New microfilter change - smells like feet at first every time the fan is on.

jeremym · #1 05-31-2011, 06:17 PM

Hey all, recently my truck was in for some warranty work and they replaced the micro filter. However, any time I turn a function of the HVAC on, it blows air that smells like feet or something rank. Almost like they gave me a swamp-soaked used micro filter. Anyone else have this experience? It makes the first minute or two of any HVAC function almost unbearable and I have to roll down all the windows to get the smell it dissipate fast.

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jeremym · #2 06-13-2011, 09:49 PM

No one can chime in on this?

barbja · #3 06-14-2011, 10:19 AM

I obtained my '11 35d in June 2010. Around November or December it developed the same symptoms you are talking about. They deoderized it on my first service and told me something to the effect that it was bacteria buildup, it was my fault, BMW will deoderize the filter only once at their expense, and that I could make it not happen by not leaving it on recirculate all the time; I had to alternate between fresh air and recirc. I leave it on A, isn't that supposed to recirc sometimes and not others?

Anyhow, ALL BMWs don't do that because I owned my '03 E53 for 7yrs and NEVER had that problem.

On a side note, when I got my new X6 back from the body shop (1 week old; it was having the bumper repainted), the a/c smelled like french fries on startup! They deoderized the filter, but it still has remnants of the smell. I guess french fries is better than dirty socks.

SCardamon · #4 06-14-2011, 10:47 AM

Yeah this is a known issue with the condnsation pan (I believe that is what it is called). When the air conditioning is turned on there is a bit of condensation that builds on this pan (they actually have to take out the part, clean it with a solution and replace it, that is the reason for being expensive). I believe they also alter the pan in some way which avoids this issue but does not fully correct it there is still a potential for it happening again.

The proactive way to avoid it my SA (who is awesome, if you are near Columbus Ohio, go to MAG) advised me to turn off the air cond about a minute before turning off the car so the condensation is cleared.

You can also get an HVAC cleaning solution from DetailersDomain I believe which will aid in this issue going forward.

SCardamon · #5 06-14-2011, 12:28 PM

Here is the stuff
http://detailersdomain.com/carcarepr...maCleaner.html

jeremym · #6 06-14-2011, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCardamon

Yeah this is a known issue with the condnsation pan (I believe that is what it is called). When the air conditioning is turned on there is a bit of condensation that builds on this pan (they actually have to take out the part, clean it with a solution and replace it, that is the reason for being expensive). I believe they also alter the pan in some way which avoids this issue but does not fully correct it there is still a potential for it happening again.

The proactive way to avoid it my SA (who is awesome, if you are near Columbus Ohio, go to MAG) advised me to turn off the air cond about a minute before turning off the car so the condensation is cleared.

You can also get an HVAC cleaning solution from DetailersDomain I believe which will aid in this issue going forward.

I hadn't ran the A/C yet this year when this started happening. I got the truck in January and they replaced the filter in March. All I used was heat. It was DIRECTLY after they replaced the filter is when this started happening. "Brand new filter" and a brand new bad smell.