Smells Fishy

Shake n Bake · 01-26-2016, 06:27 AM

This is a bit of an odd one.....whilst driving my F11 I have occasionally noticed a fishy smell, it's fleeting and I assumed something external.

It's become more frequent this past week, including a hint of the odour as I pulled off my drive the other morning.

Do any of the more mechanically minded on the forum know of any possible cause for this, or is it as I first thought, likely external.

Thanks.

35,000miles. Servicing coming up soon.

Balster · 01-26-2016, 10:11 AM

Sardine or Tuna type smell?

I had the same problem in my car last year, took it to the sharks at BMW and they came out with the standard party line - "The air con needs a clean.". Suffice to say I paid the £50 to have it resolved. That fishy smell has not appeared since.

Shake n Bake · 01-26-2016, 10:41 AM

I like Tuna...sadly this is much more sardine - pungent!

Well I guess I'd better get that service booked in and have it taken care of.

Thanks for the info!

IanS100 · 01-26-2016, 10:50 AM

You'll have to start using the heated seats on a lower setting

The Beast · 01-26-2016, 11:17 AM

You can buy an air conditioning bomb online and give it a go yourself first... It's an aerosol that you release in the footwell whilst the aircon is on recirculate.

Might also be worth changing the cabin filters behind the back of the glovebox. There's a post on the main forum that shows where these are and how to change them

MrPogle · 01-26-2016, 05:01 PM

Last time I cleaned my aircon, I bought an antibacterial aerosol (from a pound shop, although it was a proper brand (Dettol or similar)). Put the fans on full and spray half the can into the air intakes. Turn the fans off and leave for a hour or so. Open the windows and let the stuff dissipate as I'm not sure how good for you breathing stuff like that is.

The smell I had was more pond than fish but it went and never came back.

The Beast · 01-27-2016, 04:03 AM

Here's a link to some examples, I've been told that the bomb type that you set off and leave to circulate through the air conditioning whilst it is on recirculate is better than the one that you just spray into the vents. However I've never had a need to use these, as I constantly run my air conditioning and it has never had the bacteria build up in any of the vehicles that I have owned....

http://www.eurocarparts.com/air-cond...2ZPxoC1xnw_wcB

lsturbointeg · 01-27-2016, 09:18 AM

lol...check to see if your GF or "Wife" left some undies under the seat

just sayin'

IanS100 · 01-27-2016, 11:01 AM

Maybe 'Shake n Bake' IS the wife or GF!?!

Diesel Flash · 01-28-2016, 05:38 AM

Someone else with a fishy Bmw!

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Jokes a side, my e90 suffered from that fousty smell, just moisture in your pipes thats turned mouldy thats all.

Get a £10 aircon cleaning bomb job done oh and you can also squirt foam antibacterial cleaner down the vents.

