Cabin air smells like..... - BMW Forum

ayev8r · 08-19-2010, 09:36 PM

color crayons! My first BMW. Is this normal? It's ok for a little while, but after the A/C gets to pumping the cabin really gets to smelling like crayons. The cabin air filter was just replaced. I know old German cars used to smell like gas, and I think I'd rather smell that....than this smell!

What gives?:rof

BimmerE39 · 08-19-2010, 11:29 PM

It sounds like you have a condensation problem. If you have ever looked at the air channel on the E46 with the cabin filter removed you can see the potential for water to pool up. Obviously, this creates a favorable environment for mold and nasty things to grow. My suggestion is to spray some sort of air freshener into the ducting and make sure you turn your AC off 5-10 minutes ahead of time so the air in the ducts can warm up and not sit stagnant. This way you will minimize your condensation issues.

ayev8r · 08-20-2010, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerE39

My suggestion is to spray some sort of air freshener into the ducting and make sure you turn your AC off 5-10 minutes ahead of time so the air in the ducts can warm up and not sit stagnant.

HaHa! It's 100 everyday here in Georgia!!! That long and I'd be dead!

I'll check for that condensation. I was gonna Febreze the ducts today.

BimmerE39 · 08-20-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayev8r

HaHa! It's 100 everyday here in Georgia!!! That long and I'd be dead!

I'll check for that condensation. I was gonna Febreze the ducts today.

That's probably not helping either when the air outside is that much warmer. It's not all that bad though, at least you still have AC. My FSU burnt out in my car and I've been too lazy to replace it.

Febreeze would cover the smell temporarily but you might also want to spray some kind of bio static solution into the evaporator for good measure. Wurth makes a product that does this so I would look into that as well.

I also thought the condensation issue may also be caused because the drain tubes for the air conditioner evaporator may be blocked which is allowing the condensation to build up.

Best of luck!

bighorns · 08-21-2010, 10:32 AM

Or you could lay some bacon up there across the filter!

k.sidlosky · 08-21-2010, 11:33 AM

That's like a natural smell, this is my fourth German car and they all smell the same. My two vw's and also both my bimmers. I was at the dealer ship and the new ones smell the same.

Atleast till I stink them up!

bighorns · 08-22-2010, 02:13 AM

You admit to this? My wife and I have this joke: the moon-roofis known as 'the escape hatch', and its sole purpose is to release foul smells!

jjguzman_85 · 08-22-2010, 01:10 PM

Mine smells the same. I don't even smell it anymore, but whenever someone gets in my car....first thing they say is...."it smells like crayons in here". From what I understand, its from the adhesive BMW uses for like the headliner. I've tried almost everything to get rid of it, but I think its there to stay. Mostly I smell it when its been sitting in th sun all day, I suggest parking it in a shady area or garage.