[aydarks]

Hey,

I was driving around 1,000km today (with 20d x-drive). After around first 400km, I stopped at the rest stop to go to the toilet. When I got back to the car I noticed that it showed the message that the ventilator will continue to work for 7 minutes (the car was off).

Then, we started to fell a burning smell inside our car. I immediately opened the hood, the ventilators were ramping. The engine was cold but the thing above it was pretty hot and smelled burning (on the screenshot I marked this part).

After about 5-10 mins the air vents calmed down and the smell (insisde the car was gone). Then, we carefully started driving again, and it was fine for now.

Does anyone know if this is normal or I should reach service asap? The car itself does not show any issues, and the temperature of the engine was normal throughout the journey. Any advice will be helpful. Thanks!

[richiro]

how old is the car? how many miles are on it?

asking because every new car has parts covered in some sort of synthetic "grease" to keep it from rusting/oxidation, it takes a few weeks for that layer to "burn" off and not smell anymore.

[Daril]

Originally Posted by aydarks

Hey,

I was driving around 1,000km today (with 20d x-drive). After around first 400km, I stopped at the rest stop to go to the toilet. When I got back to the car I noticed that it showed the message that the ventilator will continue to work for 7 minutes (the car was off).

Then, we started to fell a burning smell inside our car. I immediately opened the hood, the ventilators were ramping. The engine was cold but the thing above it was pretty hot and smelled burning (on the screenshot I marked this part).

After about 5-10 mins the air vents calmed down and the smell (insisde the car was gone). Then, we carefully started driving again, and it was fine for now.

Does anyone know if this is normal or I should reach service asap? The car itself does not show any issues, and the temperature of the engine was normal throughout the journey. Any advice will be helpful. Thanks!

That's a wild guess but anyway...the spot you showed is where the exhaust and turbo are located. So maybe some oil was burning on the turbo shaft. It is a good idea after long distances to let the car idle 1-2 minutes to let the oil cool the turbo shaft. This way the oil already on the shaft is not caked. Was the smell oily?

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by Daril

That's a wild guess but anyway...the spot you showed is where the exhaust and turbo are located. So maybe some oil was burning on the turbo shaft. It is a good idea after long distances to let the car idle 1-2 minutes to let the oil cool the turbo shaft. This way the oil already on the shaft is not caked. Was the smell oily?

BMW turbos are not oil cooled anymore, they run coolant through them and the water pump will stay on if necessary to keep circulating coolant through the system after the car has been shut off.

[aydarks]

Originally Posted by richiro

how old is the car? how many miles are on it?

asking because every new car has parts covered in some sort of synthetic "grease" to keep it from rusting/oxidation, it takes a few weeks for that layer to "burn" off and not smell anymore.

It is pretty new, just 3,000km

[aydarks]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

BMW turbos are not oil cooled anymore, they run coolant through them and the water pump will stay on if necessary to keep circulating coolant through the system after the car has been shut off.

I am not sure about about the type of smell really. For me it felt like a bit plasticky

[John27]

I'd get it checked out. Do you have BMW roadside assistance? They should easily be able to diagnose what is causing the smell and if it is a dealer issue (and whether the car is safe to drive in the meantime)?

[Daril]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

BMW turbos are not oil cooled anymore, they run coolant through them and the water pump will stay on if necessary to keep circulating coolant through the system after the car has been shut off.

It may be so...so the turbo drive shaft is oiled with coolant now? Cause I was talking about the shaft. 🤔🤔🤔

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by Daril

It may be so...so the turbo drive shaft is oiled with coolant now? Cause I was talking about the shaft. 🤔🤔🤔

The bearings are sealed, and the coolant runs through the turbo to keep it cooling down after the car has shut off. My point still stands, car does all the turbo heat management for you. You wouldn’t smell oil burning from the turbo unless oil was dripping on it or a seal went bad, in which case you have bigger problems.

[Daril]

Then maybe some wires touching the turbo. Cause it was mentioned that it smelled plasticky.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

The bearings are sealed, and the coolant runs through the turbo to keep it cooling down after the car has shut off. My point still stands, car does all the turbo heat management for you. You wouldn’t smell oil burning from the turbo unless oil was dripping on it or a seal went bad, in which case you have bigger problems.

Also the days of idling your car after driving to cool down the turbo are no more...old turbo days....

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

Also the days of idling your car after driving to cool down the turbo are no more...old turbo days....

now I feel old... very old...... I used to install turbo timers and CB radios in my cars. back when turbos were cool... now it seems like EVERY car or SUV out there has a turbo or two.