01-26-2016, 06:27 AM	#1
Shake n Bake First Lieutenant 21 Rep 306 Posts Drives: F11 520d M-Sport Prof Media Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Smells Fishy - Literally This is a bit of an odd one.....whilst driving my F11 I have occasionally noticed a fishy smell, it's fleeting and I assumed something external. It's become more frequent this past week, including a hint of the odour as I pulled off my drive the other morning. Do any of the more mechanically minded on the forum know of any possible cause for this, or is it as I first thought, likely external. Thanks. 35,000miles. Servicing coming up soon.
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01-26-2016, 10:11 AM	#2
Balster Captain 109 Rep 628 Posts Drives: BMW G30 530d MSport xDrive Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Leeds iTrader: (0)	Sardine or Tuna type smell? I had the same problem in my car last year, took it to the sharks at BMW and they came out with the standard party line - "The air con needs a clean.". Suffice to say I paid the £50 to have it resolved. That fishy smell has not appeared since. __________________ G30 530d M Sport xdrive, Adaptive Drive and with all of the important options.
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01-26-2016, 10:41 AM	#3
Shake n Bake First Lieutenant 21 Rep 306 Posts Drives: F11 520d M-Sport Prof Media Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: England iTrader: (0)	I like Tuna...sadly this is much more sardine - pungent! Well I guess I'd better get that service booked in and have it taken care of. Thanks for the info!
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01-26-2016, 10:50 AM	#4
IanS100 Major General 136 Rep 5,050 Posts Drives: 520d F10 LCI M Sport Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Southport UK iTrader: (0)	You'll have to start using the heated seats on a lower setting
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01-26-2016, 11:17 AM	#5
The Beast Lieutenant Colonel 268 Rep 1,597 Posts Drives: VW Transporter Sportline Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Wolverhampton iTrader: (0)	You can buy an air conditioning bomb online and give it a go yourself first... It's an aerosol that you release in the footwell whilst the aircon is on recirculate. Might also be worth changing the cabin filters behind the back of the glovebox. There's a post on the main forum that shows where these are and how to change them
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01-26-2016, 05:01 PM	#6
MrPogle Captain 69 Rep 605 Posts Drives: F10 550i M-Sport LCI Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Cheshire iTrader: (0)	Last time I cleaned my aircon, I bought an antibacterial aerosol (from a pound shop, although it was a proper brand (Dettol or similar)). Put the fans on full and spray half the can into the air intakes. Turn the fans off and leave for a hour or so. Open the windows and let the stuff dissipate as I'm not sure how good for you breathing stuff like that is. The smell I had was more pond than fish but it went and never came back.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-27-2016, 04:03 AM	#7
The Beast Lieutenant Colonel 268 Rep 1,597 Posts Drives: VW Transporter Sportline Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Wolverhampton iTrader: (0)	Here's a link to some examples, I've been told that the bomb type that you set off and leave to circulate through the air conditioning whilst it is on recirculate is better than the one that you just spray into the vents. However I've never had a need to use these, as I constantly run my air conditioning and it has never had the bacteria build up in any of the vehicles that I have owned.... http://www.eurocarparts.com/air-cond...2ZPxoC1xnw_wcB __________________ Current: VW Transporter Sportline, F48 X1 20i M Sport. Previous: F10 530d M Sport, W176 A200 CDI AMG Evolution, E70 X5 3.0 SD M Sport, F20 120d M Sport, E81 120d M Sport, E46 325i M Sport, E46 318ci & Many Others...
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01-27-2016, 09:18 AM	#8
lsturbointeg Lieutenant General 9156 Rep 14,522 Posts Drives: 2011 535i Jet Black Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Asian lost in OH iTrader: (0)	lol...check to see if your GF or "Wife" left some undies under the seat just sayin' __________________ ~F90Conversion~21"3Piece Forged AvantGardeWheels~KWV1Coilovers~CQUENCE slotted/drilled rotors~GoodridgeStainlesslines~MeisterschaftQuadEx haust~Akrapovic 4"tips~VRSF DP~VRSF CP~TurboSmart BOV~K&N filter~CarbonFiberExteriorComponents~GladenAlphaCo mponents~MatchUp7BMW~Punch P300-12T~ Follow me on Instagram: lsturbointeg
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01-27-2016, 11:01 AM	#9
IanS100 Major General 136 Rep 5,050 Posts Drives: 520d F10 LCI M Sport Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Southport UK iTrader: (0)	Maybe 'Shake n Bake' IS the wife or GF!?!
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01-28-2016, 05:38 AM	#10
Diesel Flash The Flasher 55 Rep 164 Posts Drives: F11 520d M sport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Newport iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 320d [0.00]	Someone else with a fishy Bmw! Jokes a side, my e90 suffered from that fousty smell, just moisture in your pipes thats turned mouldy thats all. Get a £10 aircon cleaning bomb job done oh and you can also squirt foam antibacterial cleaner down the vents. __________________ BMW F11 520d M-Sport, Stage2 Remap, Sophisto Grau, Oyster leather, Pro Nav, 20" M5 reps, H&R Sport Springs, Vorsteiner Rep Front&Rear Carbon valance, Quad exhaust Conversion, M5 Grill, Focal Audio
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