Burning odor?

Patel511 · 08-12-2012, 11:26 AM

Hello all, I just started noticing a burning odor coming from my car after I drive a little aggressive, I can't tell whether it's from the brakes or something else, I haven't got any lights on the dash yet. Any ideas?

Odor is strong enough that I can smell it as soon as I open a window or door, but I don't see any smoke?

mazz328 · 08-12-2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patel511

Hello all, I just started noticing a burning odor coming from my car after I drive a little aggressive, I can't tell whether it's from the brakes or something else, I haven't got any lights on the dash yet. Any ideas?

Odor is strong enough that I can smell it as soon as I open a window or door, but I don't see any smoke?

check under the car, there might a plastics bag stuck to you exhaust

BOBKUR · 08-12-2012, 12:12 PM

Did you leave your lunch in the back seat.

Patel511 · 08-12-2012, 12:22 PM

I haven't checked under the car yet, I will soon. I only started noticing it yesterday and again today

apc3libras · 08-12-2012, 01:41 PM

Do you only smell it outside or can you smell it inside thru the vents?

manutdas11 · 08-12-2012, 02:09 PM

You sure you didn't fart?

BMW_Belgier · 08-12-2012, 03:13 PM

Happened to me also 2-3 times. I think it is a mix of clutch, brake, exhaust and tire...

Was going fast...

Patel511 · 08-12-2012, 06:22 PM

I can barely smell it through the vent but I think that's just my imagination, but while refueling today I could smell it a little more as if it was coming from the right rear wheel. I have yet to look under the hood, just gonna check before getting raped by the dealer.

Patel511 · 08-12-2012, 06:46 PM

Okay so I think I've found the issue, when I opened the hood and looked around I saw a reservoir on the right side towards the front with a green/black cap on it with some sort of fluid caked on there. Any ideas?

BOBKUR · 08-12-2012, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patel511

Okay so I think I've found the issue, when I opened the hood and looked around I saw a reservoir on the right side towards the front with a green/black cap on it with some sort of fluid caked on there. Any ideas?

power steering fluid.

Patel511 · 08-12-2012, 07:01 PM

^why would it start to leak all of a sudden?

BOBKUR · 08-12-2012, 07:08 PM

No clue, take it to the dealer.

Patel511 · 08-12-2012, 07:14 PM

^yup going in tomorrow, thanks.

etc335i · 08-12-2012, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazz328

check under the car, there might a plastics bag stuck to you exhaust

haha that happen to my civic it sucks until its all burned up.

also dont mean to go off topic but i get a strong gas smell is that normal?

bmwforme · 08-12-2012, 08:51 PM

Leaking power steering fluid is a very common reason for car engine fires. The fluid is flammable and if leaked on hot engine parts can ignite. Get that checked out real quick! Good luck man

Patel511 · 08-12-2012, 09:09 PM

^Great! That's comforting lol

Patel511 · 08-13-2012, 05:56 PM

Verdict is in, plastic bag melted onto exhaust, as far as the power steering goes, it's not power steering fluid but rather oil that came out of some sort of vent, which the service advisor said was normal.

AndyR83 · 08-13-2012, 07:33 PM

That doesn't sound too normal o.o

Patel511 · 08-13-2012, 10:41 PM

That's what I thought too. But I searched under the N54 section and there is a thread about it, haven't got a chance to read all the way through

Patel511 · 08-28-2012, 12:00 AM

Okay, this thread is coming back lol. I am still having that odor but today the car was putting out a lot of heat, the hood was too hot to touch, and I am getting a service indicator showing a yellow circle with parenthesis around it (Sorry, that's the best I could explain it, unless there is somewhere i can look up service symbols). Thanks in advance.

Patel511 · 08-28-2012, 12:06 AM

Okay the logo is a brake fluid flush. But I don't know about the heat coming from the passenger side, i think it's coming from where the coolant is??

Pittsburger · 10-02-2012, 06:44 PM

I'm also smelling something burning. It's so faint as to cause doubt.

I'm also gonna check under the car for a plastic bag.
Also, check the power steering and brake fluid reservoirs for anything suspicious.

I've been driving in sport mode (steptronic). I'm gonna stop that until I can fully diagnose the smell.

