[White340]

For the last month or so, I've been getting this odd odor in the cabin after driving for about 15-20 minutes. It sort of smells like how an engine smells after it's warm and you open the hood up or brakes after they've been extensively used. In my case, I get this smell even when driving at a constant speed on the highway (so light driving). I haven't ever had a car where this smell comes inside the cabin. It is quite nauseating after a while.

Does anyone have a similar smell?

[cmplaya]

no....

[Maxpnc]

I had an odd smell in car (possibly what you are describing) randomly while driving and it turned out to be a tiny amount of burning oil from leaking vacuum pump seal.

[dkirsch78]

Doesn't sound normal to me. Granted I've only been driving mine for a few weeks but I haven't smelled anything except new leather. I'd get it checked out.

[PappyVR4]

I would get it checked out. But first off, do you always have the AC on? If not, then condensation builds up in the ducting and can produce a smell the next time you're in the car. The system is designed to always have the AC on. Not for cooling, but for conditioning/de-humidifying as was the intent of the first air conditioners invented.

[hollandog]

I do smell something in my car that I can't describe what it is.
My mom has car sick and she always say my car smells awful.

[bimmercar]

that has happened to me, a slight odor, only happens if i drive harder without oil temps warming up enough yet

[Big Nodge]

I don't notice anything while driving, but I have noticed that when I pop my head in the garage to take a quick glance at the beast in the evenings I pick up a hint of a burning oil smell. Just noticed it the last day or so, so keeping an eye (nose?) on it for now.

[Beek]

I've gotten a whiff of what I'd describe as hot grease after long drives a few times and I too am keeping an eye/nose on it. I have not noticed it recently so maybe it was something left over from manufacturing?

[Livetodrive]

No odor from mine, with 4,000 miles on it. I'd get it checked out.

[cardsdoc]

Funny just recently I noticed faint smell in the cabin too, like what you would smell if you opened the hood after the car was driven for a while just much less intense. Also when I get home after a longer drive I do smell something similar in the garage especially when close to the hood which i didn't have on my 2013 335.

I continue to notice an annoying whining/droning sound from the engine on moderate acceleration but consistently only after the car has warmed up after 15-20 minutes of driving. I've posted about this before and had BMW look into it but they never hear it and say everything checks out.

I feel like there is some moving part that is getting overheated or something but don't know enough to make a more specific guess.

[NightWriter]

Do you have a gauss meter handy?

[dkirsch78]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

Do you have a gauss meter handy?

This!

[luivincci]

I have this burnt smell from time to time. After my own investigation, I believe the smell comes from the lubricating grease of the sunroof rail.

[xG35c]

Several threads about this... after 30k miles, I can STILL get a faint whiff! Seems to occur driving on the highway with the sunroof open which creates a suction pulling more air from the vents and apparent some underhood fumes also. When it happens I close the sunroof!

[pz619]

When they ship the car they coat it in a waxy substance. It melts at a relatively low temp and I think this could be what you are smelling. Mine had that smell for a while until I cleaned every nook and cranny in the engine compartment. It tends to weep from the doors as well.

[beto_L.A.]

I get the same smell specially when I drive on the FWY & I have the back of the sun roof open. I've mentioned this to my SA but it always comes back as no smell detected.
Anyone had any luck getting the dealer to do something about the smell??

[cardsdoc]

Originally Posted by beto_L.A.

I get the same smell specially when I drive on the FWY & I have the back of the sun roof open. I've mentioned this to my SA but it always comes back as no smell detected.
Anyone had any luck getting the dealer to do something about the smell??

Interesting. I didn't mention it in my earlier post cause I wasn't sure it was relevant but I noted the smell on the highway with the HVAC off and sunroof open in the back. Strange. I did have an appointment set up but maybe I'll cancel now.

[hollandog]

Now to think of it I will pay more attention to the sunroof open vs close.
I thought the smell came from the vent.

[beto_L.A.]

Originally Posted by cardsdoc

Interesting. I didn't mention it in my earlier post cause I wasn't sure it was relevant but I noted the smell on the highway with the HVAC off and sunroof open in the back. Strange. I did have an appointment set up but maybe I'll cancel now.

I usually turn on the AC to get the smell out of the car. But the moment the AC is off, the smell returns. All this happens when the back part of the sun roof is open.

[White340]

In my case it happens with the sunroof closed. I never noticed a correlation between the two. Regarding the AC, I usually keep it off to keep it from robbing my power

[thornfrog]

I too have the smell you described occasionally. Sunroof closed and AC off. It is kinda subtle though. I thought it's because the car is too powerful. I'm not a mechanic so what do I know..