same as after your car has been running for a while and you open the hood. The gush of hot air smells almost identical to the smell im speaking of.

slowlyprogressing · 07-13-2016, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GATORB8

Did you ever find the solution to you're "gurgling" problem?

Does it smell sweet? Could it be a leaking heater core?

I replaced all the pulleys and the noise seemed to have gone.

Also, the smell is defenitely not sweet. Smells exactly like a dirty engine bay mixed with hot air.

F22_Raptor · 07-13-2016, 02:19 AM

When you do get your cabin filter, put some dryer sheets on it when installing. Give the car the smell of fresh laundry, and who doesn't love that smell lol

Willsbma · 07-13-2016, 07:02 AM

Meguiar's G16402 Whole Car Air Refresher Odor Eliminator (New Car Scent) - 2.5 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G49DVGG..._R2IHxbTWHN9WN

GATORB8 · 07-13-2016, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowlyprogressing

I replaced all the pulleys and the noise seemed to have gone.

Also, the smell is defenitely not sweet. Smells exactly like a dirty engine bay mixed with hot air.

I would check the area around the cabin filter. Maybe a seal is missing or your cabin filter housing is cracked, causing the HVAC Blower to suck in air out of the engine bay instead of through the cowl.

Volasko · 07-13-2016, 09:32 AM

If you have the cabin air filter removed you can try spraying some disinfectant Lysol spray into the air inlet while you have AC on and recirculation off. Spraying the Lysol into the air inlet will help coat the evap. coil and kill off any bacteria that builds up. If you run the AC full and don't try and dry the coil off before you shut the car down, you will get this smell. It won't go away with a new cabin air filter, the smell is coming from the evap. coil which is after the filter. Let it run a while to ensure a good cleaning. Make sure your windows are open to air out the strong smell of lysol.

TheBingoBalls · 07-13-2016, 02:38 PM

Cabin filter. I've got so used to the smell when I finally came around to changing it (190,000km), after a week or two, my car didn't "smell" like it did. The cabin filter is such an overlooked and underrated maintenance item!

slowlyprogressing · 07-13-2016, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

Cabin filter. I've got so used to the smell when I finally came around to changing it (190,000km), after a week or two, my car didn't "smell" like it did. The cabin filter is such an overlooked and underrated maintenance item!

I hope my problem is as small as the cabin filter. I bought the car at 51k miles and currently at 68k in a littler over 2 years and never replaced the cabin filter. I am not sure whether the PO did either so hopefully that does the trick.

slowlyprogressing · 07-13-2016, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volasko

If you have the cabin air filter removed you can try spraying some disinfectant Lysol spray into the air inlet while you have AC on and recirculation off. Spraying the Lysol into the air inlet will help coat the evap. coil and kill off any bacteria that builds up. If you run the AC full and don't try and dry the coil off before you shut the car down, you will get this smell. It won't go away with a new cabin air filter, the smell is coming from the evap. coil which is after the filter. Let it run a while to ensure a good cleaning. Make sure your windows are open to air out the strong smell of lysol.

I'll try spraying some lysol whilst changing the cabin filter. I hope that really does the trick. Does any spray bottle of lysol work or would you recommend a specific one?

slowlyprogressing · 07-13-2016, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GATORB8

I would check the area around the cabin filter. Maybe a seal is missing or your cabin filter housing is cracked, causing the HVAC Blower to suck in air out of the engine bay instead of through the cowl.

It'll probably be easier to check around with the cabin filter off, correct?

GATORB8 · 07-13-2016, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowlyprogressing

It'll probably be easier to check around with the cabin filter off, correct?

Yes. The cabin filter cover is just 6 screws and lifts off, then you'll see the filter and it's housing. Takes a couple minutes.

Walkthrough: http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...eplacement.htm

patents · 07-13-2016, 09:40 PM

I once bought a car with 100k miles, it was 7 years old, and the cabin air filter had never been changed. Even on the highest fan setting the air felt like it was barely coming out.

Is there an "afterblow" setting that can be set/coded? Basically what is does is after you turn off your car, about ten minutes later, it runs the HVAC fan for a few minutes to blow the moisture out of the evaporator. I had an old Saturn with this feature.

