Burning oil smell from new car

c.cash · 10-22-2012, 12:28 AM

Just want to make sure this is normal: When I picked up my car from the dealer we took it for a spin. When we got back I asked, "Why do I smell burning oil?" My CA said, "That's normal, they lube these engines up with oil when they ship 'em."

The smell is dissappating with every drive, so it seems like his info is accurate.

Should I be concerned?

Pandarakus · 10-22-2012, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c.cash

Just want to make sure this is normal: When I picked up my car from the dealer we took it for a spin. When we got back I asked, "Why do I smell burning oil?" My CA said, "That's normal, they lube these engines up with oil when they ship 'em."

The smell is dissappating with every drive, so it seems like his info is accurate.

Should I be concerned?

Hey, I am also having the same problem. My car has about 650-700 miles now, but the smell isn't gone yet. Should I be concerned?
It actually smells like something was burnt. Not sure whether it was the smell of oil burnt.

live4wknds · 10-22-2012, 04:17 AM

Have had mine since June and never noticed any smell other than the leather interior.

Nero7 · 10-22-2012, 05:12 AM

It could also be the brakes that smell.

HighlandPete · 10-22-2012, 05:21 AM

In my experience a couple of decent drives up to full heat soak, normally clears any oil type residue from parts that heat up, like exhaust, manifold, etc.

If you only drive short trips it can hang around for longer, until you cook it all off.

If it persists, worth looking for evidence of some unusual issue, to be safe and sure there isn't an oil leak.

HighlandPete

1.fresh.f30.335 · 10-22-2012, 08:59 AM

Should be normal I had the smell for awhile and when I get on it hard and have the roof tilted I can still get a whiff of it, I also get a ton of soot on the back of the car too... BMW says its all ok

ELTORO3092 · 10-22-2012, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c.cash

Just want to make sure this is normal: When I picked up my car from the dealer we took it for a spin. When we got back I asked, "Why do I smell burning oil?" My CA said, "That's normal, they lube these engines up with oil when they ship 'em."

The smell is dissappating with every drive, so it seems like his info is accurate.

Should I be concerned?

Had the same issue but it is going away. It make sense that they will oil the engine just incase it doesnt get started for a while. I wouldnt worry about it but the brakes are annoying me. I get the screetching noise when I stop and when I am parked and start driving slowly.

KarenD · 10-22-2012, 09:10 PM

It is just the cosmoline burning off! No worries. It does go away.

c.cash · 10-22-2012, 10:40 PM

Thanks everyone! Day 4 and it's much less noticeable.

I hope the others who are having this problem after 6 months find an answer that isn't bad news.

stubbs031 · 10-26-2012, 06:59 PM

My dealer says its normal - apparently it's Cosmoline that is applied to cars shipped overseas and it'll burn off.

lawgone · 04-14-2014, 02:35 PM

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I wonder if what I'm experiencing is the same thing. I have a 2013 335i Msport with 700 miles and mostly I love it. However, there is a strange burning smell inside like burning plastic or crayon. It will start during the first hard acceleration and then usually last a few minutes before it goes away. Sometimes it will come back at various points during a longer drive. One of my passengers noticed it too.

Any thoughts?

Also, I've noticed the car seems to run quite a bit hotter than my 328i did. Usually close to 250.

Andrew115 · 04-14-2014, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenD

It is just the cosmoline burning off! No worries. It does go away.

I am with KarenD on this one. To me it always smelled like electronics burning up but it's not. They use this on lots of different types of motorized vehicles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmoline

shivaswrath · 04-14-2014, 07:13 PM

Exhaust burn in to...took me several thousand between engine and that.

Fronzdan · 04-23-2014, 11:43 AM

Reviving this one again....hey I use the Search function......
Picked up my '14 335 yesterday and it has maybe 20 miles on it now. I drove to work in the pouring rain (man that sucks that my first day with it and it's raining). When I parked and shut the engine off there was quite a bit of steam or smoke coming out from the hood. Not billowing out like something burning, mind you. Just more than looks normal for a hot engine in the rain.

Safe to assume this is cosmoline burning off? I sat in the car and didn't smell anything. It eventually stopped after a few minutes.

