Turning off AC before the car=no foul smell

drvai · 03-27-2011, 10:01 AM

Im sure a lot of people have the A/C smell after turning the A/C on. Lasts for a short period of time, but is really bad. Despite the fact I have used the 1Z A/C cleaning system, and even changing the filter, the smell eventually comes back.

I have noticed that if I turn the AC off a minute or even seconds before turning the car OFF, the smell goes away.

I wonder why this happens. In the past, I was recommended to turn the actual AC off but leave the fan so "it dries up".

any clue?

gblansten · 03-27-2011, 10:58 AM

Well that sucks. I've got this with my C63 and was hoping not to encounter it with the M3.

Blue Liquid · 03-29-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drvai

In the past, I was recommended to turn the actual AC off but leave the fan so "it dries up".

I've heard the same. Don't recall exactly why though. And I even wonder if it still applies to modern cars.

slimflem · 03-29-2011, 07:13 PM

Mold??

Cold Steel · 03-29-2011, 08:24 PM

I haven't even used my A/C yet. Live in Canada, picked up my car last October, still using the heated seats!!!

kibosh · 03-29-2011, 09:53 PM

from what I have heard, the AC compressor condenses water into a spot that doesn't drain fast enough / well enough and tends to mold. Turning off the AC a few minutes before you arrive to your destination will air out that spot or evaporate off the water maybe?

serranot · 03-30-2011, 05:00 AM

Seconds? If anything, this is coincidence. There is no technical reason why this would be true, and I doubt even "minutes" would do anything. If there is water in there, it's not going away in minutes unless there are a lot of minutes.

Mike V8 · 03-30-2011, 09:30 AM

Turn off the A/C and let the fan run for a bit before turning off the car.

sameh · 03-30-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike V8

Turn off the A/C and let the fan run for a bit before turning off the car.

Yep that also helps resolving the enbarrasing water dripping over the exhaust and making noises in the middle of a grocery shop parking lot..

Ctm309 · 03-30-2011, 05:03 PM

also try turning on the heat for 2 or 3 min. it will help to dry it out.

sumbiz · 03-30-2011, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ctm309

also try turning on the heat for 2 or 3 min. it will help to dry it out.

That's what I do and it works. I had an S4 that smelled the same.

Dannys M3 · 03-30-2011, 11:12 PM

I rarely have that musty smell and with all my cars what I have done is use the AC in continuous interior recirculation. This will deter the formation of moisture within your air condtioning system.

03-27-2011, 10:01 AM	#1
drvai Major 138 Rep 1,274 Posts Drives: E92 M3 AW Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Turning off AC before the car=no foul smell Im sure a lot of people have the A/C smell after turning the A/C on. Lasts for a short period of time, but is really bad. Despite the fact I have used the 1Z A/C cleaning system, and even changing the filter, the smell eventually comes back. I have noticed that if I turn the AC off a minute or even seconds before turning the car OFF, the smell goes away. I wonder why this happens. In the past, I was recommended to turn the actual AC off but leave the fan so "it dries up". any clue?
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03-27-2011, 10:58 AM	#2
gblansten Brigadier General 2013 Rep 4,255 Posts Drives: 23 Tesla S Plaid Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Thick ascending limb iTrader: (0)	Well that sucks. I've got this with my C63 and was hoping not to encounter it with the M3.
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03-29-2011, 07:13 PM	#4
slimflem get driving! 10 Rep 260 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Mold??
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03-29-2011, 08:24 PM	#5
Cold Steel Cutter 4 Rep 34 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	I haven't even used my A/C yet. Live in Canada, picked up my car last October, still using the heated seats!!! __________________ 2011 M3 (E90) DCT Le Mans Blue on Fox Red
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03-29-2011, 09:53 PM	#6
kibosh Private First Class 3 Rep 117 Posts Drives: 2011.5 E92 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	from what I have heard, the AC compressor condenses water into a spot that doesn't drain fast enough / well enough and tends to mold. Turning off the AC a few minutes before you arrive to your destination will air out that spot or evaporate off the water maybe? __________________ 2011.5 E92
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03-30-2011, 05:00 AM	#7
serranot Lieutenant 324 Rep 488 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Middletown, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW E90 M3 [10.00]	Seconds? If anything, this is coincidence. There is no technical reason why this would be true, and I doubt even "minutes" would do anything. If there is water in there, it's not going away in minutes unless there are a lot of minutes.
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03-30-2011, 09:30 AM	#8
Mike V8 First Lieutenant 24 Rep 398 Posts Drives: '09 E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: So. Cal. iTrader: (0)	Turn off the A/C and let the fan run for a bit before turning off the car. __________________ "...it's not about the money and not about the brand of the car, it's about handling,performance and passion......And that, no other car has all together like an M3........when you talk about the most complete car the M is invincible." --Tony Kanaan.
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03-30-2011, 05:03 PM	#10
Ctm309 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 361 Posts Drives: '09 M3 AW Carbon roof DCT '11 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Norwalk, Ct./Port Washington, N.Y. iTrader: (7)	also try turning on the heat for 2 or 3 min. it will help to dry it out.
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03-30-2011, 11:12 PM	#12
Dannys M3 Captain 71 Rep 733 Posts Drives: Jaguar F Type R Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Florida iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 M3 [10.00]	I rarely have that musty smell and with all my cars what I have done is use the AC in continuous interior recirculation. This will deter the formation of moisture within your air condtioning system.
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