07-12-2016, 05:42 PM	#1
slowlyprogressing New Member 2 Rep 24 Posts Drives: e90 328i LCI Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Smells awful inside the cabin. Hello. I have this problem no matter what season it is, mind you, i live in California so most of the time the weather is warm. When the car has been driven for a while, you'll start to hear a fan run. From my research, I have concluded that the fan runs to disperse the heat trapped in the engine bay. However, it'll start to smell awful inside the cabin. Most of the time, it's unbearable to sit inside without the A/C running. Also, when the car has been running for a while and I park it in a garage, I'll come back in 3 hours and it smells very musty. Is there a solution to this? Thanks in advance!
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07-12-2016, 05:52 PM	#2
F22_Raptor Lieutenant 118 Rep 424 Posts Drives: 2008 328i Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Touring CA iTrader: (0)	Have you changed the cabin filter?
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07-12-2016, 05:55 PM	#3
elons335i Lieutenant 108 Rep 474 Posts Drives: E61 6MT SG \| Night Vision Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: usa iTrader: (0)	Have you had your door actuators or window motors replaced recently? __________________ ...
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07-12-2016, 06:48 PM	#5
satz Lieutenant Colonel 336 Rep 1,642 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: A land down under iTrader: (0)	and if changing the microfilter doesn't work, you may have mould on the actual evaporator. I had this issue in my Golf GTI and could never resolve it. But it usually happened when I would start up the AC, just for the first few minutes. Also make sure you use a good quality HVAC filter, with carbon to absorb smells. Maybe also run an HVAC cleaner through your system? Or it could be mould on some damp carpet (maybe from a water leak under windscreen or sunroof?) Also...make sure you're running the AC on 'fresh', not recirc... Last edited by satz; 07-12-2016 at 07:37 PM..
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07-12-2016, 07:16 PM	#6
08njSTEP Captain 795 Rep 762 Posts Drives: '07 335i, '66 SS396 Chevelle Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Manchester, NH iTrader: (0)	Remove dead hooker from trunk.....FIXED!
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07-12-2016, 07:42 PM	#7
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	also, do you leave your AC on recirculate? that could contribute to getting the musty smell as it seals off the system from outside air. whenever I run the AC, I always change it to outside air once the car cools down. and then I turn off the compressor and let the fan run for a minute or two before I get to my destination to dry everything out. been doing this for very 10 years and have never had a musty smell problem.
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07-12-2016, 07:57 PM	#8
GATORB8 Captain 225 Rep 807 Posts Drives: 2011 335is 6MT Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335is [9.50]	Did you ever find the solution to you're "gurgling" problem? Does it smell sweet? Could it be a leaking heater core?
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07-13-2016, 02:19 AM	#13
F22_Raptor Lieutenant 118 Rep 424 Posts Drives: 2008 328i Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Touring CA iTrader: (0)	When you do get your cabin filter, put some dryer sheets on it when installing. Give the car the smell of fresh laundry, and who doesn't love that smell lol
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07-13-2016, 07:02 AM	#14
Willsbma First Lieutenant 77 Rep 330 Posts Drives: 07 328xi Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: 11703 iTrader: (0)	Meguiar's G16402 Whole Car Air Refresher Odor Eliminator (New Car Scent) - 2.5 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G49DVGG..._R2IHxbTWHN9WN
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07-13-2016, 09:32 AM	#16
Volasko Colonel 705 Rep 2,605 Posts Drives: 06 330i E90, 18 530xe G30 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 BMW 530e M Sport [9.00] 2006 BMW E90 330i [8.28]	If you have the cabin air filter removed you can try spraying some disinfectant Lysol spray into the air inlet while you have AC on and recirculation off. Spraying the Lysol into the air inlet will help coat the evap. coil and kill off any bacteria that builds up. If you run the AC full and don't try and dry the coil off before you shut the car down, you will get this smell. It won't go away with a new cabin air filter, the smell is coming from the evap. coil which is after the filter. Let it run a while to ensure a good cleaning. Make sure your windows are open to air out the strong smell of lysol.
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07-13-2016, 02:38 PM	#17
TheBingoBalls Brigadier General 3821 Rep 4,660 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 F36 BMW 440i x ... [0.00]	Cabin filter. I've got so used to the smell when I finally came around to changing it (190,000km), after a week or two, my car didn't "smell" like it did. The cabin filter is such an overlooked and underrated maintenance item!
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07-13-2016, 09:40 PM	#22
patents Lieutenant 164 Rep 598 Posts Drives: 2008 328i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Memphis, TN iTrader: (0)	I once bought a car with 100k miles, it was 7 years old, and the cabin air filter had never been changed. Even on the highest fan setting the air felt like it was barely coming out. Is there an "afterblow" setting that can be set/coded? Basically what is does is after you turn off your car, about ten minutes later, it runs the HVAC fan for a few minutes to blow the moisture out of the evaporator. I had an old Saturn with this feature.
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