Hi,

I have an E60, 520d recently I have noticed burning smell from the rear wheels, kind of rubber burning type smell although I haven't been burning rubber.

Has anyone else experienced this or could advise what it could be?

Thanks in advance for any input.

I've heard somewhere that smelling like something's burning is a first sign of loosing your sanity :whistle:


:lol: Just kidn' man. Have you inspected your exhaust? Could be something really simple, like something got stuck to it and when the exhaust heats up... or, if the smell is coming from the tires themselves, could be that you need an alignment. Sorry, kinda hard to pinpoint a problem like this without seeing - or rather, smelling the car in person. GL tho :thumbsup:

Sounds like the normal particulate filter to me. How old is your car? And do you have straight or down-pointing exhausttip(s)?

The exhaust looked fine, was clicking alot but I ignored that assuming it's expansion and contraction of the metal. The exhaust is straight, the oval type if that's what you mean.

The car is March 2006. All service indicators are clear and nothing is showing in the idrive.

Thank again for input so far.

triple check again EVERYWHERE for a plastic bag. When a small plastic bag melts onto metal, it shrinks so small that u can barely see it.

Please reduce intake fo Taco Bell products and smell will dissipate :lol: :lol: :lol:

:lol: :lol:
Don't know what the equivalent to Taco Bell is here in the UK..... but don't think it was me, quite possibly one of the passengers letting out a silent but deadly though :lol: :lol:

I'll have another look under the car later tonight and post back tomorrow.

The smell, seems to be stronger by the tyres rather then by the exhaust?

I had the smell before but from all four tyres, then never noticed it again !!!

This should solve your problem!! :whistle:
Attachment 85623 :lol:

Straight exhaust tips on a diesel suggest you do have a particulate filter. (Your production date also suggests this)
Particulate filters burn excess soot at a very high temperature which produces a little smoke and a lot of smell!
Depending on how you've been driving, this can range from a "plasticy" smell to a "burned wood" smell.

I don't know exactly where the filter is as i don't have one on my car, but having driven and stood close to other 5-ers with a DPF, i know it can smell funny.

I would suggest that this smell is normal and nothing to worry about! mine has some real bad smells when the dpf kicks in, i would check your brakes and tyres though!!!!