E39 - nasty A/C smell on startup

[pincher]

For some reason, my a/c has started smelling a bit whiffy when I first start up.

You know the sort of smell you get when you have just walked past a tramp and got about 5 yards further on when the stench of styale urine hits you? Well, it's a bit like that

Seems to go after about a minute but was wondering what it might be? Just a re-gas required possibly?

It's on a 2002 530i, if it makes a difference.

[Nick M]

Most likely to be mould or bacteria growing somewhere. You won't smell the a/c gas as it's in a sealed circuit, but you will smell whatever the cooled air blows over on its way into the cabin.

Maybe a new cabin filter would fix it, or there may have been some moisture trapped somewhere warm which has acted like a little breeding pool. You can get aircon deodorisers in Halfords which might also be worth a try.

[Neil.D]

Mine does that dude although the smell only last a few seconds. The smelly air is also really warm. Im guessing there is a little build up of fug somewhere in the system that is highlighted when the engine warms the standing air in the pipes.
I have used some sntibacterial febreze (or something similar) and this gets rid of it for a short time.

[MarkwG]

Yep, been there: checked the pollen filters? I think the 6s are similar to the V8s, in which case, check they're not wet & passed it, & check the drain pipes aren't blocked. Once you've done that, if no change, the aircon anti-bacterial sprays are the second try. If it's getting cold, your gas is fine.

[pincher]

Cheers guys - just got to work out where the pollen filter and drains are now

[MarkwG]

pincher said:

just got to work out where the pollen filter and drains are now

- piece of wee wee: open bonnet, by the windscreen bulkhead, inboard of the hinges: two large plastic lumps, 1 each side. The cover is held by a long wire spring clip, flip it up, unclip, there's the pollen filter. Remove, in the front corner, inboard, a rubber drain hose; if you look on the outside there's a little rubber trap door over the outflow - they fill with leaves etc. New filters from GSF, ECP or even Halfords if you're lucky.

[richyb]

As above, the microfilters are the easiest thngs in the world to change and available from GSF for about £30 (going from memory when I did mine on the E38).

I googled and found this

[pincher]

MarkwG said:

pincher said:

just got to work out where the pollen filter and drains are now

- piece of wee wee: open bonnet, by the windscreen bulkhead, inboard of the hinges: two large plastic lumps, 1 each side. The cover is held by a long wire spring clip, flip it up, unclip, there's the pollen filter. Remove, in the front corner, inboard, a rubber drain hose; if you look on the outside there's a little rubber trap door over the outflow - they fill with leaves etc. New filters from GSF, ECP or even Halfords if you're lucky.

Filters look OK and the drain holes were relatively clear of debris.

New problem though - bloomin' hot today and now the A/C doesn't seem to work at all! The controls all seem to work but the blowers don't blow

[MarkwG]

"New problem though - bloomin' hot today and now the A/C doesn't seem to work at all! The controls all seem to work but the blowers don't blow"

Ah, that's gone beyond my experience I'm afraid, but that would seem suggest either the fan itself, or wires controlling it, the final stage resistor maybe, or the aircon control panel: I guess a good indie is your best bet.

[pincher]

Was the Final Stage Resistor

Replaced it tonight (in the rain ) and I have blowers again

It seems like the smell has gone too - random!

[Pickled Piper]

The best way to get rid of the smell is to run the AC set at maximum heat for about ten minutes.

pp

[fastka]

my aircon got smelly

went to halfrauds and bought a 'bugbomb' type of aerosol
cost about 11 quid (or free with the recharge kit)
you put the aircon on max and the recirculate setting
sit the can in the rear passenger footwell, depress the trigger and get out!
leave the aircon running for a further 5mins after the aerosol has stopped

car smells clean and fresh now

[squeezebm]

fastka said:

my aircon got smelly

went to halfrauds and bought a 'bugbomb' type of aerosol
cost about 11 quid (or free with the recharge kit)
you put the aircon on max and the recirculate setting
sit the can in the rear passenger footwell, depress the trigger and get out!
leave the aircon running for a further 5mins after the aerosol has stopped

car smells clean and fresh now

+1 and it worked for the works van a treat highly recomended and i run a commercial A/C and Ref Co.