F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Today's Posts
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > General BMW News and Cars Discussion > AC Mildew/Moldy Smell
GetBMWParts
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-27-2024, 01:01 PM   #1
TonyB58
Enlisted Member
United_States
50
Rep
39
Posts

Drives: M340i RWD
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

AC Mildew/Moldy Smell

Has anyone experienced a mildew/moldy smell from their AC? Mine occurs whenever I start up the car after not driving it for 2+ hours. The smell is present for the first 8 seconds and then disappears. Another way to trigger the smell is by having only the fans blowing. I've tried doing the kool-It Evaporator cleaner 3 times, sprayed the air inducts with disinfectant countless times, changed the cabin air filter with carbon ones 2 times, stopped using recirculating air, and used those meguiars odor eliminator and the smell keeps coming back. I live in South Florida and I get that the humidity may be the cause of my concern, but I've own 2 Japanese cars and none of them had this issue.
Appreciate 0
      02-27-2024, 01:08 PM   #2
TinCanSailor
Fueled by Recycled Dinosaurs!
TinCanSailor's Avatar
734
Rep
1,236
Posts

Drives: F06 M6
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: 813Bay, Fl

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
We have dealt with this on occasion with our cars. We use this product in our house to help with pet odor and after cooking with garlic, onions and such. My mother in law had a sewer backup happen at her house, We cleaned up removed the carpet, ventilated and ran this for a few cycles and you would never know it happened. Works like a champ!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
__________________
2015 F06 M6 Silverstone Metallic II, Individual Full Leather, B&O, Night Vis, CCB, RKAutowerks (CP Rods/Pistons, DI Cams, CF Intakes, Coated DP's & Billet Diff Brace), InfinityAuto Turbo Inlets, Mishi Oil Cooler, JB4, XHP S3, BM S3
Appreciate 0
      03-01-2024, 03:15 AM   #3
ilovebmwx3
Registered
0
Rep
2
Posts

Drives: BMW X3 35i
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

is there any tutorial for F25 AC drain hole location ?
Appreciate 0
      03-01-2024, 04:20 AM   #4
cbpip
Second Lieutenant
cbpip's Avatar
233
Rep
246
Posts

Drives: BMW Z4C 3.0si 3 pedal
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: MD

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2007 BMW E86C  [0.00]
A/C evaporator issue I would recommend BG FrigiClean to remove excessive odors / cigarette & cigar odor.

Best product to clean evaporator coils IMO. FriClean first followed by FrigiFresh.

Have also sprayed Lysol scented disinfectant ( I used Linen scent) into the fresh air intake to remove stale air smell temporarily.

https://www.bgprod.com/catalog/clima...g-frigi-clean/

And

https://www.bgprod.com/catalog/clima...g-frigi-fresh/

On Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Frigi-Clean-E...s%2C111&sr=8-1

Also used Nextzett 96110515 Klima-Cleaner Air Conditioner Cleaner - 10 fl oz not as effective as FrigiClean.

https://www.amazon.com/nextzett-9611...s%2C111&sr=8-5

Last edited by cbpip; 03-01-2024 at 04:43 AM..
Appreciate 1
TonyB5850.00
      07-23-2024, 01:07 PM   #5
E70X5M35i
Private
17
Rep
58
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Fort Worth

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyB58 View Post
Has anyone experienced a mildew/moldy smell from their AC? Mine occurs whenever I start up the car after not driving it for 2+ hours. The smell is present for the first 8 seconds and then disappears. Another way to trigger the smell is by having only the fans blowing. I've tried doing the kool-It Evaporator cleaner 3 times, sprayed the air inducts with disinfectant countless times, changed the cabin air filter with carbon ones 2 times, stopped using recirculating air, and used those meguiars odor eliminator and the smell keeps coming back. I live in South Florida and I get that the humidity may be the cause of my concern, but I've own 2 Japanese cars and none of them had this issue.
I can confirm i had the exact same symptoms. Mildew/moldy smell when starting the car lasting a few seconds.

The solution? Changed the cabin air filters. This worked for me
Appreciate 1
DrVenture943.50
      07-23-2024, 02:20 PM   #6
DrVenture
First Lieutenant
DrVenture's Avatar
944
Rep
321
Posts

Drives: M550i 2022
Join Date: Jul 2024
Location: Midwest

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovebmwx3 View Post
is there any tutorial for F25 AC drain hole location ?
This is an excellent point.
__________________
Carbon Black - Debadged|Mocha Nappa|DHP|DAP|Executive|Luxury Seating|M668 w/ DSW06+
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2024, 09:06 PM   #7
Tuxedo
Bowties r cool ▶:◀
Tuxedo's Avatar
United_States
1473
Rep
816
Posts

Drives: 09' 128i MT e88, 24'G05 X5 50e
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Chicago

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
I've had this issue, fix is have the hvac on auto recirculation always
Appreciate 0
      07-24-2024, 08:34 AM   #8
E70X5M35i
Private
17
Rep
58
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Fort Worth

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuxedo View Post
I've had this issue, fix is have the hvac on auto recirculation always
interestingly enough, i've heard the exact opposite. i've heard that to make this issue go away, you wanna circulate some fresh air through the system for a while. I tried this , but it never fixed it. Tried it multiple days for extended drives and it never went away.

Until i changed my cabin air filters.

Why have it on auto recirculation? Just curious.. what does auto recirculate even do?
Appreciate 1
ried808.00
      07-24-2024, 07:08 PM   #9
TonyB58
Enlisted Member
United_States
50
Rep
39
Posts

Drives: M340i RWD
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by E70X5M35i View Post
I can confirm i had the exact same symptoms. Mildew/moldy smell when starting the car lasting a few seconds.

The solution? Changed the cabin air filters. This worked for me
I ended up handing the problem to the dealership and mentioned that the ozone treatment that they offer is not gonna work for my issue. They did a deep clean to the evaporator core twice and changed out the cabin filter. After that, I haven't had the issue come back yet (has been approximately 5 months). I don't recirculate my AC and keep it on fresh air mode, and I also dry out the evaporator occasionally just by running the fans and having the AC off. I assume this service would be a routine service if you don't want to have the issue recurring again.
Here are the parts that they used with the number
64-11-9-382-886 Cabin filter
83-19-2-180-507 Air conditioner cleaner
83-19-2-360-464 Odor Remover
Appreciate 1
      07-24-2024, 07:21 PM   #10
jokeroz
Registered
2
Rep
4
Posts

Drives: BMW F10 525d xDrive
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Austria, Europe

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovebmwx3 View Post
is there any tutorial for F25 AC drain hole location ?


This guy goes through a bunch of drainage things about the F25, see if it's any help to you
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
ac smell, ac stinks, mildew, mold


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:45 PM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST