Rolls Royce Phantom - Smells of Smoke? [HELP]

[BakingCookies]

Hello everyone. First post from me but I have visited this forum MANY times over the last 10 years (think my dad was a member a good few years back too).

We're currently looking at buying a Rolls Royce Phantom, it's 9 years old and is in good condition.

However, upon inspection of the car I couldn't help but be taken aback by the smell of smoke in the car. The rear cigarette trays both smell 'used', as though the person has actually been smoking in the car as opposed to their clothes smelling of it.

Supposedly it was chauffeur driven, which would explain why the rear trays smell used.

We're afraid that if we buy the car, we'll be stuck with the smell. Plus the car really lacks the 'fresh leather smell'. We looked at a 10 year old RR Phantom and even that smelled like new inside still (leather and wood).

Having read up about this on google, people have suggested everything from using Odor bombs to shampooing and conditioning the seats, to masking the smell with sprays and 'leather air fresheners'.

Can any of you suggest some answers to this? Would a high-end, professional valet help? It's already had brand new rugs put in it. Unsure about these odor bombs etc. in case it wrecks the interior?

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions!

NOTE TO ADMIN: apologies if this is in the wrong section - please move if required!

[popeyewhite]

You can get rid of the cigarette smell, but it can take quite an effort. A Rolls has a lot of absorbent material... .

[mackay45]

Speak to a couple of professional detailers, preferably ones who work on these kind of cars. Ask if they think it is possible and for a rough estimate on time cost. Negotiate the cost off the purchase price.

Or walk away and wait for one to come up that doesn't smell of smoke? Guessing good ones don't come up that often though and prices must vary massively.

Or give it a good clean yourself and I'm sure the smell would probably fade with time...

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

I own a leather restoration company. This - http://lttleathercare.com/product/em-clean-antibac... - should do the trick.

Give Judy there a call, she can confirm. As pointed out above, there shall still be the carpets to deal with.

I really wouldn't consider oder bombs, unless you want it to smell gross, plus they only cover the smell. When it fades the smoke smell returns.

[BakingCookies]

popeyewhite said:

You can get rid of the cigarette smell, but it can take quite an effort. A Rolls has a lot of absorbent material... .

Thanks popeyewhite, it seems theres everything from overhead to the leather, carpets, rugs, door cards...

mackay45 said:

Speak to a couple of professional detailers, preferably ones who work on these kind of cars. Ask if they think it is possible and for a rough estimate on time cost. Negotiate the cost off the purchase price.

Or walk away and wait for one to come up that doesn't smell of smoke? Guessing good ones don't come up that often though and prices must vary massively.

Or give it a good clean yourself and I'm sure the smell would probably fade with time...

Thanks for the thoughts mackay, much appreciated. I've called a valeter/ detailer today and expecting a call back. I've seen he's done some Bentleys, Ferraris and Range Rovers. He briefly mentions eliminating smoke smells on his website.

Unfortunately we've spent a long time looking at these cars, and in reality this one is almost too good to miss. If we can get some further opinions on the smoke, providing we can get rid of most of it, we'll probably buy it.

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

I own a leather restoration company. This - http://lttleathercare.com/product/em-clean-antibac... - should do the trick.

Give Judy there a call, she can confirm. As pointed out above, there shall still be the carpets to deal with.

I really wouldn't consider oder bombs, unless you want it to smell gross, plus they only cover the smell. When it fades the smoke smell returns.

This looks great! So in terms of the leather areas, would this pull out the smell of smoke? Understandably we'd still have to attend to the carpets and other non-leather areas.

If we had someone to valet the car, would it be reasonable to ask him to use this for us as part of his cleaning routine?

I wasn't sure if the smoke bomb would remove the smell - if it only masks it then this won't be helping I guess.


Have any of you heard of the ozone machines? They supposedly eliminate bad smells?

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

BakingCookies said:

popeyewhite said:

You can get rid of the cigarette smell, but it can take quite an effort. A Rolls has a lot of absorbent material... .

Thanks popeyewhite, it seems theres everything from overhead to the leather, carpets, rugs, door cards...

mackay45 said:

Speak to a couple of professional detailers, preferably ones who work on these kind of cars. Ask if they think it is possible and for a rough estimate on time cost. Negotiate the cost off the purchase price.

Or walk away and wait for one to come up that doesn't smell of smoke? Guessing good ones don't come up that often though and prices must vary massively.

Or give it a good clean yourself and I'm sure the smell would probably fade with time...

Thanks for the thoughts mackay, much appreciated. I've called a valeter/ detailer today and expecting a call back. I've seen he's done some Bentleys, Ferraris and Range Rovers. He briefly mentions eliminating smoke smells on his website.

Unfortunately we've spent a long time looking at these cars, and in reality this one is almost too good to miss. If we can get some further opinions on the smoke, providing we can get rid of most of it, we'll probably buy it.

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:

I own a leather restoration company. This - http://lttleathercare.com/product/em-clean-antibac... - should do the trick.

Give Judy there a call, she can confirm. As pointed out above, there shall still be the carpets to deal with.

I really wouldn't consider oder bombs, unless you want it to smell gross, plus they only cover the smell. When it fades the smoke smell returns.

This looks great! So in terms of the leather areas, would this pull out the smell of smoke? Understandably we'd still have to attend to the carpets and other non-leather areas.

If we had someone to valet the car, would it be reasonable to ask him to use this for us as part of his cleaning routine?

I wasn't sure if the smoke bomb would remove the smell - if it only masks it then this won't be helping I guess.


Have any of you heard of the ozone machines? They supposedly eliminate bad smells?

I've never used it on smoke smells, but I have successfully got rid of mould and pee odors with it. As such I'd chat with Judy there, she knows her stuff. Let her know that Rob at Leather Better directed you to her. I can't see it being unreasonable asking a car valetor to use it, they may even be glad to know of a new company for products (some of their stuff is used by detailers)

Edit, I just noticed in their wording that it can be used on carpets.

Edited by Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah on Friday 18th May 12:04

[mackay45]

Post some pics when you get the car by the way! Great purchase!

[Green1man]

Wouldn’t a fair percentage of the smell be from the head liner? What’s the head liner material?

[jonah35]

I had a car that had been smoked in once

Never ever managed to get rid of the smell.

You’d really need new carpets (or take out and clean existing ones), new headlining and everything and even then somehow it doesn’t go away.

Shame but unless it’s quite a bit cheaper I wouldn’t bother

[Muzzer79]

Being a RR Phantom, I assume this is not a cheap purchase.

Therefore why take the risk of being able to get rid of the smell?

Just walk away and find one that doesn't smell already.

[anonymous-user]

Buy one without smoke it will always stink.