[notnow]

My cabin filter was changed under warranty a few weeks ago and it smells probably even worse than before. I looked at the filter and it is extremely clean so I don't know what else to look for.

It smells so bad that I don't even use it anymore even when it is 35C/95F outside.

I heard using Lysol or A/C bacteria remover or alike works for some people, but others say they make it worse.

Any suggestions?

[Phil325i]

You've got bacteria in your AC system. If it were me, I'd employ the services of an AC specialist...

[floydarogers]

Probably the drain in the a/c system is plugged. If you search around for Lysol and a/c or hvac you can probably find the DIY's for cleaning it.

[bhmax16]

At the garage we used to use an antibacteria/antimicrobial cleaner that we sprayed through the windshield cowl, allowing the blower motor to push the vapor through the system (make sure the car doors/windows are open while doing this so you don't fill the cabin up with cleaner smell). Worked like a charm

[notnow]

Thanks, will try spraying it.

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by bhmax16

At the garage we used to use an antibacteria/antimicrobial cleaner that we sprayed through the windshield cowl, allowing the blower motor to push the vapor through the system (make sure the car doors/windows are open while doing this so you don't fill the cabin up with cleaner smell). Worked like a charm

Thanks for the tip. Do you have a particular antibacteria cleaner you use?

Also, how often you have to do this to maintain good smell?

[bhmax16]

Originally Posted by GoRomeo

Thanks for the tip. Do you have a particular antibacteria cleaner you use?

Also, how often you have to do this to maintain good smell?

Unfortunately I've been out of the auto industry for about 5 years now, so I don't recall the product we used. I'm still buddies with the service manager and talk to him from time to time, so I'll try to ping him and see if he remembers (he runs a small engine business out of his house now).

As for frequency, we normally did it on an as-needed basis, and I don't recall ever having to treat a car more than once

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by bhmax16

Unfortunately I've been out of the auto industry for about 5 years now, so I don't recall the product we used. I'm still buddies with the service manager and talk to him from time to time, so I'll try to ping him and see if he remembers (he runs a small engine business out of his house now).

As for frequency, we normally did it on an as-needed basis, and I don't recall ever having to treat a car more than once

I see, ok cool and thanks!

[SLV335I]

I used the product below and it worked great. Still no smell and its been two months now. Very easy. Just run the tube in the center dash vent and make sure you only have the front vents selected in the car before spraying. Comes with instructions.

http://www.amazon.com/1Z-Einszett-96...+Klima+Cleaner

[QUiKSR20]

Originally Posted by SLV335I

I used the product below and it worked great. Still no smell and its been two months now. Very easy. Just run the tube in the center dash vent and make sure you only have the front vents selected in the car before spraying. Comes with instructions.

http://www.amazon.com/1Z-Einszett-96...+Klima+Cleaner

I second the Klima Cleaner, I used it on my older car ( non BMW ) and it worked like a champ..

[AlanAZ]

I found this thread on using Klima Cleaner on E90s:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=536605

[RallyRcrr]

If none of the other suggestions work for you consider using an ozone generator. I've used it on two vehicles now and it completely removed a smokers smell from my BMW and little toddler funk from an SUV. Both cars smelled extremely fresh and clean.

I bought the one in the link below, but any will work. It sounds like vodoo magic at first, but the science behind it is sound. Most smells in a car are organic in nature (body odor, cigarette smoke, food, etc.). Ozone is highly reactive to many organic compounds and strips off carbon in the reaction. It doesn't mask smells, but on the molecular level changes what's causing the smell. I decided to try it after I read that this is what the hotel industry uses to remove smells from rooms, and smoke residuals from fires.

http://www.amazon.com/Shock-Treatmen...=forever+ozone

It's also possible to rent these machines. I ran a 7000mg/hr unit in my car with the windows up, engine running, with the a/c on full blast. I let it run for 30 min. It smells like ozone for the next day or so. You have to let it air out. After it's done airing out your car smells like new, or I should say doesn't smell at all. I wouldn't endorse this if it hadn't worked great twice now.

[SLV335I]

Originally Posted by RallyRcrr

If none of the other suggestions work for you consider using an ozone generator. I've used it on two vehicles now and it completely removed a smokers smell from my BMW and little toddler funk from an SUV. Both cars smelled extremely fresh and clean.

I bought the one in the link below, but any will work. It sounds like vodoo magic at first, but the science behind it is sound. Most smells in a car are organic in nature (body odor, cigarette smoke, food, etc.). Ozone is highly reactive to many organic compounds and strips off carbon in the reaction. It doesn't mask smells, but on the molecular level changes what's causing the smell. I decided to try it after I read that this is what the hotel industry uses to remove smells from rooms, and smoke residuals from fires.

http://www.amazon.com/Shock-Treatmen...=forever+ozone

It's also possible to rent these machines. I ran a 7000mg/hr unit in my car with the windows up, engine running, with the a/c on full blast. I let it run for 30 min. It smells like ozone for the next day or so. You have to let it air out. After it's done airing out your car smells like new, or I should say doesn't smell at all. I wouldn't endorse this if it hadn't worked great twice now.

This is interesting. Thanks for the post.

[RallyRcrr]

Originally Posted by SLV335I

This is interesting. Thanks for the post.

No prob. I was really suprised at the results.

If the OP was in the area, I'd let him borrow the machine I bought. If there's anyone in the Seattle/Tacoma area just let me know. I'm more than happy to share.

[SLV335I]

Originally Posted by RallyRcrr

No prob. I was really suprised at the results.

If the OP was in the area, I'd let him borrow the machine I bought. If there's anyone in the Seattle/Tacoma area just let me know. I'm more than happy to share.

What does Ozone smell like after its done?

[RallyRcrr]

Originally Posted by SLV335I

What does Ozone smell like after its done?

Smell: two part answer.

The first part is that when ozone (o3) around it smells like concentrated pool cleaner.

Second, because of its short half life it's literally gone in 24-72hrs which at that point it smell like nothing because its no longer around.

How is it no longer around?

Like previously mentioned ozone is highly reactive and unstable so it has a natural tendency to react with everything around it. Ozone (o3) has a very short half life in the presence of oxygen (o2). It reacts with oxygen itself so it doesn't last any longer than 2-3 days in the most concentrated of applications. In water its half life is measured in minutes. It decomposes from o3 into o2. Here's the stoichiometric reaction:

O3 + OH- → HO2- + O2

General Links on Ozone

Ozone FAQ
http://www.lenntech.com/library/ozone/faq/faqozone.htm

Ozone Decomposition
http://www.lenntech.com/library/ozon...omposition.htm

**Side note about ozone safety. Treated areas are safe after it has had a chance to air out. It's generally not harmful in mild quantities, but the quantities needed to perform deodorization of a small room or vehicle are large so you would not want to be inside. It can cause breathing problems because ozone itself can irritate lungs, and the generating process displaces all the oxygen in the area because it uses oxygen in the air to create ozone.

[Taxvictim]

I have also used the 1Z (Einszett) Klima cleaner on a used Lincoln Navigator. It worked well, but not perfectly. There was some residual smell, but not nearly as bad as before. I should have ordered two cans.

Griot's Garage makes a product that you open, add water, then leave in the car.

http://www.autopia.org/reviews/censu...ls&itemid=1781

On the theory that might be just chlorine, I put a bowl of Clorox in my daughters old Corolla for five hours in the daylight with the windows up. That helped get rid of some of the musty odors, but doing this often might fade your interior.