A/C stinks after use, does yours?

[azurribaggio]

After using the A/C I noticed that there is a foul odor : puke: afterwards when switching to the vents. It takes quite a long time for this odor to dissapate, what's the fastest way to get rid of this odor?

Please tell me your methods.

[Mr. The Edge]

no

[AB]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/search.php?searchid=668914

[docrobot]

Sometimes, mine smells like Wet Dog Hair.


Makes me want to go out to get a puppy...

[aginster]

The dealer told me the funky smell is caused by mildew in the inlet. Their recommendation is to spray Lysol, or something similar, into the filter area. It's under the hood close to the front windshield. Open the cover, pull out the filter, and spray Lysol toward the back of the inlet. Start the car and turn on the A/C--don't know if you really want to be sitting in the car when the Lysol starts coming through the vents. That should kill the mildew.

Sucks though. None of my other cars have had that problem.

[AndDown]

After using the A/C I noticed that there is a foul odor : puke: afterwards when switching to the vents. It takes quite a long time for this odor to dissapate, what's the fastest way to get rid of this odor?

Please tell me your methods.


I've just ordered a bottle of Atmosklear - will let you know how this works out. Has been recommended by auto mechanics for eliminating odors.

http://www.atmosklear.net/

[gil7227]

After using the A/C I noticed that there is a foul odor : puke: afterwards when switching to the vents. It takes quite a long time for this odor to dissapate, what's the fastest way to get rid of this odor?

Please tell me your methods.


I don't know what to do. Will bring it to the dealer's attention. My car is 2 months old!!! This should not be happening. Why is it??!!??

[16hr Day]

I don't know what to do. Will bring it to the dealer's attention. My car is 2 months old!!! This should not be happening. Why is it??!!??


My smelled a lot at first, but it seems to be getting better. My car now has almost 3k. I hope it continues to smell less.

[palooka666]

I don't know what to do. Will bring it to the dealer's attention. My car is 2 months old!!! This should not be happening. Why is it??!!??The mildew builds in the vents dues to water build up. Just get the Wurth spray for the vents... i can't remember the actual name right now. do a search.

the spray will last for a few weeks/months depending on the humidity where you are. also people say running vents after you use a/c a few minuets before you turn your car off will dry out the vents and prevent the condensation build up that causes that smell. if you leave the a/c on it's not really a problem.

[Alex Baumann]

http://properautocare.com/wuracheatsys.html

[palooka666]

http://properautocare.com/wuracheatsys.html
what a helpful moderator :thumbup:

[cantona7]

I seem to have cured my stinky A/C for now. I've been following the procedure outlined in various threads, where I've shut off the A/C a couple of minutes before arriving at my destination, leaving only the fan blowing, with the circulation button drawing outside airflow. Did this for a couple of days and the A/C now starts up with no stinkies. It also helps that since the A/C is off when I shut the car off, the next time I turn it on, the A/C is still off. This is as close as I can get to manual operation. If the smell comes back, I'll pick up some of the wurth spray and go from there.

[Salvator]

SIB for your perusal... You might get your dealer to spring for this one time... After that, you are probably on your own...

http://members.roadfly.org/bmw_e46_m3/bulletins/640891.pdf

[apar330i]

I have never had this problem with either of my e46s. Maybe it's due to the dry climate here.

[Bmwcat]

Have you tried a new micro-filter? BMW recommends changing these often.. :tsk:

[rgzimmer]

I just got the latest Roundel which has a letter from someone who had this problem and figured it out. The air continually recirculated rather than drawing from outside. Mold grew in the vents because of it causing the odor. He bypassed the autocirculation and the problem went away.

[nickeltong]

I have never had this problem with either of my e46s. Maybe it's due to the dry climate here.

You never had this problem because you never had to turn off your A/C.

[apar330i]

You never had this problem because you never had to turn off your A/C.
We have a few weeks a year where we don't have to run the A/C.:)

[rruiter]

I seem to have cured my stinky A/C for now. I've been following the procedure outlined in various threads, where I've shut off the A/C a couple of minutes before arriving at my destination, leaving only the fan blowing, with the circulation button drawing outside airflow. Did this for a couple of days and the A/C now starts up with no stinkies. It also helps that since the A/C is off when I shut the car off, the next time I turn it on, the A/C is still off. This is as close as I can get to manual operation. If the smell comes back, I'll pick up some of the wurth spray and go from there.

This is what always worked for me. 2 mionutes away from my house I switch the ac off. Never smells. This worked with several different brands of cars.

[cantona7]

This is what always worked for me. 2 mionutes away from my house I switch the ac off. Never smells. This worked with several different brands of cars.
Actually, I had to do this a couple of days in a row both before I got to work and before I arrived home at the end of the day. I also probably had the AC off for longer than 2 minutes. At any rate, the problem seems to have disappeared for now. I'll be replacing the microfilter soon as well.

[fkafka]

Ozium (available at WalMart).

Vanilla stink is mildly preferable to mildew stink.

[2b9m3w]

Yep, mine does it too. I blast the vents with air after turning off the a/c and it only lasts a few minutes. I keep the windows open during this time :-)

Also, like others, I've notices turning off the a/c just before getting home seems to help. I.e. the odor isn't there when I start the car next.

May try the spray's though, cause I often park in the sun and then need a/c for just a little while to get the car cool.