JRJ1970 · 04-24-2014, 09:00 AM

I too noticed this smell on my car. However, oddly enough it seems to be coming from the sunroof/headliner area between the front windshield and front of the sunroof. It smells like burning crayons, and is worse with ambient temperature. I'm thinking it's the adhesive they used or maybe even the oil to lube the sunroof?

gomichaelkgo · 04-24-2014, 11:37 AM

Sure it's not the smell of burning money?

Fronzdan · 04-24-2014, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomichaelkgo

Sure it's not the smell of burning money?

AndDown · 04-24-2014, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenD

It is just the cosmoline burning off! No worries. It does go away.

True...until summer comes and the temps climb past 100 degrees. Any remnant cosmo will drip out of crevices. Thankfully, pretty easy to clean up with Griots oil & grease cleaner.

jdonais · 04-26-2014, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomichaelkgo

Sure it's not the smell of burning money?

Hahahaha yep!!!

That's what mine smells like!

Sport+ 24/7 baby!

jdonais · 04-26-2014, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

Reviving this one again....hey I use the Search function......
Picked up my '14 335 yesterday and it has maybe 20 miles on it now. I drove to work in the pouring rain (man that sucks that my first day with it and it's raining). When I parked and shut the engine off there was quite a bit of steam or smoke coming out from the hood. Not billowing out like something burning, mind you. Just more than looks normal for a hot engine in the rain.

Safe to assume this is cosmoline burning off? I sat in the car and didn't smell anything. It eventually stopped after a few minutes.

I've also noticed this a few times on my '13 335ix MSport.

TheHitchhiker · 04-26-2014, 07:21 AM

My nose is as sensitive as a dog's nose. I still smell a bit of oil burn when I drive the car hard (8500 miles). But from experience, this is normal to me. Turbo cars I've driven tend to burn oil under hard acceleration. Possibly because of the high compression and boost in the cylinders. It would be concerning if it did it under grandma driving

P.S. Break in period was done the way the manufacturer recommends. So, no, I didn't mess up the rings etc.

