[///McRae]

Hi,

In the past few days I have noticed a charcoal type smell coming from my air conditioning and air vents; it is not overpowering, but is very noticeable. It is strongest when I first start the car, for the first couple of minutes.

Anybody got any idea what this is?

Thanks,

R.

[Spool]

We all get that weird smell, sometimes mine smells like baked potato...

[FLTreeTirdy]

mine smells like burning rubber sometimes.... after the drifts

[Gort]

Mesquite or regular?

[Socratesbmw]

Been part of BMW and the AC since I can remember. I get that same smell in my new 335 as I did in my '96 328

[Vegas335]

Charcoal filter or are you downwind from California?

[///McRae]

Originally Posted by Socratesbmw

Been part of BMW and the AC since I can remember. I get that same smell in my new 335 as I did in my '96 328

Thanks. Does it come and go, or always there?

[Socratesbmw]

It seems to be present more when you are not using your AC all the time. meaning if you don't use it for a few days and turn it on, its there. The weather just started turning here and that cycle has just started for me. I smelled it for the first time in my 335 the other day and just kind of chuckled.

[aequitas330]

Originally Posted by Spool

We all get that weird smell, sometimes mine smells like baked potato...

Now you're making me hungry...

[///McRae]

Originally Posted by Socratesbmw

It seems to be present more when you are not using your AC all the time. meaning if you don't use it for a few days and turn it on, its there. The weather just started turning here and that cycle has just started for me. I smelled it for the first time in my 335 the other day and just kind of chuckled.

Yes, I think you are exactly right. I never noticed it before, until about two weeks ago, when it was cool for a couple of days; now it has turned almost cold (well for TX anyway) and I am noticing it more.

Thank you for putting my mind at rest.

Edit: I just noticed you are in TX too.

[AcmeExplosives]

Originally Posted by ralhou

Hi,

In the past few days I have noticed a charcoal type smell coming from my air conditioning and air vents; it is not overpowering, but is very noticeable. It is strongest when I first start the car, for the first couple of minutes.

Anybody got any idea what this is?

Thanks,

R.

I remember for one of my scheduled maintenance visits for my E46 they replaced the AC filters. Supposedly they are there to trap moisture and cut down on that mildew smell you can get from your AC. I'm guessing the filters have charcoal in them.

One note about mildew smell from AC - That usually happens when you shut your car off with the AC still on. The moisture doesn't have any time to evaporate. The best thing to do is to turn off your AC a few minutes before you turn the car off and run the air vents instead. This will cut down on the moisture and eventual mildew build-up.