zippers525

It is a design issue. They can't deny it much longer. 2/3 of 90 people hae the problem. That's a pretty big statistic. BMW's A/C system is so how influencing the mold growth more than a normal car's A/C. It may be the recirculation system, it may not.

LuvE60

In my experience, this occurs in every vehicle. Elements from the environment get trapped in the system. Try running just your vent to clean it out. I do this monthly, and it seems to help the problem. Bottom line is that there is a lot of crap in the air, and if you are bringing air from the outside into the system, buildup will occur.

This problem certainly will not keep me from buying Beemers.

kscarrol

Well we've had this debate before and this being my sixth vehicle, it is the first to have this issue. Guess I just got lucky on the previous five. And while I don't doubt that there is potential in any vehicle for some contamination to cause odors in the system, go read the boards of any other car you choose. You simply don't see the repeated, numerous complaints about this issue that you do on BMW boards. While I'm no engineer and cannot offer a solution, it is clear that placing the filter where it is, with water draining around/over/next to it, that just increases the odds of having mold problems.

But don't get me wrong, it is not going to keep from buying another BMW and I do love this car, but this has been a problem on previous models as well, and BMW seems unable to resolve or at least minimize its occurance.

dmw5678

I have the smell too. I have to keep the windows down and the air off . It does seem to go away and/or I'm adjusting to the foul odor within 10-20 minutes. I'm going to try heat/run method mentioned in prior posts..

rodybmw

I voted NO in the poll because I did not think that my car had any out of the ordinary smell from the AC. After reading everyones posts it seems like you are talking about a humid moldy smell, which I do have sometimes. However, I have had that smell in all my previous cars as well as in my other family members' cars (BMW's, MB's, Hondas, Volkswagens, Dodges,....). In all of these cars (including my E60), the smell is there only when the AC has just been turned off, or sometimes when the car is first started with the AC off. Within less than a minute (max) it goes away. If the AC is turned back on it goes away almost immediately. Is this what you are talking about or is it some other smell? If it is some other smell or if it stays even when the AC is on then I don't have it (yet) at just over 7000 miles (in the Los Angeles area).

Bokke

I can tell you that I have this issue. And it only started once we began having hot & humid weather. Yesterday I began to run without the "recirculation on" and it made a big difference. The odor is still there but not as bad.

This did not happen with the 97 M3, 01 M5, 02 X5 3.0i or 03 X5 4.6is - this is unique to my E60.

I think they (BMW) have an issue and we should band together to have them do something about it.

I suspect that those of us in hot and humid climates all have the problem.

Cheers,

zippers525

There are also people who are not in hot and humid climates without this problem

bklyn545

Well, I originally voted no in this poll about a week ago. However, since this weekend I noticed on Saturday the beginning of a really nasty smell which is more prominent with the AC on. It literally smells like dog shit. A passenger I had in the car thought that ine of us might have stepped in something but it wasnt the case. Is that what you guys are smelling or is it more of a mildewy smell. It has been raining and very humid the lasr 4-5 days here in NY.

zippers525

No, it can smell like crap too. It depends on how hot the car is and if the air is cool yet, or if its still blowing hot. It's disgusting.

mikeqls

i keep getting a strong smell like gas....so much thoiugh i thought it was a gas leak outside the car!!!!! .. spoke to dealers they said its a new axle grease they are using... which does have the gas aroma to it.... apparently this will fade over time.....willlhave to wait and see!!!