We could not tell you how frequently a customer calls us in a panic because their BMW is emitting a strange smell. We ask these customers to explain the smell, and most of the time, based on their description, we will be able to figure out what is wrong with your automobile.
Following are some instances of various fragrances and the problems they may indicate:
- Burning rubber smells can be a sign of a variety of problems, from drive belts to hoses that are loose. You can smell burnt rubber because when the hoses get loose, they tend to grind up against the driving pulleys. Do not attempt to disentangle the loose hoses in the hot engine department; instead, bring it right away to our attention!
- Perhaps you smell oil? If so, you may have an oil leak that is leaking into your exhaust system. Smoke coming from the engine compartment or oil on the ground are classic indications of an oil leak.
- Gas leaks are typically identified by the odor of gas; they mean that your BMW needs repairs to the fuel tank, injector line, or perhaps both! Because a gas leak could result in a fire, you should bring your BMW to us right once if you smell gasoline.
- Do you detect a sweet, syrupy smell? This could point to a problem with your engine coolant; this normally has to do with the cooling system of the car.
- Burnt carpet smell is typically a sign of braking trouble, which poses a serious safety risk. Please bring your BMW in straight away to have the brakes examined if you smell burned carpet.
- The smell of rotten eggs is never pleasant and can be a sign of significant issues with your BMW; it frequently denotes a catalytic converter issue. Or it can be a sign of a poorly operating engine, which causes the catalytic converter to overload and stop working.
In This Article...
oil spill
In the BMW 5 Series, an oil leak can produce a burning smell, especially if oil spills into the exhaust system. Under normal operating conditions, the surface temperature of an exhaust pipe or manifold can reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit (426 degrees Celsius). When the exhaust pipe or manifold gets hot during operation, any oil that has leaked onto them vaporizes and emits an unpleasant stench. On rare occasions, the engine compartment may also begin to smoke.
After being in stop-and-go traffic during the summer, I sometimes smell burning rubber or plastic. Has this happened to anyone else? Occasionally, the odor will enter the cabin, but today I can smell it coming from the outside of the car.
Valve cover gasket inspection Normally, if it begins to leak, it drops onto the downpipe and smokes. I experienced the same problem; I replaced the VCG, and the burning smell disappeared.
me too, omg! I never really gave it much consideration; I assumed it was an exhaust leak, but it actually makes a lot of sense as I can smell it more when I’m driving and I would have assumed that you wouldn’t be able to smell or at the very least hear an exhaust leak when you rev.
The strange part is that I only detected this burning odor twice. I looked for any steam or oil drops on or near the downpipe but was unable to find any. Maybe it’s a tiny leak that only happens in hot weather (like during traffic)? I don’t track or push this car hard. The only other thing I can think of is that maybe after 10,000 miles my MPE is still breaking in.
Have you recently replaced your downpipe, by chance? Although I suspect it is due to exhaust parts deteriorating, it could be an exhaust leak. Additionally, if it were in the back of the automobile, it wouldn’t enter the cabin. particularly if you’re driving.
Yesterday, I looked over the car for a while, but I didn’t notice any oil on the edges of the valve covers. The high-pressure pipe leading to the oil cooler did, however, have some oil on it (m-sport). I’ve cleaned the oil for the time being, and I’ll drive the car more to see if any more oil or dirt stains form.
Update: The valve cover gasket was changed, however the cabin odors are still present. Although I think things are much better than they were, it’s possible that there is a little exhaust leak or that oil is escaping from somewhere else and burning on the manifold. This Friday, I have an appointment to replace my downpipe to see if it makes a difference.
Check your lines and harnesses if you detect a burned rubber or plastic odor. One can be lying down or positioned in such a way that they come into contact with a hot engine component. Do you notice it there as well? I would find out since you can end up stranded on the side of the road if the wiring harness eventually burns through. yet unlike plastic or rubber, burned oil smells like burned oil. GL dude!
Possible cause: Gas leak
This is one of the most hazardous scents and could indicate that a fuel line, for example, is leaking in the engine or close to the exhaust. Raw fuel could ignite if it comes into touch with spinning engine parts or a hot exhaust system. If you have a car from the 1970s or earlier, a fuel smell that persists after the engine is turned off may be normal; if the smell is severe, get it checked out right away.
What to do: Find a secure parking space and shut off the engine right away. Have your automobile hauled to the mechanic.
When you add GEICO Emergency Roadside Service to your motor coverage for assistance in the event of a breakdown, success begins to smell good. The GEICO Mobile App allows you to seek roadside help, which is the best!
What causes the burning oil smell in my BMW?
The most common cause of burning oil is leaky oil that gets on hot exhaust or engine parts. Fixing an oil leak can help you avoid having to make pricey auto repairs. Your engine uses oil to keep the parts greased and functioning properly. Due to deterioration or exposure to heat, some seals or gaskets may start to leak over time. This oil will burn and emit a very noticeable burning oil smell as it drips onto the surface of the engine or other hot engine components. This scent shouldn’t be ignored because occasionally damaged internal engine components can produce the same stench. For this reason, it’s crucial to accurately detect any damage and fix it if necessary.
What causes the burning plastic smell in my BMW?