08-12-2012, 11:26 AM	#1
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Hello all, I just started noticing a burning odor coming from my car after I drive a little aggressive, I can't tell whether it's from the brakes or something else, I haven't got any lights on the dash yet. Any ideas? Odor is strong enough that I can smell it as soon as I open a window or door, but I don't see any smoke?
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08-12-2012, 12:12 PM	#3
BOBKUR Major 20 Rep 1,361 Posts Drives: 2008 E 90 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: CALIFORNIA iTrader: (2)	Did you leave your lunch in the back seat.
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08-12-2012, 12:22 PM	#4
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I haven't checked under the car yet, I will soon. I only started noticing it yesterday and again today
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08-12-2012, 01:41 PM	#5
apc3libras Lieutenant Colonel 36 Rep 1,691 Posts Drives: E36 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: UTAH iTrader: (3) Garage List 1999 BMW M3 [4.00]	Do you only smell it outside or can you smell it inside thru the vents? __________________ 2007 BMW 328I Monaco Blue /// 1999 BMW M3 Titanium Silver /// 2007 BMW 328I Sparkling Graphite (sold)
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08-12-2012, 02:09 PM	#6
manutdas11 EL JIMMY NEURON 44 Rep 1,180 Posts Drives: Jet Black E90 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: in the Napa Valley/SJ... iTrader: (0)	You sure you didn't fart? __________________ 2007 Jet Black E90 328i Thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=825249 Instagram: manutd_as
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08-12-2012, 03:13 PM	#7
BMW_Belgier Lieutenant Colonel 101 Rep 1,597 Posts Drives: E92 335xi n55 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	Happened to me also 2-3 times. I think it is a mix of clutch, brake, exhaust and tire... Was going fast... __________________ BEFORE: 130i N52 (2006-2011) NOW: 335xi N55 (2011- )
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08-12-2012, 06:22 PM	#8
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I can barely smell it through the vent but I think that's just my imagination, but while refueling today I could smell it a little more as if it was coming from the right rear wheel. I have yet to look under the hood, just gonna check before getting raped by the dealer.
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08-12-2012, 06:46 PM	#9
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Okay so I think I've found the issue, when I opened the hood and looked around I saw a reservoir on the right side towards the front with a green/black cap on it with some sort of fluid caked on there. Any ideas?
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08-12-2012, 07:01 PM	#11
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	^why would it start to leak all of a sudden?
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08-12-2012, 07:08 PM	#12
BOBKUR Major 20 Rep 1,361 Posts Drives: 2008 E 90 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: CALIFORNIA iTrader: (2)	No clue, take it to the dealer.
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08-12-2012, 07:14 PM	#13
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	^yup going in tomorrow, thanks.
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08-12-2012, 08:51 PM	#15
bmwforme Lieutenant 258 Rep 557 Posts Drives: 2023 X3 M40i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Leaking power steering fluid is a very common reason for car engine fires. The fluid is flammable and if leaked on hot engine parts can ignite. Get that checked out real quick! Good luck man __________________ NYC Main: 2023 X3 M40i Brooklyn Grey Secondary: 2020 X1 xDrive28i M Sport Alpine White
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08-12-2012, 09:09 PM	#16
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	^Great! That's comforting lol
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08-13-2012, 05:56 PM	#17
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Verdict is in, plastic bag melted onto exhaust, as far as the power steering goes, it's not power steering fluid but rather oil that came out of some sort of vent, which the service advisor said was normal.
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08-13-2012, 07:33 PM	#18
AndyR83 Major 61 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: E92 335i FBO Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: PA iTrader: (5)	That doesn't sound too normal o.o __________________ Do NOT do business with IAN HAAN, aka n54bewst, aka 747tuned aka H17M3, a scammer who STILL has an account here on e90post!
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08-13-2012, 10:41 PM	#19
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	That's what I thought too. But I searched under the N54 section and there is a thread about it, haven't got a chance to read all the way through
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08-28-2012, 12:00 AM	#20
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Okay, this thread is coming back lol. I am still having that odor but today the car was putting out a lot of heat, the hood was too hot to touch, and I am getting a service indicator showing a yellow circle with parenthesis around it (Sorry, that's the best I could explain it, unless there is somewhere i can look up service symbols). Thanks in advance.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2012, 12:06 AM	#21
Patel511 Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 274 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Okay the logo is a brake fluid flush. But I don't know about the heat coming from the passenger side, i think it's coming from where the coolant is??
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10-02-2012, 06:44 PM	#22
Pittsburger Private First Class 7 Rep 132 Posts Drives: 2010 328xi, 2006 330xi, 2011x3 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Des Moines, IA iTrader: (0)	I'm also smelling something burning. It's so faint as to cause doubt. I'm also gonna check under the car for a plastic bag. Also, check the power steering and brake fluid reservoirs for anything suspicious. I've been driving in sport mode (steptronic). I'm gonna stop that until I can fully diagnose the smell.
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