Strange odour in new car

[ItsHectic]

Now that the new car smell has faded (2 months and 1800kms), I have noticed a strange odour, the odour smells like a wharf/ocean smell, more fishy than what you would describe as a fresh sea breeze unfortunately.

I did notice it vaguely in the 1st couple of weeks of owning the car, I put it down to it being on a boat for so long.

I have narrowed the smell down to the engine bay back left corner. I had a look around there and there is the window washer fluid, some other fluid that is yellow, the lid says clean nozzle before opening or something.

There is also the water drain there.

I dunno if this is a normal smell or if it is one of the fluids or what.

I guess the solution is to spray around with glen 20, but just wondering if anyone can give me some insight in to this?

[chachacha28]

have you been giving lots of females rides? maybe the boost is making their panties wet?

Im not sure what the smell could be, but the cap that says to clean it first is most likely the brake master cylinder. Contaminates in the brake fluid is bad news, always wipe down the surrounding area with a dry or barely damp rag, be sure not to get any water in there.

[ItsHectic]

I had a closer look and it is the brake fluid, I havent opened it.
I actually think the smell is coming from the wheel, I went to the fish markets once but that was a long time ago.

I will check it out when I get my service done at 2000kms.

[Dackelone]

You might look under your car. I would get a hand sprayer with a 91% (or higher) solution of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol/water mixture. This wil usually do the trick for getting rid of dead annimal smells from your car.

[Zuzu]

Have you had the car on a hoist yet, and checked out the under carriage..

The last thing you want is some fish carcass , that has been lodged in there for some months..

[ItsHectic]

I am itching to get it on a hoist now but motorworks is closed until February.

I think I will call the dealership and see if they can just hoist it up without me waiting hours, do the dealerships let you in the workshop?

Otherwise I think I will call my old mechanic (Indy) who I hope should be pretty cool with hoisting the car up and have a look with me even though he only services Japanese cars.

[Zuzu]

Where abouts in Sydney are you?

[ItsHectic]

Randwick area, all BMW service centers are closed today and roadside assistance is not able to hoist up the car.

[Zuzu]

Ok..No probs.

Best bet, just take it to your local dealer, as it is still under warranty and have it checked over.

Most BMW dealers wont let you venture into the workshop ( OH&S ), but also depends on your relationship with them..Good luck.

[ItsHectic]

There must be a law against operating a hoist on a sunday, everythings closed.

The smell is less intense now that the cars cooled down.

Anyway I had a look underneath with the car still on the ground.

Only things of interest I have noticed:

Dead cockroach too big to fit through the front bars plastic grid, on front of radiator grill among the usual insects you would expect there.

Front undercarraige has lots of dirty water marks on the right side but barely any on the left except for under the guards.

1 Bolt missing from front bar.

This feels like a mystery.

[TimMc]

Back when I was a kid, to piss someone off you'd put prawn heads in their hub caps. Hard to spot and they stank.
Google "hub caps" for those who don't know what they are...

[ItsHectic]

I was looking at photos of the under carriage of the 135i, I am not missing a bolt! There is 3 on the left and 4 on the right for some reason, with the same amount of holes on each side.

Gonna get the under carriage detailed.

I guess they forgot to add it was a fishing boat too! http://www.bairdmaritime.com/index.p...iner&Itemid=57

[m 135]

Open the washer fluid lid and smell that,i had a bad smell coming from there when i had my 135,more so when engine was hot or you used the washer system,i flushed it out and only used good water,never had the problem again.

[ItsHectic]

They added something to the washer fluid so it smells like perfume, was like wtf 1st time I used it.

My engine bay has white water marks all over it, heard this could be a coolant leak and could explain the smell.

The best description of the smell I can give is Wharf smell or Fish oil, not the brothel kinda fishy smell lol.

BRB buying a chinese imitation one of these off ebay:

[UR25IO]

Originally Posted by JustMe

I am itching to get it on a hoist now but motorworks is closed until February.

I think I will call the dealership and see if they can just hoist it up without me waiting hours, do the dealerships let you in the workshop?

Otherwise I think I will call my old mechanic (Indy) who I hope should be pretty cool with hoisting the car up and have a look with me even though he only services Japanese cars.

LOL Indy from ISmotors?

[ItsHectic]

Originally Posted by UR25IO

LOL Indy from ISmotors?

Yes, but on 2nd thought I am just gonna wait until my service in February.

[ItsHectic]

Checked the coolant, its right on minimum and has a dirty film, not oily just kind of like thin white flakes on top.

Took some photos of underneath, hoping this isnt mold cause its also at the bottom of the engine bay.

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by JustMe

The best description of the smell I can give is Wharf smell or Fish oil, not the brothel kinda fishy smell lol.

Ummm, and how do you know what a brothel smells like?

[ItsHectic]

LOL oh I have been told

That stuff is not mold, so I am suspecting coolant, hopefully flushing it solves the problem.

[Blauweisser]

A "fishy" smell is usually due to some sort of amine-containing compound. This can be due to dead animals or decomposing animal tissue. Have you got a mouse that died down there? I don't know what they put in brake fluid, but it could come from brake fluid leaking onto stuff and decomposing, so a trip to the dealer ASAP could be indicated.

Windscreen washer fluid is mainly just water and alcohol, a spot of detergent, and possibly some rust inhibitor with a dash of industrial perfume, and hopefully some bug-a-cide to keep the goolies at bay.