07-31-2023, 11:05 AM | #1 |
New Member
6
Rep 8
Posts |
"Rotten egg" type smell from interior vents
Hi,
I have a 2019 530i. I've noticed that when I turn on the car I get a rotten egg type smell from the air vents. This lasts for a little while and then disappears. If I press the external air button (to allow the external air in) when I start the car the smell is not as bad. This has led me to believe that maybe it's mould etc built up in the air conditioning pipes that is causing the smell (I may be wrong but I hope someone can point me in the right direction). I have tried activating the auxiliary ventilation when I swith the car off so the fan run when the car is switched off. This makes a little bit if difference in that the smell is nowhere as bad when I restart the car but its still there initially. How do I getting rid of this smell? Thanks in advance. |
07-31-2023, 11:20 AM | #2 |
Lieutenant
183
Rep 416
Posts |
Try changing your cabin air filter. If it's been a long time, it may be building up some bacteria from the organic debris it has filtered out.
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-31-2023, 12:08 PM | #3 |
Major General
7338
Rep 6,749
Posts
Drives: '18 M550i|'21 X5|'03 540i
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Boston
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2013 VW Tiguan [0.00]
2015 Infiniti QX60 [0.00] 2021 BMW X5 [0.00] 2003 BMW 540i [0.00] 2018 BMW M550 [10.00] |
Any chance you are losing coolant or adding coolant every month or so? Although I would not describe my issue as rotten eggs, but I was "consuming coolant" and eventually the burn off from the leak presented itself as a nose burning and eye watering smell from the vents. When the car was moving, not so bad, when stopped, it was the worst.
Had the turbo coolant lines upgraded under warranty.
__________________
2018 M550ix|Carbon Black|Dinan Modifications|2003 540i|Jet Black|M-Sport|2021 X5 Mineral White
Prior BMW's: 1987 325e|1993 740i|1998 740il|2001 530i|2002 745li|2007 750li|2006 750li|2001 530i|2012 535xi| |
Appreciate
0
|
07-31-2023, 12:24 PM | #4 | |
New Member
6
Rep 8
Posts |
Quote:
My coolant level is okay and I have never had to top it up. The smell goes away after driving for around 5 mins. There is no warning light or unusual noises. Maybe, I'll try to change the cabin filter and see if that makes a difference. |
|
Appreciate
1
Joe-BMW337337.50 |
08-01-2023, 03:31 AM | #6 |
New Member
6
Rep 8
Posts |
Many thanks for all the replies and information. There are no warning lights on the dash and as the smell dissappears after around 5 mins I thought I'd check the windscreen washer fluid yesterday evening.
I opened the lid that you open to fill it and thought I'd see if I could smell anything and it was the same rotten egg smell. I've totally emptied it, refilled and emptied again. I've them refilled and I think it may have been the cause as there is no more smell coming through. I've started the car this morning and all seems good so i think it was the windscreen washer fluid. |
08-02-2023, 01:21 AM | #9 |
New Member
6
Rep 8
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-27-2023, 01:40 AM | #10 |
New Member
2
Rep 9
Posts |
I would never have thought of it either until somebody else mentioned it to me but I'd thought I'd update on here incase it helps someone else in the future.
Hi Sattyb, Any update with the bad smell issue? was it resolved by draining and replacing the washer fluid? Any idea how the washer fluid bad smell gets into the cabin? The inlet vent is behind the battery and I just don’t see the washer fluid reservoir leaking or boiling to create the bad smell. I’ve also read that it may be the battery when this starts getting bad and cannot hold the charge it leaks, the smell is more like sulfur, as it’s been described. Any update would be appreciated. Thanks
__________________
Vinniea
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-29-2023, 02:02 AM | #11 |
Captain
451
Rep 675
Posts |
Could
You be leaking refrigerant from your evaporator ? It’s back there and they are know to go out on our cars. Is your AC blowing cold ??
__________________
Sean
2016 X5 sDrive 35i 2018 M550i |
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2024, 02:02 AM | #12 |
New Member
2
Rep 9
Posts |
It took a while to figured out but the bad smell came from the auxiliary battery that is right in front of the air cabinet intake. This failure does not trigger an alarm, I’ve found out after reading the error codes using BimmerLink that reported the deplorable state of the auxiliary battery that measured only 2.97 volts. When the battery was draining it sent fumes that came in through the cabinet air intake.
__________________
Vinniea
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|