Ugly burning smell in cabin while driving....help?

[Razor0368]

Hi, i am having ugly smell coming in my cabin when driving with windows little opened, i know i have oil pan gasket leaking and oil on oil pan....could it be up to that or is it something else?...it is really ugly smell and annonying anyone had the same or simillar thing?

[LVP]

If it smells different than oil, check your brakes. You might have a seized parking brake. Easy way is to feel the rims. If they are hot, you may have a stuck caliper or rear parking brakes. The smell of cooking brakes isn't all that pleasant either.

But if it's oil, I'd say check your valve cover gasket. If it leaks, it tends to right onto the exhaust manifold. Some cars (not sure if the 6-cyl X5 has or not) have a heat/drip shield over the manifold. You'll be able to see if it is leaking onto the manifold or not though.

[Razor0368]

Yeah it has one small oil spot on the metal part, i know ab that, i will fix that along with VANOS unit...i doubt ab brakes because it has that distinctive burnt oil smell....and it is 6cyl M54B30 engine with 5 speed manual....i just washed it from beneath, tons of oil washed out, guy who was washing he was shocked , i will drive it the rest of the day and tomorrow i will go to stealership to check that out