My AC stinks....

agarbati · 08-21-2005, 11:31 PM

It was nice here the past couple of days and I had the windows down and the A/C off. Well I turned it on tonight and it stank. It was OK after a few minutes but the initial cold air was dank and smelly.

I am thinking the condenser is not draining water properly resulting in accumulation of water and hence the smell, but I could be wrong.

Anybody else run into this?

Ponchoyu · 08-22-2005, 12:31 AM

No problems here but give it a few more tries.....maybe its the first and only time it'll do it!

theclay · 08-22-2005, 12:32 AM

I use mine every day here and no smells.

Broken1 · 08-22-2005, 07:06 AM

HAha....this is where experience comes in...

I bet you've been driving around on a really hot day with the a/c on at 16c ...or it's lowest temeparature?

Well, If you drive around with it on max cold, and then turn your car off and let it get hot...a bacteria grows in your ac system which makes the smell.

3 Solutions.
1. Don't drive around with it on 16c. Drive with it on 18 degree celcius.
2. Drive with it on 16c, but 5 minutes before you get out the car...put it on fan only
3. Get BMW to replace the filters or something? I found in my old car, if I took it to them and said it stinks they could fix it...temporarily!

I now hardly ever put it below 18 deg because the temp of the air isn't much different. 18 is cold enough always, even in summer! and I really hate that smell!!!

spydrz · 08-22-2005, 07:22 AM

I leave mine on 68 degrees year-round and have had no smell issues with any of the newer BMWs I've owned, all with basically the same system...

chrisbin · 08-22-2005, 07:58 AM

I've always found that if you turn the a/c on/off in any car, the first blast of air tends to be a bit smelly........

scottz5 · 08-25-2005, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisbin

I've always found that if you turn the a/c on/off in any car, the first blast of air tends to be a bit smelly........

Ditto, but it only last a few seconds.

ga-bmwdrvr · 08-25-2005, 09:24 PM

The very first time I turned my AC on it stank for about a minute. It has not happened again. I think it is normal.

NaTuReB0Y · 08-25-2005, 09:27 PM

I've used the AC about 98% of the time while driving since I got the car....and no smells.

wac77 · 08-25-2005, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agarbati

It was nice here the past couple of days and I had the windows down and the A/C off. Well I turned it on tonight and it stank. It was OK after a few minutes but the initial cold air was dank and smelly.

I am thinking the condenser is not draining water properly resulting in accumulation of water and hence the smell, but I could be wrong.

Anybody else run into this?

I sometimes get that in my E46. It seems to happen whenever the weather is very humid, or the day after the AC run at full blast until the end of a trip. As you suspect, the problem is wetness in the system.

The simplest solution is to put some desinfectant or antifungal spray (I use Lysol) through the air intakes and let the car run for a few minutes. To prevent recurrence, turn your AC off (to Fan only) in the last few minutes of each trip.

Hope this helps.

drednik · 08-25-2005, 10:42 PM

When I took delivery and first turned on the AC, it smelled sour! Actually, it still smells a little sour for the first few minutes after being turned on.

F32Fleet · 08-26-2005, 09:42 AM

MB has same problems. I've found out if you set the temp at something around normal "room temp" 72 degrees for us in the US, the AC smell is is never there.

One time I had the smell bad, and I think it was growing in the vent tubes as well. 10 mins with a/c on and full heat took care of that real quick. My A/C on 99% of the time due to the year round humidity.

