Funny Smell Once in Awhile

Snyperx · 02-01-2013, 12:25 PM

So I was driving at highway speeds and all of a sudden I got a waft of what I thought was the smell of diesel exhaust. I wasn't around any diesel vehicles or anything. Seems to happen every so often, but is not consistent. I of gotten the same smell when backing up and just driving in town also. Seems to clear after a few seconds.

Any ideas as to what this might be? As always thanks.

Gizm0 · 02-01-2013, 02:08 PM

Might want to say away from beans and Taco Bell for a while...

Snyperx · 02-01-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gizm0

Might want to say away from beans and Taco Bell for a while...

Derp!!!!

3s4u2 · 02-01-2013, 02:15 PM

Does it kind of smell like a sweet chemical smell? Possible antifreeze from your heat exchange leaking a bit???

Snyperx · 02-01-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3s4u2

Does it kind of smell like a sweet chemical smell? Possible antifreeze from your heat exchange leaking a bit???

No, not sweet at all. It really smells like diesel or almost, this will sound odd, charred meat smell. I don't know how else to describe.

Gizm0 · 02-01-2013, 02:23 PM

Sorry man, I had to when I read the title of your thread... Sorry I can't bring any intelligent information to your problem. Sure it smells exactly like diesel?

3s4u2 · 02-01-2013, 02:34 PM

"charred meat smell" Being serious here!

Have you run over any cats, dogs or squires lately? Are you having to add oil more often?

Snyperx · 02-01-2013, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3s4u2

"charred meat smell" Being serious here!

Have you run over any cats, dogs or squires lately? Are you having to add oil more often?

I know odd, couldn't describe it any other way. To answer your question, no, I have not had to add any oil. My oil indicator is still at max.

BmerMeUp · 02-01-2013, 03:22 PM

^that was my first thought - check the oil level. The inconsistent event sounds like a leak drip being vaporized by a hot surface and sucked into the cabin. Sweet would be antifreeze, charred could be any type of oil - tranny, brake, engine?

WreckerX5d · 02-01-2013, 03:28 PM

If you lived in New Jersey I would've had an answer for you..

I'm going to guess it would be a small oil leak though.

Snyperx · 02-01-2013, 03:38 PM

I do see fresh oil residue on the passenger side of the valve cover. I do plan on replacing the gasket this Spring.

BOBKUR · 02-01-2013, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snyperx

I do see fresh oil residue on the passenger side of the valve cover. I do plan on replacing the gasket this Spring.

When did you last change the cabin air filter.

Snyperx · 02-01-2013, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOBKUR

When did you last change the cabin air filter.

I believe it was November. I also changed my engine oil, rear diff oil, tansmission filter/oil, plugs, and belt.

3s4u2 · 02-03-2013, 08:18 AM

I am at a lose on this one, could you have driven by a hamburger joint or somthing?

ihc95 · 02-03-2013, 09:13 AM

I have this smell too. It's kind of like a sulfuric fart smell haha. It only happens when the car is relatively cold. I would guess its the valve cover gasket leaking a tiny drop of oil and it getting burnt up. I wouldn't worry about it.

Snyperx · 02-03-2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihc95

I have this smell too. It's kind of like a sulfuric fart smell haha. It only happens when the car is relatively cold. I would guess its the valve cover gasket leaking a tiny drop of oil and it getting burnt up. I wouldn't worry about it.

Yeah, that's what I keep coming back to also. As I mentioned before, I am looking at replacing the VC gasket this spring since the leak seems to be very tiny. My oil indicator still show s max so no noticeable oil lose.

Dos Plunder · 02-03-2013, 12:21 PM

I've actually got it every once and a while too but it always happens around other cars so I can never tell if it is mine or theirs! Ugh.

Snyperx · 02-04-2013, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dos Plunder

I've actually got it every once and a while too but it always happens around other cars so I can never tell if it is mine or theirs! Ugh.

That's exactly why I started the thread. I can't make outif it is diesel exhaust getting sucked into my car or its my car itself (ie oil leak).

Snyperx · 04-02-2013, 07:16 AM

UPDATE: You guys aren't going to believe this but when I took my splash shield off last night I found a roasted field mouse stuck to the shield. So I really was smelling charred meat.....mouse meat. I have no idea how it got up in there since I do not live in the country and have underground parking where I live. Never had a this with any car I have owned.

NGEE · 04-02-2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snyperx

UPDATE: You guys aren't going to believe this but when I took my splash shield off last night I found a roasted field mouse stuck to the shield. So I really was smelling charred meat.....mouse meat.

We wish to thank you for your service to the greater good.

Might want to inspect your cables - they love to chomp on that stuff. Maybe he fried himself biting into one.

