5 Series smells like a prostitute. Warranty?

[un1corn]

I've got a 2013 525d saloon.

It stinks now and again. It smells like fish, or mouldy algae in the cab. It only does it now and again. Its a smell coming from the vents, and it occurs regardless as to whether the AC is on or not and regardless of temperature. I used the AC sparingly (although i've only had the car 3 months) and used it all the time for the last week or two to clear it, no joy.

Google search suggests it might be moisutre in the pipes has gone mouldy over time and this is causing the smell. It's horrible (and probably not healthy).

Would this be covered under the BMW warranty? Bought the car from a dealer so it has the warranty until November this year.

Problem is, I cant replicate it. Sometimes I could drive for an hour and it wont do it. Sometimes a 10 minute journey will be like 10 minutes sat in a fish market.

Suggestions?

[mybrainhurts]

You forgot to take the dead prostitute out of the boot.

[Monty Python]

It could also be a leak in the heater matrix or associated plumbing - old coolant can smell like that.

[louiebaby]

My E39 smelt a bit like dog poo after the AC had been on a while, then was switched off. I ran one of these through it, and it has been fine for the last 5 years...

https://www.autoglym.com/air-con-cleaner

[Smuler]

un1corn said:

I've got a 2013 525d saloon.

It stinks now and again. It smells like fish, or mouldy algae in the cab. It only does it now and again. Its a smell coming from the vents, and it occurs regardless as to whether the AC is on or not and regardless of temperature. I used the AC sparingly (although i've only had the car 3 months) and used it all the time for the last week or two to clear it, no joy.

Google search suggests it might be moisutre in the pipes has gone mouldy over time and this is causing the smell. It's horrible (and probably not healthy).

Would this be covered under the BMW warranty? Bought the car from a dealer so it has the warranty until November this year.

Problem is, I cant replicate it. Sometimes I could drive for an hour and it wont do it. Sometimes a 10 minute journey will be like 10 minutes sat in a fish market.

Suggestions?

The BMW Approved Cooze warranty would cover it

[mmm-five]

I was told to leave the aircon on all the time so that it keeps everything fresh, lubricated and the inside relatively moisture-free.

I have seen deodorising aircon 'bombs' for sale in Halfords, but don't know if they work. Alternatively you could ask for BMW to do a aircon 'refresh'.

This is from a BMW web page:

BMW said:

Continuous use of your air conditioning helps to maintain the system’s optimum performance, but to keep your system operating at peak efficiency, the micro-filters should be maintained at regular intervals and the correct level of refrigerant gas should be checked and replaced.

[helix402]

I've never smelt a prostitute. The air con bomb/spray things do work if the source of your whiff is the a/c .

[thatsprettyshady]

Could be windscreen washer fluid? My old BM used to do this after I accidentally filled it up with normal water.

[xjay1337]

Get your Air Con regassed as a first step.
Often they will "clean" it for you while you're doing that.

Then with AC on recirc get one of those odour bomb things and leave it for 30 mins with AC on cold full recirc on

Fixes it 99% of the time.

[helix402]

I had a dead mouse in my screenwash reservoir. It smelt like a dead mouse. I think it couldn't swim.

[ex1]

thatsprettyshady said:

Could be windscreen washer fluid? My old BM used to do this after I accidentally filled it up with normal water.

Mine too.

I threw a couple of babies bottle sterilisers in the washer bottle and it sorted it.

[bigdom]

Used to clear damp dog odor. Get both the normfest products, one's a one-shot bomb, the other is used post that down all the vents.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/air-con-cleaner

I'd be inclined to change the pollen filters at the same time. Also, just leave the AC on.

[Bomberharris]

1. Turn on engine
2. Turn on air con / blower on full
3. Spray febrezze / dettol into the outside vents sucking air in

Good bacteria kills bad bacteria - don't confuse with Yakut

[mike9009]

We had a pretty nasty/ pungent smell in our old Alfa 156 SW which seemed intermittent.

I tried lots of things, but eventually the Halfords air con bomb thingy cleared the smell for good.


Mike

[Higgs boson]

Bomberharris said:

Good bacteria kills bad bacteria - don't confuse with Yakut

It's unlikely that confusion would arise as Yakut refers to ...

Turkic people who mainly inhabit the Sakha Republic.

Just sayin'.

[Osinjak]

helix402 said:

I've never smelt a prostitute.

I have, the Dutch ones are quite fragrant.

[mybrainhurts]

Osinjak said:

helix402 said:

I've never smelt a prostitute.

I have, the Dutch ones are quite fragrant.

Grimsby ones are quite fishy.

[paul789]

Could be worse - if your prostitute smelt like a 5 series.

[Osinjak]

mybrainhurts said:

Osinjak said:

helix402 said:

I've never smelt a prostitute.

I have, the Dutch ones are quite fragrant.

Grimsby ones are quite fishy.

The ones in Portsmouth smell of diesel. Apparently.

[HoHoHo]

Osinjak said:

mybrainhurts said:

Osinjak said:

helix402 said:

I've never smelt a prostitute.

I have, the Dutch ones are quite fragrant.

Grimsby ones are quite fishy.

The ones in Portsmouth smell of diesel. Apparently.

Is that because they've had loads of seamen by their naval base?