The kind of smell you are smelling might tell you what kind of problem you are dealing with, whether it is a mild smell or there is plainly something wrong with your car. Here are five different odors and the areas that they suggest require attention:
The stench of rotten eggs or sulfur is typically the result of a catalytic converter in the exhaust system overheating. Either the converter or your engine could be in need of repair. This necessitates a visit to the service center in either case! Avoid waiting too long as this may lead to problems in the future.
Burning plastic odor: This typically indicates that a different component of your car is melting when it comes into contact with the exhaust. If a portion of your car is loose or you went over something on the road, it might be touching it or burning on the exhaust if you ran over it.
Burning metallic odor: This typically indicates that your clutch or brakes are failing. Your brake pads and the clutch disc have a similar chemical makeup and produce a comparable odor. Bring your car in to the shop so they can identify the problem and repair the broken component.
Anywhere this sweet smell emanates from—whether it’s within the car or outside—a coolant leak is present. You’ll likely smell it if it’s pouring onto your engine or the ground. Bring it in to identify the leak and address the problem.
Gas smell: If you smell gasoline when your car is in drive or while it is parked, there is a fuel leak. The gasoline tank’s top seal and the under-the-hood injectors are the two that are used the most frequently. Get this checked out to avoid wasting money on gasoline and to get rid of the odor of gas.
Why does anything in my car smell like it’s burning?
Even though it might not smell like rubber, you are almost certain that something is burning inside the engine. Several items, such as a burned-out electrical fuse, an overheating air conditioning compressor, or worn out brake pads that need to be replaced, could be the cause of a burning smell in your automobile.
To find out whether you only need a quick wiring fix or whether you could need a brake check and repair to keep you safe on the road, it’s advisable to let a skilled technician have a look under the hood of your car if your car smells like burning plastic or you can’t quite place the smell.
How can I tell if the oil in my BMW is burning?
Overheating. An oil leak is indicated by overheating. A smoldering automobile or an overheated BMW are both obvious signs that something is wrong, but overheating is a symptom that your car is losing oil.
What does the scent of burning indicate?
Phantosmia is a disorder that makes you perceive smells that aren’t truly present. Other names for it include olfactory hallucination. The scents could be constant or intermittent. They could be short-lived or persistent.
One typical kind of phantomia is the perception of burning or smoky scents, particularly the smell of burnt toast. While the smell of burnt toast in itself is not diagnostic, it can be a clue of a more serious condition if you smell something that isn’t there. However, there are numerous other reasons why you can smell burnt toast.
Consult a doctor so they can rule out any major conditions if you smell burnt toast while there isn’t any toast burning nearby.
BMWs are known to burn oil, right?
Therefore, do BMWs use oil? Although BMWs consume oil more quickly than the majority of other vehicles, the German automaker claims that this is a typical aspect of the vehicle’s operation. In addition, if it’s a high-performance model, BMWs can burn even more fuel, up to one quart every 750 miles.
Why do I smell smoke or burning?
The actual physical surroundings does not contain any of these perceived strange scents. Depending on what caused the olfactory hallucination, they can last for a while.
In reply, Dr. Ronald DeVere says:
Olfactory hallucinations are erroneous odors that are perceived but are not truly present in the environment. These smells are typically unpleasant. They can originate in a variety of locations across the olfactory system. Depending on the cause, unpleasant odors can linger for a while. The uncus in the inner temporal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for smell, is most likely the source of a quick, short-lived scent of smoke. An aberrant electrical discharge or “firing” in the brain could be the cause (a seizure). A brain tumor, inflammation, a stroke, or an injury following head trauma are possible reasons of this anomaly. An MRI of the brain and a brain-wave test are needed to determine the cause (EEG). Results of scent testing in someone having this kind of seizure are often normal to hardly odd. Anti-seizure drugs may be used to prevent seizures and, as a result, get rid of the scent if a seizure disease is suspected.
A disruption of the smell system in the nose (olfactory organ or olfactory nerves) or in the olfactory bulb, which is located directly within the skull above the upper nose level, is typically the cause of olfactory hallucinations lasting more than a few minutes to several hours. Dysosmia is the medical word for this kind of olfactory hallucination. Head and nose trauma, viral damage to the scent system following a severe cold, chronic recurrent sinus infections, allergies, nasal polyps, and tumors are common causes of dysosmia. Usually, the source is not the brain. The results of smell tests are often odd in such circumstances, and the sense of smell for other odors is frequently also compromised.
Without treatment, dysosmia often goes away over time (three months to two years). An MRI of the olfactory system and a nasal endoscopy, in which an ENT specialist examines the nasal and sinus passageways with a magnified scope, may be part of a full assessment for the aforementioned causes. Saline nasal drops can be used to treat dysosmia when the head is lowered (the top of the head should be pointing to the floor). Additionally, some drugs may help, such as gabapentin, which is typically prescribed for seizure disorders but has also been demonstrated to stop offensive odors from coming from damaged smell receptors or their nerve branches. Since the FDA has not approved gabapentin for this indication, the use of the drug in this situation is regarded as off label. The FDA has not formally investigated or evaluated the drug for this condition, but this does not imply that it is ineffective or unsafe.