Hot/Burning Plastic Smell From Vents

NYF32DRIVER · 09-10-2008, 09:51 PM

When my car has been sitting for a while (especially overnight) a smell that I can only describe as hot almost burning plastic comes out of the vents. It usually disappears within 30 seconds but it is quite noticeable. The odd thing is that this never happened until I brought the car in for a software update. This, of course, makes no sense at all.
The smell seems to be worse on very hot days. Anyone else experience this ?

Thanks,

J

Androo000 · 09-11-2008, 03:51 AM

i only smell it when theres dead hookers in the trunk

BK · 09-11-2008, 08:50 AM

Someone stuck a crayon in your vents.

Strongmad · 09-11-2008, 09:32 AM

A buddy of mine at work had a similar issue with his 5'er. It turned out to be a plastic grocery bag had been sucked up off the road and lodged itself around the catalytic converter, which gets really hot. So check to see if a plastic grocery bag is around your cat or somewhere else in your engine bay.

crazyeyeskilla · 09-11-2008, 10:47 AM

...or see if there's a cat stuck up under there somewhere...

alex2112 · 09-11-2008, 10:49 AM

I am experiencing this too. After my car sits for awhile, on startup the initial blast of air from the vents smells like burning plastic or fried electronics. The smell is there regardless of what climate control settings I have selected. Also, it seems to be random. Sometimes I get a strong smell, others I get a faint smell. Funny thing is, it goes away after like 15 seconds of starting up the car and it also never happens if I shut the car off and turn it back on. It has to sit for a couple hours at least for it to smell.

I took it to my dealer last week to have its brake fluid service, and I mentioned it to my SA. They say they checked the underside of the car and the engine bay but found nothing. They were not able to locate the source and told me its probably nothing to worry about, possibly something "burning off" somewhere.

335JB · 09-11-2008, 10:51 AM

ive had this problem in my old e90 and now in my e92. just figured it was something in the chemical makeup of the a/c system. luckily they are made up of nontoxic materials. doesnt bother me too much though.

Hoothout · 09-11-2008, 12:35 PM

my inital blast smells like pine trees

joec500 · 09-11-2008, 01:28 PM

I have the same issue, I thought it was a plastic bag. I just got my brakes flushed from the dealer, so perhaps some of the brake fluid spilled in the engine bay is my thought, but it has been slowly going away so I am not too worried.

09-10-2008, 09:51 PM	#1
NYF32DRIVER Lieutenant 132 Rep 556 Posts Drives: 2016 428i X Drive Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Island, NY, USA iTrader: (0)	Hot/Burning Plastic Smell From Vents When my car has been sitting for a while (especially overnight) a smell that I can only describe as hot almost burning plastic comes out of the vents. It usually disappears within 30 seconds but it is quite noticeable. The odd thing is that this never happened until I brought the car in for a software update. This, of course, makes no sense at all. The smell seems to be worse on very hot days. Anyone else experience this ? Thanks, J __________________ 2016 428i X Drive. Mineral Gray Metallic. Born 2/2016, Munich Factory. Member BMW CCA Since 2008 Last edited by NYF32DRIVER; 09-10-2008 at 10:35 PM..
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09-11-2008, 03:51 AM	#2
Androo000 Private First Class 14 Rep 134 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW M6 GC Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	i only smell it when theres dead hookers in the trunk
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09-11-2008, 08:50 AM	#3
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	Someone stuck a crayon in your vents. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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09-11-2008, 09:32 AM	#4
Strongmad Private First Class 13 Rep 139 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nonja iTrader: (0)	A buddy of mine at work had a similar issue with his 5'er. It turned out to be a plastic grocery bag had been sucked up off the road and lodged itself around the catalytic converter, which gets really hot. So check to see if a plastic grocery bag is around your cat or somewhere else in your engine bay.
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09-11-2008, 10:47 AM	#5
crazyeyeskilla Private 0 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 09 335i xDrive on order ED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Centennial State iTrader: (0)	...or see if there's a cat stuck up under there somewhere...
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09-11-2008, 10:49 AM	#6
alex2112 Lieutenant 26 Rep 444 Posts Drives: 2016 X1 M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MA iTrader: (4)	I am experiencing this too. After my car sits for awhile, on startup the initial blast of air from the vents smells like burning plastic or fried electronics. The smell is there regardless of what climate control settings I have selected. Also, it seems to be random. Sometimes I get a strong smell, others I get a faint smell. Funny thing is, it goes away after like 15 seconds of starting up the car and it also never happens if I shut the car off and turn it back on. It has to sit for a couple hours at least for it to smell. I took it to my dealer last week to have its brake fluid service, and I mentioned it to my SA. They say they checked the underside of the car and the engine bay but found nothing. They were not able to locate the source and told me its probably nothing to worry about, possibly something "burning off" somewhere.
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09-11-2008, 10:51 AM	#7
335JB Private First Class 2 Rep 183 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi E92 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	ive had this problem in my old e90 and now in my e92. just figured it was something in the chemical makeup of the a/c system. luckily they are made up of nontoxic materials. doesnt bother me too much though. __________________ 2008 Jet Black/ Black Dakota/ Aluminum E92 335xi OEM Front Lip \| Seibon CF Trunk \| CF Kidney Grills \| Painted Reflectors \| GP Thunder Angels \| ACS Roof Spoiler \| Rear Fogs
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09-11-2008, 12:35 PM	#8
Hoothout Colonel 59 Rep 2,799 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW E92 328i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Brentwood, TN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 e92 328i [0.00]	my inital blast smells like pine trees __________________ 2008 SG E92 328i iDrive,Premium Pkg,Sport Pkg,Cold Weather pkg,Black Dakota Leather,GP Thunder 8500k cornering,drl,and foglights, ,Blacked Out Grills,Painted Reflectors,Shadowline Emblems,Hardwired Beltronics V-995, AFE Intake, Muffler Delete, Berger tune
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09-11-2008, 01:28 PM	#9
joec500 Brigadier General 125 Rep 3,004 Posts Drives: it has 4 wheels Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (10)	I have the same issue, I thought it was a plastic bag. I just got my brakes flushed from the dealer, so perhaps some of the brake fluid spilled in the engine bay is my thought, but it has been slowly going away so I am not too worried.
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