08-21-2005, 11:31 PM	#1
agarbati Second Lieutenant 39 Rep 279 Posts Drives: E90, Saph Blk 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Minneapolis iTrader: (0)	My AC stinks.... It was nice here the past couple of days and I had the windows down and the A/C off. Well I turned it on tonight and it stank. It was OK after a few minutes but the initial cold air was dank and smelly. I am thinking the condenser is not draining water properly resulting in accumulation of water and hence the smell, but I could be wrong. Anybody else run into this?
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08-22-2005, 12:31 AM	#2
Ponchoyu Private First Class 15 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Black Join Date: May 2005 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada iTrader: (0)	No problems here but give it a few more tries.....maybe its the first and only time it'll do it! __________________ ________ 2006 330i Sapphire Black, Premium Package, Sport Package, 6 Sp, Active Steering
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08-22-2005, 12:32 AM	#3
theclay Lieutenant 20 Rep 510 Posts Drives: '06 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles, Ca. iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I use mine every day here and no smells. __________________ Jet Black, Black Leather, Aluminum Trim, Sport, Premium, Steptronic, 35% tint
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08-22-2005, 07:06 AM	#4
Broken1 Addict 203 Rep 2,074 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 40i M-Sport Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	HAha....this is where experience comes in... I bet you've been driving around on a really hot day with the a/c on at 16c ...or it's lowest temeparature? Well, If you drive around with it on max cold, and then turn your car off and let it get hot...a bacteria grows in your ac system which makes the smell. 3 Solutions. 1. Don't drive around with it on 16c. Drive with it on 18 degree celcius. 2. Drive with it on 16c, but 5 minutes before you get out the car...put it on fan only 3. Get BMW to replace the filters or something? I found in my old car, if I took it to them and said it stinks they could fix it...temporarily! I now hardly ever put it below 18 deg because the temp of the air isn't much different. 18 is cold enough always, even in summer! and I really hate that smell!!!
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08-22-2005, 07:22 AM	#5
spydrz Captain 33 Rep 671 Posts Drives: '15 M4, '15 i3 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: RVA iTrader: (2) Garage List 06 330i [7.00] 2002 X5 3.0i [0.00] 2001 525i [0.00]	I leave mine on 68 degrees year-round and have had no smell issues with any of the newer BMWs I've owned, all with basically the same system... __________________ 2002 X5 3.0i/man.* 2006 330i/man./Arktis/Grau* 2001 525i/step./Schiefergrün/Sandbeige* 2013 X1 xDrive35i Alpinweiß/Schwarz/M Sport/Dinan Stage 2 *retired
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08-22-2005, 07:58 AM	#6
chrisbin Colonel 112 Rep 2,333 Posts Drives: 640i MSport Coupe Join Date: May 2005 Location: S.Wales, UK iTrader: (1)	I've always found that if you turn the a/c on/off in any car, the first blast of air tends to be a bit smelly........ __________________ Current: F13 640i MSport, e85 Z4 3.0i Previous - Alpina D3 BiTurbo E90 LCI Manual, 320d M Sport E92 Auto, 330i M Sport E92 courtesy of BMW UK....320i M Sport E92 Auto, 320d SE E90 Manual.
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08-25-2005, 09:24 PM	#8
ga-bmwdrvr First Lieutenant 21 Rep 327 Posts Drives: E21 320i, E90 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	The very first time I turned my AC on it stank for about a minute. It has not happened again. I think it is normal.
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08-25-2005, 09:27 PM	#9
NaTuReB0Y Powered By 36DD 337 Rep 7,369 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Inland Empire iTrader: (12)	I've used the AC about 98% of the time while driving since I got the car....and no smells. __________________ 2006 E90 330i Jet Black \| 20" WORK VS-XX \| FK452 \| H&R Sport on Koni Yellow \| REMUS QUAD
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08-25-2005, 10:42 PM	#11
drednik Private 15 Rep 74 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mississauga iTrader: (0)	When I took delivery and first turned on the AC, it smelled sour! Actually, it still smells a little sour for the first few minutes after being turned on.
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08-26-2005, 09:42 AM	#12
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3577 Rep 10,356 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	MB has same problems. I've found out if you set the temp at something around normal "room temp" 72 degrees for us in the US, the AC smell is is never there. One time I had the smell bad, and I think it was growing in the vent tubes as well. 10 mins with a/c on and full heat took care of that real quick. My A/C on 99% of the time due to the year round humidity.
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