10-22-2012, 12:28 AM	#1
c.cash Private First Class 21 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2013 328i modern line Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Burning oil smell from new car Just want to make sure this is normal: When I picked up my car from the dealer we took it for a spin. When we got back I asked, "Why do I smell burning oil?" My CA said, "That's normal, they lube these engines up with oil when they ship 'em." The smell is dissappating with every drive, so it seems like his info is accurate. Should I be concerned?
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10-22-2012, 04:17 AM	#3
live4wknds Private First Class 10 Rep 155 Posts Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: So Cal iTrader: (0)	Have had mine since June and never noticed any smell other than the leather interior.
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10-22-2012, 05:12 AM	#4
Nero7 Second Lieutenant 53 Rep 258 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	It could also be the brakes that smell. __________________ /// M-Sport 328i // Packages -- Adaptive Drive-- Drive Comfort -- Function -- Visibility // 19" 403M // M-Sport Brakes // Harman Kardon // Head Up Display ///
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10-22-2012, 05:21 AM	#5
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6659 Rep 15,858 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	In my experience a couple of decent drives up to full heat soak, normally clears any oil type residue from parts that heat up, like exhaust, manifold, etc. If you only drive short trips it can hang around for longer, until you cook it all off. If it persists, worth looking for evidence of some unusual issue, to be safe and sure there isn't an oil leak. HighlandPete
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10-22-2012, 08:59 AM	#6
1.fresh.f30.335 Second Lieutenant 91 Rep 286 Posts Drives: 2014 535xdrive M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NH-CT iTrader: (0)	Should be normal I had the smell for awhile and when I get on it hard and have the roof tilted I can still get a whiff of it, I also get a ton of soot on the back of the car too... BMW says its all ok __________________ '12 335i Sport Apline White w/black... Totaled '14 535i xdrive M-Sport Carbon Black w/Mocha Nappa
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10-22-2012, 09:10 PM	#8
KarenD Private First Class 3 Rep 102 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ft Lauderdale iTrader: (0)	It is just the cosmoline burning off! No worries. It does go away.
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10-22-2012, 10:40 PM	#9
c.cash Private First Class 21 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2013 328i modern line Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone! Day 4 and it's much less noticeable. I hope the others who are having this problem after 6 months find an answer that isn't bad news.
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10-26-2012, 06:59 PM	#10
stubbs031 New Member 0 Rep 20 Posts Drives: X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	My dealer says its normal - apparently it's Cosmoline that is applied to cars shipped overseas and it'll burn off. __________________ 2022 X5 xDrive45e, Alpine White, MSport, DAPP, HK, M Brakes, Shadowline 2019 X3 xDrive30i, Phytonic Blue Retired: 2013 328i, Estoril Blue, 6MT, MSport
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04-14-2014, 02:35 PM	#11
lawgone Lieutenant 64 Rep 543 Posts Drives: 2014 335i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	Sorry to dig up an old thread but I wonder if what I'm experiencing is the same thing. I have a 2013 335i Msport with 700 miles and mostly I love it. However, there is a strange burning smell inside like burning plastic or crayon. It will start during the first hard acceleration and then usually last a few minutes before it goes away. Sometimes it will come back at various points during a longer drive. One of my passengers noticed it too. Any thoughts? Also, I've noticed the car seems to run quite a bit hotter than my 328i did. Usually close to 250. __________________ 2014 335i f30 M Sport, Mineral Gray, Premium, Nav, Comfort Access, M Sport Brakes, 18" Potenza RFT Summer/Staggered 2011 328xi e92 M Sport, Space Grey, Premium, Nav, Comfort Access, BMW Apps
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04-14-2014, 07:13 PM	#13
shivaswrath Brigadier General 649 Rep 4,323 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lost in NJ iTrader: (3)	Exhaust burn in to...took me several thousand between engine and that. __________________ CURRENT: 2017 RS3 (miss you guys) SOLD: 2012 335i Mineral Gray M Performance Exhaust/Brakes/Suspension/LSD\|Bav Stage 1/AMP\|\|ER CP/IC/DP/OC \| Dinan CAI/N55 PWG BIG TURBO\|BMWF30.com
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04-23-2014, 11:43 AM	#14
Fronzdan Lieutenant Colonel 304 Rep 1,739 Posts Drives: '24 M240 xDrive Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	Reviving this one again....hey I use the Search function...... Picked up my '14 335 yesterday and it has maybe 20 miles on it now. I drove to work in the pouring rain (man that sucks that my first day with it and it's raining). When I parked and shut the engine off there was quite a bit of steam or smoke coming out from the hood. Not billowing out like something burning, mind you. Just more than looks normal for a hot engine in the rain. Safe to assume this is cosmoline burning off? I sat in the car and didn't smell anything. It eventually stopped after a few minutes.
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04-24-2014, 09:00 AM	#15
JRJ1970 Captain 27 Rep 600 Posts Drives: 2014 428i F32 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	I too noticed this smell on my car. However, oddly enough it seems to be coming from the sunroof/headliner area between the front windshield and front of the sunroof. It smells like burning crayons, and is worse with ambient temperature. I'm thinking it's the adhesive they used or maybe even the oil to lube the sunroof? __________________ Jay (in San Antonio, TX) 2014 428i coupe, mineral gray metallic with black interior, black ash trim, luxury edition. Last edited by JRJ1970; 04-24-2014 at 09:16 AM..
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04-24-2014, 11:37 AM	#16
gomichaelkgo Second Lieutenant 22 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 2014 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	Sure it's not the smell of burning money?
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04-26-2014, 07:21 AM	#21
TheHitchhiker Second Lieutenant 35 Rep 214 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X5 50i Join Date: May 2013 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	My nose is as sensitive as a dog's nose. I still smell a bit of oil burn when I drive the car hard (8500 miles). But from experience, this is normal to me. Turbo cars I've driven tend to burn oil under hard acceleration. Possibly because of the high compression and boost in the cylinders. It would be concerning if it did it under grandma driving P.S. Break in period was done the way the manufacturer recommends. So, no, I didn't mess up the rings etc. __________________ Current: 2019 G05 x5 50i M-Sport Past: 2016 F10 550i M-Sport ~ 2015 F83 M4 Convertible ~ 2013 F30 335i M-Sport ~ 2006 E85 Z4 30i
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