2003 X5 E53 smells like glue on start

[Meestahbig]

I put some 134 in a cup and smelled it a few hours later. this doesnt seem to be what I am smelling. what I am smelling, smells strong, you can mistake it. after it clear out, I dont smell it for the ride. strangely enough, last night I replace my secondary air pump... had the car on at around 10pm for a short minute or two. this morning - no smell in the car vents. it was colder out last night, not sure if that had anything to with it... hmmm. I will change my cabin air filter just for good measure, but I dont think that has anything to do with it.

[80stech]

The A/C smell would likely be more from the oil so maybe don't rule that out. If changing the secondary air pump helped then you might be smelling exhaust from the leaking check valve you should have replaced.

[Meestahbig]

thats an interesting thought. I do have a valve cover gasket leak, so I have oil on the passenger side of the engine compartment... its been like that for a long time, but the smell only started around the time when the car sat in april due to covid, which also coincided with the use of the AC system here.

[Meestahbig]

So interestingly, I changed my secondary air pump anyday and a half ago... since then, no more smell. Very odd.

[Meestahbig]

I can't really see how the secondary air pump bearing being bad and squealing, could be connected to these aggressive fumes in my car. Let's see if it comes back. Weather has been cooler out too. Nothing else I can think of has changed. Maybe where I am parking my car... I park it over this cutout in my driveway, that is over my well pump. Past two night I have parked in different space for some reason. Wouldn't that be strange.