Distinctive smell inside the car

[GrandadJim]

Hi all, this is possibly a bit of a strange thread, but both my old Z3 (now with @Sean d ) and my new Z4 have quite a distinctive smell when you're sat in the car, it doesn't smell quite like petrol/oil to me (although it could be) but it's something along the those lines I think. it's causing me a bit of an issue as it makes the other half feel sick, any suggestions what it is and how I might be able to get rid/reduce it?

Cheers

James

 

[Sean d]

Hi all, this is possibly a bit of a strange thread, but both my old Z3 (now with @Sean d ) and my new Z4 have quite a distinctive smell when you're sat in the car, it doesn't smell quite like petrol/oil to me (although it could be) but it's something along the those lines I think. it's causing me a bit of an issue as it makes the other half feel sick, any suggestions what it is and how I might be able to get rid/reduce it?

Cheers

James

It may well be you James

 

[GrandadJim]

It may well be you James

Don't tell my other half that, she'll be off shopping for a newer model!

 

[Sean d]

Don't tell my other half that, she'll be off shopping for a newer model!

Z3s do seem to have a distinctive smell but couldn't put my finger on it

 

[mrscalex]

I welcome the odd smells in my Z3s. It stops my other half wanting to get in them.

You are sat on top of the petrol tank in the driver’s seat. Well in a Z3, not sure Z4. And there is fuel pump access right behind the seat under the carpet. But that shouldn’t be the reason unless it’s leaking. If it’s a strong smell you may want to check.

I find the main culprit of smells is the damp.

 

[GrandadJim]

I welcome the odd smells in my Z3s. It stops my other half wanting to get in them.

You are sat on top of the petrol tank in the driver’s seat. Well in a Z3, not sure Z4. And there is fuel pump access right behind the seat under the carpet. But that shouldn’t be the reason unless it’s leaking. If it’s a strong smell you may want to check.

I find the main culprit of smells is the damp.

I don't think its really strong enough to be concerning but i'll definitely keep an eye (or nostril) on it, if nothing else i can mention it next time it goes in for its MOT and see if they can offer an opinion

 

[mwpe]

Just keep the hood down.

 

[colb]

Might be worth checking out the aircon system if its fitted to yours, the system gets contaminated with spores and they are responsible for unplesant smells in the interior. You can get a kit to treat the aircon system to get rid of the spores. Not sure it would smell of petrol if it is an aircon problem.

 

[Oddly Godly]

My Z3 stunk when I first got it. I used an air-con bomb and it sorted it out. I think with the little use it had in the last few years before I purchased it something smelly had grown in the air-conditioning system. The bomb plus using the Aircon got rid of it. It was quite a powerful smell. https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/simoniz...VA7TtCh1FrQmzEAQYASABEgJjfvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[GrandadJim]

My Z3 stunk when I first got it. I used an air-con bomb and it sorted it out. I think with the little use it had in the last few years before I purchased it something smelly had grown in the air-conditioning system. The bomb plus using the Aircon got rid of it. It was quite a powerful smell. https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/simoniz...VA7TtCh1FrQmzEAQYASABEgJjfvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks very much, I experimented with the air con this morning and I do think it could be the culprit, I'll give the bomb a try and report back

 

[t-tony]

Thanks very much, I experimented with the air con this morning and I do think it could be the culprit, I'll give the bomb a try and report back

You could do well the check the cabin filter Jim. Most likely never been changed, easy job. They get damp through the inlet and smell bad.
You need to remove the glove box (6 screws).

Tony.

 

[Oddly Godly]

when I bought my car it was nice weather so I could drive around with the roof down and air con on full as well as the bomb. I think its best to turn the air con off a few minutes before the end of a drive as it cuts down on the condensation that forms in the system. when I first drove my zed I noticed the air con was on and the horrid smell. It took a week or two for the smell to go but it did go completely and hasn't returned.

 

[Ianmc]

Don't think the Z3 has a cabin filter.

 

[Sean d]

Don't think the Z3 has a cabin filter.

The OP has recently purchased a z4

 

[colb]

Just ordered a charcoal impregnated pollen filter for my Z4 found cheapest on ebay 9.99
Drop lower passenger well panel and you will find pollen filter at the bottom, unclip the cover clip on left hand side, take cover out and pull the old filter down and out, hoover up all the leaves that come out then refit new filter in reverse order.

 

[t-tony]

This is what you're likely to find. Have a hoover ready.

The filter will likely look like this.

Not difficult to remove.

You can remove the cabin filter by just removing the lower panel and the filter housing cover (the small item in the picture) which comes off with 2 screws and a clip. I had already removed the glove box hunting a blower motor fault (checking the rheostat) but it turned the car had reverted to "Transport mode" after having a new battery fitted.

Tony.

 

[Ianmc]

The OP has recently purchased a z4

Yes, but he had the same smell in both the Z3 and Z4

 

[GrandadJim]

Yes, but he had the same smell in both the Z3 and Z4

Good point, I hadn't thought about it like that!

 

[GrandadJim]

well, I finally got around to replacing the cabin filter today and also used one of the Simoniz air con bombs (thanks @Oddly Godly) i don't think its completely sorted the issue but its early days yet so i'll reserve judgement. Obviously, doing this has uncovered something else I need to ask about! When i removed the piece of plastic trim below the glove box to get to the filter, I soon realised that its not actually the right piece of trim for my car! giveaways are that the control unit wasn't mounted to it (its just floating around in there and there are no screw holes in the trim to mount it to) and also the screw holes that mount the trim to the rest of the car have been crudely cut in to the plastic. Anyone know where I can source the right part from so I can replace it?

The cabin filter definitely needed replacing though, customary picture of a pile of leaves included below

 

[colb]

Think that unit should attach to a bracket up inside there, cover panel on my 2003 2.5 has two locating screws on the front end of it and screw in the two holes on front edge.
Picture with glove box and fuse board removed