Fuel smell from AC vents on WOT
 

I recently bought an e70 3.5i 2012 with all the bells and whistles
So I recently started getting this smell from a/c vents shortly after WOT ..
the car had recently been revised( changed injectors/and spark plugs.. even the valve cover valve was leaking.. so changed the whole cover..
my Indy double checked all the connections after his repair.. and there is no leak whatsoever..
there is no smell anywhere near the engine or under the car.. no fuel spots on my garage .. only the smell inside the cabin if the fans are on and under WOT..
any guidance for possible crack locations to look for would be appreciated..
thank you all in advance..


Dr. Moustafa Kassab
Bmw e70 2012

Hey bud, no idea if mine had same issue, but I was smelling what I thought was exhaust/something through my vents on my commute.
In a dealer visit for other stuff I told them and they did two things which stopped the smell - not sure which was the culprit. Below are their notes from my work order:
1 - Smell likely caused by leaking turbo coolant lines, replaced two return hoses and connecting line. Tech found turbo coolant pump (auxiliary cooling pump) to be very noisy, replaced pump. Topped off coolant.
2 - While diagnosing smell, tech found the power steering pump to be leaking also., Replaced power steering pump. Refilled fluid.

I mention it because I think its often difficult to tell for sure if the smell is fuel, coolant or oil sometimes. Good luck.

"fuel" is a different smell from "exhaust" which is different from 'burning oil(s)"


wonder if we are having some definitional issues.....

And what does burning power steering fluid smell like to you?
That is why I made that qualification in my post - I do not think everyone can tell easily. I could only describe what I smelled as exhaust... Often things just smell "ICE related" to folks. Similar to trying to diagnose by describing a sound.

Found the issue!! It was a exhausted fuel line.. that was only leaking under pressure .. it is located near the firewall in the left side..


Dr. Moustafa Kassab
Bmw e70 2012