[jmhumr]

I’ve noticed that every time I use my tailgate there’s a burnt rubber smell. Could this be from the electronic lifting mechanism? Is this normal?

[BMW JV]

You could check if there is something on the exhaust causing the smell.
Or if the exhaust is too near to any body parts so they heat up, the material at the inside can smelly.
Or you could use a thermal imager to find hotspots in the trunk after a ride to locate some smelly areas and by this, may be the cause of your problem.

[motordavid]

We have a similar very odd smell in my CEO's '17, every time we open the rear hatch.

Doesn't matter if it's in the dark garage, in the sun, has been driven or is sitting...

Dlr said they "don't smell anything"...

A very plastic-like chemical smell; I thought it might be 'new car plastic stuff', but I still smell the odor 9 months later.

I have torn apart the rear hatch area, looked under car and on and on. Was almost glad to read it was not 'just me', but no idea WTF is the source of the smell.
GL, mD

[Eziv]

Originally Posted by jmhumr

I’ve noticed that every time I use my tailgate there’s a burnt rubber smell. Could this be from the electronic lifting mechanism? Is this normal?

I started noticing the same thing lately. I thought I was the only one but am happy to find your post.

Anyway, from what I have observed, the smell is not coming from the wheel arches (outside) or from the the very below (the smell is not coming from under the false floor). It seems to be coming from the right side wheel arch under the boot trim.

I have no time to have it checked by the dealer but if you find a solution, please let me know.

Thanks.

[jsdh89j9ijkL]

You're not alone. Though I think it might be coming from the plastic section that houses the tailgate bump stop.

[motordavid]

Took my CEO's '17 in for its first dlr/'official' oil change at ~ 10,000 miles per the dash indicator. The very soft feeling, non-linear brake pedal feel and the chemical smell from rear trunk area were on the list...

The SA said a tech drove it and brake feel is 'normal' for this car and that the tech did not notice any smell.

I walked out with him post service, opened the trunk and had him smell the area: he said he couldn't smell anything.

I can live with the secret aroma, though I think the brake pedal feel may be the worst pedal action I have felt in 55 yrs of lots of different cars/m'cycles.

That brake pedal feel is annoying at best, almost dangerous in stop and go in terms of 'action', feel, braking...

My CEO likes her car; I remain ambivalent.
GL, mD

[yeesx1]

Yes, I've had this smell since I bought it.