Strong smell of burning plastic on delivery

urban_alchemist · 08-08-2011, 09:21 AM

Just picked up my car - it's absolutely awesome.

However, when I parked it up and got out, I noticed (or rather was hit by) a very very strong smell of burning plastic all around the car that I had not smelt on the inside. It was so strong that my wife and I both felt ill and nauseous.

Any ideas what could be burning? Could the dealer have forgotten to remove something - if so, what?

TIA...

Acetech · 08-08-2011, 09:33 AM

Probably just Cosmoline burning off, it's a protective wax sprayed under the car. Can drip on exhaust and smell

bayer · 08-08-2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acetech

Probably just Cosmoline burning off, it's a protective wax sprayed under the car. Can drip on exhaust and smell

Ditto. Same happened to be previously on my BMW. Should go away quickly, or the dealer can clean it again if persistent.

DriveHard · 08-08-2011, 10:11 AM

Its of corse the "New Car Smell"..

Honestly thou, it is in fact the cosmoline..it will disapate within a day or so. No worries.. keep on driving..

MDORPHN · 08-08-2011, 10:18 AM

I wouldn't worry. Probably just the charge pipe disintegrating.

Neil

jnm · 08-08-2011, 11:25 AM

... "if you can smell the smoke, you're not driving fast enough"...

(old racing saying)

Artemis · 08-08-2011, 01:31 PM

Perfectly normal IMHO, given your "track record".

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mPlasticDesign · 08-08-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acetech

Probably just Cosmoline burning off, it's a protective wax sprayed under the car. Can drip on exhaust and smell

+1, I would get to any exposed Cosmoline engine bay, door jams, anywhere you can see it because it gets hard and quite difficult to remove once it cures. I do a detail cleaning of the crap as soon as I take delivery of my cars!

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...9&postcount=12

swimfreak · 10-19-2011, 09:24 AM

How long until it cures? I won't really have time to clean it off until I get home from PCD on Sunday. The car has been sitting at the PC since 10/5.

M3 Adjuster · 10-19-2011, 09:34 AM

I would imagine a number of months... when it eventually dries it resembles Gorilla Glue... and it is very difficult to remove.. I haven't yet inspected my car closely so as to find any, however.

v1k0d3n · 10-19-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swimfreak

How long until it cures? I won't really have time to clean it off until I get home from PCD on Sunday. The car has been sitting at the PC since 10/5.

GooGone will help to clean it up, followed up by a little bit of car detailer...just to keep the surface shiny. One thing that works EXTREMELY well is a product called Honda Spray Cleaner and Polish (about $6 a can). EVERY car garage should have this product!!! You can use it on any surface...it cleans and protects any surface. It's really supposed to be a waterless motorcycle cleaner, but this stuff is amazing. I've even used it to clean my countertops (probably not the best idea...but I was in college). It will make getting that crap off easy...as well as clean/polish it at the same time!

Rekraps · 10-19-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1k0d3n

GooGone will help to clean it up, followed up by a little bit of car detailer...just to keep the surface shiny. One thing that works EXTREMELY well is a product called Honda Spray Cleaner and Polish (about $6 a can). EVERY car garage should have this product!!! You can use it on any surface...it cleans and protects any surface. It's really supposed to be a waterless motorcycle cleaner, but this stuff is amazing. I've even used it to clean my countertops (probably not the best idea...but I was in college). It will make getting that crap off easy...as well as clean/polish it at the same time!

In the old days, when cars were shipped exposed, manufacturers coated them with cosmoline, just like weapons and then ran them through a shower of turpentine/thinner upon delivery to US. Will not hurt the paint or finish, so you may want to fill a hand held spary bottle and use it to spray hinges and areas hard to get to. Be warned however, that the lubrication in the joint itself may dissolve..... so go easy.

urban_alchemist · 10-19-2011, 11:55 AM

It was/is a nasty smell. After ~3000km, the smell is just starting to disappear.

No new car smell for me.

spoon · 10-19-2011, 07:42 PM

Mine had a strong smell also, but aftera 2 day 800 mile drive home it's pretty much gone.

08-08-2011, 09:21 AM	#1
urban_alchemist Private First Class 10 Rep 111 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Israel iTrader: (0)	Strong smell of burning plastic on delivery Just picked up my car - it's absolutely awesome. However, when I parked it up and got out, I noticed (or rather was hit by) a very very strong smell of burning plastic all around the car that I had not smelt on the inside. It was so strong that my wife and I both felt ill and nauseous. Any ideas what could be burning? Could the dealer have forgotten to remove something - if so, what? TIA...
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08-08-2011, 09:33 AM	#2
Acetech Second Lieutenant 219 Rep 275 Posts Drives: 03 M3. 98 M3. 11 1M Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Probably just Cosmoline burning off, it's a protective wax sprayed under the car. Can drip on exhaust and smell
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08-08-2011, 10:11 AM	#4
DriveHard Colonel 115 Rep 1,998 Posts Drives: X1 and R58 JCW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	Its of corse the "New Car Smell".. Honestly thou, it is in fact the cosmoline..it will disapate within a day or so. No worries.. keep on driving.. __________________ X1, R58 JCW, M2 in my future if planets align
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08-08-2011, 10:18 AM	#5
MDORPHN Colonel 291 Rep 2,898 Posts Drives: AW 1M Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wash, DC iTrader: (0)	I wouldn't worry. Probably just the charge pipe disintegrating. Neil Last edited by MDORPHN; 08-08-2011 at 12:17 PM.. Reason: spelling
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08-08-2011, 11:25 AM	#6
jnm Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 242 Posts Drives: fast, but could be faster Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	... "if you can smell the smoke, you're not driving fast enough"... (old racing saying)
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08-08-2011, 01:31 PM	#7
Artemis Moderator 29378 Rep 13,098 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Competition Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	Perfectly normal IMHO, given your "track record".
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10-19-2011, 09:24 AM	#9
swimfreak Orange Crush 3 Rep 54 Posts Drives: fun!!! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: McKinney, TX iTrader: (0)	How long until it cures? I won't really have time to clean it off until I get home from PCD on Sunday. The car has been sitting at the PC since 10/5.
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10-19-2011, 09:34 AM	#10
M3 Adjuster Banned 7906 Rep 11,785 Posts Drives: 1M, X1 M Sport, E46 325ic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx iTrader: (0)	I would imagine a number of months... when it eventually dries it resembles Gorilla Glue... and it is very difficult to remove.. I haven't yet inspected my car closely so as to find any, however.
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10-19-2011, 11:55 AM	#13
urban_alchemist Private First Class 10 Rep 111 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Israel iTrader: (0)	It was/is a nasty smell. After ~3000km, the smell is just starting to disappear. No new car smell for me.
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10-19-2011, 07:42 PM	#14
spoon Private First Class 2 Rep 111 Posts Drives: AW 1///m Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: nj iTrader: (0)	Mine had a strong smell also, but aftera 2 day 800 mile drive home it's pretty much gone.
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