E36 - External smell

[megatniza]

Sifus , Had always wanted to asked this question - but somehow only today I remember ...maybe becos I trailed a garbage truck on the way back from lunch ! The problem is even if I on the internal air circ button , ( the green light is on - so it could not be the button , right ? ) I can sometime still smell the external air ...durian la , bandaraya garbage truck la , taxi la ... Have any of you experience this ? Is there something wrong with my ventilation system ? :stupid:

 

[SarJeePekAi]

Yup, the sampah trucks spew their wet, wet, wet aroma all over the road and if you follow one you stink for life! Just joking la. All you have to do is open your bonnet [front one] and at the wiper arm base there is a long black plastic grill held by 3 clips. Remove this carefully. Get about 6 pandan leaves and knot them to release the aroma, drop them in the cavity covered by the grill and replace grill. This will keep all incoming air naturally perfumed by the screwpine [pandan] leaves. Try and you will wanna keep following them sampah trux!

 

[megatniza]

bro ,

thanks for the tips ! will do that .

the other way round looking at it , can i say that it is "normal"
to smell the external air ? i.e it's design isssue / build in feature ?

 

[infinityKL]

yeah same problem here, i think we need to change some microfilter(AC) or something under the dash board... cost about RM100 in Ipoh(Auto Lee Air-cond, pekan Razaki). Lot of work though to replace this filter, must change every 100K... Or some local mechs recon you can close the vent for good...i dunno how is tat?? but it works..

 

[affan66]

not that difficult to change the microfilter. You just need to access the bottom dash from the driver side only. Tip is to break/snap the microfilter and make it fold into three.

If you want to seal it permanently, you can. You need to close the air intake from the engine side. However, you will lose the recirc function forever. If I remember correctly, some people put foam in the intake.

 

[megatniza]

yeah same problem here, i think we need to change some microfilter(AC) or something under the dash board... cost about RM100 in Ipoh(Auto Lee Air-cond, pekan Razaki). Lot of work though to replace this filter, must change every 100K... Or some local mechs recon you can close the vent for good...i dunno how is tat?? but it works..

thanks , sach . that's kinda close to my place . will try to drop by to have a chat .
in the mean time , will get some pandan leave from my mum - ke ke ke .

cheers .

 

[chairoger]

yeah same problem here, i think we need to change some microfilter(AC) or something under the dash board... cost about RM100 in Ipoh(Auto Lee Air-cond, pekan Razaki). Lot of work though to replace this filter, must change every 100K... Or some local mechs recon you can close the vent for good...i dunno how is tat?? but it works..

Change every 25k km. Will filter dust and big particulates but the smell will still come in. I better try pandan. :top:

 

[clockwork]

yup...pandan leaves still the best.....thanks sarjeepekai he also give me this tips...

 

[jarance]

The active charcoal filter is designed to remove dust from getting into the AHU of the aircon. The filter is not fine enough to remove odour.

If the external air is coming from outside into the cabin, you most probably have a leak in the diverter vane. i.e divert air from outside or divert air from cabin (recirculate mode).

Leak from the vane is usually cause by the deteroiation of the foam that is glue to the outer rim of the vanes. FYI, the foam seal can last about 3 to 4 years before it loose it elasicity.

 

[ves]

bro megatniza...want some pandan leaves...?i'll bring them to the TT tomorrow haha

 

[megatniza]

If the external air is coming from outside into the cabin, you most probably have a leak in the diverter vane. i.e divert air from outside or divert air from cabin (recirculate mode).

bro jarance ,
would you happen to have a photo / description where exacty is
this diverter vane thingy ?

bro megatniza...want some pandan leaves...?i'll bring them to the TT tomorrow haha

no need laar ...but I dont mind if bring your new "maid" along ...he he he :wink:

 

[USCBimmerMann]

bro jarance ,
would you happen to have a photo / description where exacty is
this diverter vane thingy ?

Yeah, what and where is this whatchamocallit?

I have the same exact problem in my E36 325i.

 

[rubes72]

The active charcoal filter is designed to remove dust from getting into the AHU of the aircon. The filter is not fine enough to remove odour.

If the external air is coming from outside into the cabin, you most probably have a leak in the diverter vane. i.e divert air from outside or divert air from cabin (recirculate mode).

Leak from the vane is usually cause by the deteroiation of the foam that is glue to the outer rim of the vanes. FYI, the foam seal can last about 3 to 4 years before it loose it elasicity.

Very true!!! However, sometimes it can also be that plastic lever that moves the flap from open to close position, that is made of plastic and can break. One way of checking is that your microfilter would be extreemly dirty when you remove them. Or another way is that you can switch from recycle to fresh air and listen if the flap closes.

 

[beemer04]

I had the same problem, sent to my mechanic, he claimed that my air cond needs refill and once it is full the flap will automatically work, paid RM60 fir the ac refill and it work fine till now!