Matrixolution · 04-02-2013, 08:57 AM

Did you have Google Nose open by any chance?

Dark_Knight_335 · 04-02-2013, 08:59 AM

Yea I get that too. Just ignoring it.

02-01-2013, 12:25 PM	#1
Snyperx Lieutenant 97 Rep 513 Posts Drives: 2006 325i (SOLD) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Stoughon, WI iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	Funny Smell Once in Awhile So I was driving at highway speeds and all of a sudden I got a waft of what I thought was the smell of diesel exhaust. I wasn't around any diesel vehicles or anything. Seems to happen every so often, but is not consistent. I of gotten the same smell when backing up and just driving in town also. Seems to clear after a few seconds. Any ideas as to what this might be? As always thanks. __________________ Regards, SnyperX
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02-01-2013, 02:08 PM	#2
Gizm0 Colonel 426 Rep 2,136 Posts Drives: 08 e92 335i 6mt Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Virginia iTrader: (1)	Might want to say away from beans and Taco Bell for a while...
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02-01-2013, 02:15 PM	#4
3s4u2 Beamer Mantic 82 Rep 1,191 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Prem Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Does it kind of smell like a sweet chemical smell? Possible antifreeze from your heat exchange leaking a bit??? __________________ 2006 325i 2006 M5 2008 X5 4.8i 2014 X5 50i M-Pkg
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02-01-2013, 02:23 PM	#6
Gizm0 Colonel 426 Rep 2,136 Posts Drives: 08 e92 335i 6mt Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Virginia iTrader: (1)	Sorry man, I had to when I read the title of your thread... Sorry I can't bring any intelligent information to your problem. Sure it smells exactly like diesel?
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02-01-2013, 02:34 PM	#7
3s4u2 Beamer Mantic 82 Rep 1,191 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Prem Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	"charred meat smell" Being serious here! Have you run over any cats, dogs or squires lately? Are you having to add oil more often? __________________ 2006 325i 2006 M5 2008 X5 4.8i 2014 X5 50i M-Pkg
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02-01-2013, 03:22 PM	#9
BmerMeUp Lieutenant 32 Rep 447 Posts Drives: Cinderella: 2008 E91 328xi Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	^that was my first thought - check the oil level. The inconsistent event sounds like a leak drip being vaporized by a hot surface and sucked into the cabin. Sweet would be antifreeze, charred could be any type of oil - tranny, brake, engine?
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02-01-2013, 03:28 PM	#10
WreckerX5d Warrant Officer 375 Rep 1,341 Posts Drives: Deezul Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (4)	If you lived in New Jersey I would've had an answer for you.. I'm going to guess it would be a small oil leak though. __________________ Deleted, ATM I/C and tuned by B.R.R.
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02-01-2013, 03:38 PM	#11
Snyperx Lieutenant 97 Rep 513 Posts Drives: 2006 325i (SOLD) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Stoughon, WI iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	I do see fresh oil residue on the passenger side of the valve cover. I do plan on replacing the gasket this Spring. __________________ Regards, SnyperX
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02-03-2013, 08:18 AM	#14
3s4u2 Beamer Mantic 82 Rep 1,191 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Prem Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	I am at a lose on this one, could you have driven by a hamburger joint or somthing? __________________ 2006 325i 2006 M5 2008 X5 4.8i 2014 X5 50i M-Pkg
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02-03-2013, 09:13 AM	#15
ihc95 Major 145 Rep 1,314 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i, 2018 Mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i Coupe [0.00]	I have this smell too. It's kind of like a sulfuric fart smell haha. It only happens when the car is relatively cold. I would guess its the valve cover gasket leaking a tiny drop of oil and it getting burnt up. I wouldn't worry about it.
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02-03-2013, 12:21 PM	#17
Dos Plunder Private 17 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Montego Blue Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Boise Id iTrader: (0)	I've actually got it every once and a while too but it always happens around other cars so I can never tell if it is mine or theirs! Ugh. __________________ 07 BMW 335i E90 Montego Blue.
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04-02-2013, 07:16 AM	#19
Snyperx Lieutenant 97 Rep 513 Posts Drives: 2006 325i (SOLD) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Stoughon, WI iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	UPDATE: You guys aren't going to believe this but when I took my splash shield off last night I found a roasted field mouse stuck to the shield. So I really was smelling charred meat.....mouse meat. I have no idea how it got up in there since I do not live in the country and have underground parking where I live. Never had a this with any car I have owned. __________________ Regards, SnyperX
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04-02-2013, 08:57 AM	#21
Matrixolution Enlisted Member 0 Rep 44 Posts Drives: E90 xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Did you have Google Nose open by any chance?
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04-02-2013, 08:59 AM	#22
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1112 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Yea I get that too. Just ignoring it.
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