Rotten egg smell in cabin

[iDave]

Last couple of days after starting the car up I get a rotten egg smell in the cabin , nothing in the car as don't go shopping etc in it

Any ideas ?

[m7ammed]

Maybe something is dead in the engine compartment or stuck under the car? Have you tried ti know which part of the car it is emitting from?

[Em/1]

Originally Posted by m7ammed

Maybe something is dead in the engine compartment or stuck under the car? Have you tried ti know which part of the car it is emitting from?

Sounds like hi sulfur content petrol.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Em/1

Sounds like hi sulfur content petrol.

+1. And... we have a winner!

Try switching fuel brands. That ought to get rid of the smell. Its due to the fuel you are using has very high sulfur in it(the sulfur smell is a byproduct of the cat). Typically premium fuels do not have as much as mid grade or regular octanes. I would try a "top tier" premium fuel.

Sometimes you just need to put some mileage on your car too. Typically cats only produce sulfur when they are brand new.

[iDave]

Thanks will try the fuel , although always use shell v power

Smell is worse when first starting and move off and when coming to a standstill

Would a long spirited drive help ?

[ozinaldo]

Not an expert on egg smells in car, I would follow what Dack suggests on that one. About a "long spirited drive", well it always helps one way or another doesn't it? At least you can really enjoy the car and as a worst case scenario, even if the smell remains at the end of the drive, you also may get used to it

[m7ammed]

I'm from Saudi we don't have brands for petrol just two octane levels (95 & 91) and both are dead cheap :P

As for spirited drive at least you would burn the bad fuel and could replace it with new better smelling fuel, no?

[iDave]

Yes thinking about it last two days only made short trips so never got fully up to temperature so have it a good blast tonight , will see of its still smelly in the morning !

[m3kerry]

A/C could be it too. Mold can grow in there.

[iDave]

Yes thought of ac , but putting air con on does not smell , I get a strong odour starting car and reversing off drive then another strong odour when coming to a stop , a few smells in between but not as strong

[Upturn666]

iDave, mine does this every now and again. It really was bad and quite embarrassing at times. It does go eventually. Im not sure what causes it but i always found it worse when the air con is on. My car gets used as a daily drive and the smell has now gone. Enjoy the motor on the yorkshire roads, i do.

[iDave]

Originally Posted by Upturn666

iDave, mine does this every now and again. It really was bad and quite embarrassing at times. It does go eventually. Im not sure what causes it but i always found it worse when the air con is on. My car gets used as a daily drive and the smell has now gone. Enjoy the motor on the yorkshire roads, i do.

Thanks for the input , nice to hear its just not me !

[Shost]

Originally Posted by iDave

Would a long spirited drive help ?

Long spirited drives always help!

[Dan Parker]

Could you have bought eggs and now they are rotten?

Sorry, had to...

[RimasRS]

I can't believe that no one of you guys knew what does that smell mean...

CLOGGED CATALYST
catalytic converters

[fastauto]

if your single you better get rid of the smell sooner than later. not many girls i know are going to want to hop in an egg smelling car.

[iDave]

Just to update this bad smell returned with a vengeance !

No longer a bad smell but enough to make you throw up

After searching under the bonnet the smell was coming from the washer fluid reservoir , so I removed this and flushed / bleached and thoroughly cleaned out ,now the smell had totally gone

So 2 things really , I use bmw screen wash , which supposedly has alcohol to kill any germs etc , so how did this happen ?

And also have you checked your screen wash reservoir ? Does it smell ?

So if your washer wipers go weak then your reservoir is full of some build up of slime !

[Upturn666]

All sounds logical. Well cured

[DooBs]

Originally Posted by iDave

Just to update this bad smell returned with a vengeance !

No longer a bad smell but enough to make you throw up

After searching under the bonnet the smell was coming from the washer fluid reservoir , so I removed this and flushed / bleached and thoroughly cleaned out ,now the smell had totally gone

So 2 things really , I use bmw screen wash , which supposedly has alcohol to kill any germs etc , so how did this happen ?

And also have you checked your screen wash reservoir ? Does it smell ?

So if your washer wipers go weak then your reservoir is full of some build up of slime !

Actually had this happen with a non bmw in the past. flushed out and replaced with new fluid and scent never returned and never happened again. how or why that occurred is still a mystery haha

[Steve Works]

Originally Posted by Dan Parker

Could you have bought eggs and now they are rotten?

Sorry, had to...

Good one someone had to say it.
Anyway...I really never heard of such a long lasting smell...so I assume it's from something that you put into you car regularly...oil or fuel. But if I were you I'd have the car serviced. Something is clearly messed up somewhere.
_____________________________
Steve Works
Airvita

[Jezzer]

Originally Posted by Steve Works

Good one someone had to say it.
Anyway...I really never heard of such a long lasting smell...so I assume it's from something that you put into you car regularly...oil or fuel. But if I were you I'd have the car serviced. Something is clearly messed up somewhere.
_____________________________
Steve Works
Airvita

Good first post lol, did you read the whole thread? It was the windscreen washer fluid in the resevoir.

[Hobbe]

Missing cat found. Smell gone.