Remember when Donna reported that the Mini literally stinks? One of our readers guessed it was mold and after a waff of Mini stank a few weeks ago, that's certainly my guess as well. It's pretty disgusting and I'd much rather sit in a hot car that slowly die from mold spores being blown into my face. Anyway, before rushing to the dealer, we decided to take a holistic approach...
I had the Mini this weekend and the stank has dissipated somewhat, but some still remains. I ran the heater again on my drive in (it got a little toasty), but we'll definitely have it checked out at the dealer. The problem with that, however, is Mini's service intervals are insanely long and we're not due for our first service for another 2,550 miles (according to the car).
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 15,220 miles
2002blksle says:
09:15 AM, 05/12/08
Had this issue when I was in college and some "friends" thought it would be fun idea to poor flour all over my car. Two weeks later the smell was unbearable as it got into the fresh air intake.
Solution: Get a can of lysol spray. Turn the Fan on fresh air/max speed. Spray the can into the outside fresh air intake (not sure where it is located on the mini). That should take care of the problem. The "lysol" smell should discipate in a week...
m_thrizzle says:
10:01 AM, 05/12/08
I don't think the heater gets hot enough to kill off the mold. It may just make it grow faster.
opfreak says:
10:05 AM, 05/12/08
^that along with the high heat.
then again, home grown remedies, like I suggested before, ethier work or they dont'.
Sometimes you need pro help... I'd look for that 'fridgie fresh'(SP) product online, it might be for sale at a local dealer as well, its about 10-15 dollars, and supposd to work well
gobryngo says:
10:11 AM, 05/12/08
"aw jeez. and you got the stink lines and everything."
milt721 says:
11:33 AM, 05/12/08
^^ nice simpson's reference. (and it applies to the topic...unlike this post...)
SubyTrojan says:
12:39 PM, 05/12/08
Bryn, you are so cultured! :o)
http://www.snpp.com/episodes/3F02.html - scroll down to "Quotes and Scene Summary" and look for the second part of Act Three
desmolicious says:
01:29 PM, 05/12/08
I'd try the lysol fix. Using heat is akin to baking bread...
opfreak says:
02:10 PM, 05/12/08
desmolicious -
heat would seem backwards, but part of the problem is mositure got trapped in the system. You need to get the water out, lysol + drying the system out should do the trick.
on the other hand, this car is under warrenty.
Mine wasn't, if it was still within the bumper to bumepr warrenty, i'd take it to the dealer, I wouldnt wait for a maintance appointment, my newish mini should not stink
blueguydotcom says:
03:08 PM, 05/12/08
If you use the AC, be sure to always switch to open/fresh air for the last 1 minute of your drive. My guess, you're using recirculate (which is desperately needed for weak AC systems in German-designed cars) and leaving that button depressed when you turn off the car. You're trapping the moisture inside the system.
Take it to the dealer too...
06scooby says:
03:40 PM, 05/12/08
I've had this issue in many cars when i lived in texas. This works best if you have a garage (edmunds.com garage?). Soak the DEFROSTER Vents with an anti-bacterial spray (Lysol works great) since that is where your system usually draws re-circ air. Then flip the ignition to ON and turn the A/C on re-circ full blast. Don't start the car because you don't want the A/C to actually cycle. Let it run that way for 5-10 minutes. then soak the outside return under the windshield and then switch to outside air and let it run full blast another 5-10 minutes. works like a charm. When you spray the lysol in make sure you spray that stuff directly inside the return for a good 10-15 seconds!
honorsystem says:
08:20 PM, 05/12/08
Did anyone leave anything perishable anywhere in the car?
I'm serious, my buddy forgot a gallon of milk in the trunk of his 323i for 3 weeks. I swear if you were to find it today, the trunk would still reek, and the interior would have a faint scent of spoiled cheese....
honfatboy says:
02:01 PM, 05/16/08
The lysol thing worked with my 2003 325i. The BMW dealer I worked at gave me the tip.
I feel (smell?) for you; it does really stink.
estreka says:
09:05 PM, 05/17/08
When I bought my truck, I found a petrified Taco Bell soft taco under the driver's seat several months after purchase. And no, it wasn't me.