[DestinationMoon!]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilver.X1

now I feel old... very old...... I used to install turbo timers and CB radios in my cars. back when turbos were cool... now it seems like EVERY car or SUV out there has a turbo or two.

I owned one of the first Saab turbo 900s years ago. Loved that car. It generated 160 HP from 2 litres. It seemed like impossible magic for a 4 banger back then.
Now they can crank out over 300, amazing

When you think about it, there's no way they could have stop-start reliably without a energy efficient way to cool the turbo when the engine could stop so regularly

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

Also the days of idling your car after driving to cool down the turbo are no more...old turbo days....

I still have a Greddy turbo timer lying around somewhere at my parents house lol. Got it for the callaway turbo kit that never got installed on my Mk2 VW lol.

[Wadix]

Hello everyone!
I noticed a burning smell (kind of plasticky) coming from turbo exhaust (near by front right wheel) apparently its a normal phenomenon according to the dealer that should disappear. But nothing yet after 7000km.

Went to external specialist and told me that this issue is caused by the fact that the heat exhaust is near to a plastic component partially covered by an aluminium protecting pad … which is apparently not enough to prevent this smell to leak.

Also noticed to smell the same smell when i go by freshly parked new generation bmw in the streets.
Anyone can relate ?

[Wadix]

aydarks did you have any update on this issue ?

[markronnie]

You did not say if Your vehicle was new. Assuming it is a 2024, there is a break in period of about 1000-1200 miles. During that time you should not be aggressive in your driving habits & you should limit short distance stops because the brakes need to break in as well. During break in timeframe you should expect some smells as lubricants used during manufacturing burns off.

[Wadix]

I got the vehicule in oct 2023 with 6700 km as of today. I smelled in the beginning a huge smell of burning which might be that grease used to protect component in the beginning.
I had very soft driving in the first miles with just one or two rushes to test the engine. And also had some short distance travels i leave near my jobs offices but i don’t ser how this should have an impact on this issue?

[SchumiFan]

I've had the same issue. At 15k miles, it is a better but not completely gone. I was told the same by dealer that is a mix of complex BMW systems that cause that. Yes, the pump that runs coolant through turbo stays on after I switch off the car. I've learned to live with the smell coming from close to the wheel. Though it is never too bad.

Originally Posted by Wadix

Hello everyone!
I noticed a burning smell (kind of plasticky) coming from turbo exhaust (near by front right wheel) apparently its a normal phenomenon according to the dealer that should disappear. But nothing yet after 7000km.

Went to external specialist and told me that this issue is caused by the fact that the heat exhaust is near to a plastic component partially covered by an aluminium protecting pad … which is apparently not enough to prevent this smell to leak.

Also noticed to smell the same smell when i go by freshly parked new generation bmw in the streets.
Anyone can relate ?

[aydarks]

Originally Posted by Wadix

aydarks did you have any update on this issue ?

Hey, I had a chat with my dealer a while ago and he basically confirmed your thoughts - just give some time for the motor parts to adapt to each other. For now, after 13k km, I have air vents ramping up occasionally after some random journeys, but there is no that bad small inside as it used to be. I will keep updated though. Cheers!

[Wadix]

Thanks for your feedback aydarks !
Let’s hope the issue disappears ! I felt kind of reassured when i saw your msg because i read very little amount of people discussing it!
Even when i ask friend that have the same car or similar in new gen : they tell me no i don’t smell anything. So i am wondering if they really don’t have the issue for some reason (mismounted parts or anything else…) or they simply just don’t notice or have the same nose 😂.
Anyway, i ve seen in another forum that some may resolve the inside smell by closing the air circulation in AC menu, so i choosed the option : inside air recycling, even when the AC is off… Its seems to work a little bit. What setting are you on for AC ?
Have a nice day

[aydarks]

Originally Posted by Wadix

Thanks for your feedback aydarks !
Let’s hope the issue disappears ! I felt kind of reassured when i saw your msg because i read very little amount of people discussing it!
Even when i ask friend that have the same car or similar in new gen : they tell me no i don’t smell anything. So i am wondering if they really don’t have the issue for some reason (mismounted parts or anything else…) or they simply just don’t notice or have the same nose 😂.
Anyway, i ve seen in another forum that some may resolve the inside smell by closing the air circulation in AC menu, so i choosed the option : inside air recycling, even when the AC is off… Its seems to work a little bit. What setting are you on for AC ?
Have a nice day

No worries! I know, I was very frustrated when I happened for the first time, and we were on the highway in the middle of the long trip! I do remember it was fairly cold (close to 0 degree Celsius). Unfortunately, I don’t remember whether AC was on or off.