[silver82]

Hello,

We bought a new x3 20i back in December and since week 1 I could identify a strange smell coming through the air vents to the point that sometimes I felt unwell.

It appears that the smell is obvious when I have driven the car for few miles (15 or more minutes of driving) and then I stop for example at a traffic lights and then it blows in. When it also happens the engine shuts off and you can hear the air con power decreases. It strange to explain the smell, is definitely chemical but it doesn't smell like oil or plastic.
I had the car for weeks on dealer who tried to do a smoke bomb test to see if it is from exhaust and they also replaced the air microfilter.

Another garage told me that it might be from some kind of heating element in air-condition system which kicks in when the engine intermediate shuts off but they are unsure if that system is in my car.

I cannot smell anything when the air is shutoff and it is less obvious when the start/stop engine is disabled.

It is very uncomfortable as a smell and I am also unsure whether is safe with a 2 years old in the car.

Any ideas? Or should I focus of rejecting the car as it is a brand new and the dealer have tried for weeks to sort it out unsuccessfully.

[Wgosma]

So the BMW dealer acknowledges there is an unusual smell, but is unable to identify the cause nor correct the problem? if that is the case perhaps another look from a different BMW dealer would be worth a go.....or "reject" the car as you mentioned and request a replacement vehicle, tho I expect that may prove to be a less than desirable process.

[wxm]

Does it smell when the heater is on or AC? or both?

[Msportdriver1]

Raise a complaint to BMW HQ and state you will be rejecting the car if its not sorted in 7 days . This should induce your dealer to get the issue resolved or better still replace the vehicle.

[silver82]

Originally Posted by wxm

Does it smell when the heater is on or AC? or both?

both

[silver82]

Originally Posted by Msportdriver1

Raise a complaint to BMW HQ and state you will be rejecting the car if its not sorted in 7 days . This should induce your dealer to get the issue resolved or better still replace the vehicle.

I raised the complaint with BMW financial services and the dealer but also Customer Services. Customer Services said that they are not the responsible party to approve or reject rejections. The dealer will try to add another part (I believe they said something like a pump) as they believe now that the smell might come from the differentiator oil and I will try again to see if it is fixed next week..another week..without the car.

[wxm]

Originally Posted by silver82

I raised the complaint with BMW financial services and the dealer but also Customer Services. Customer Services said that they are not the responsible party to approve or reject rejections. The dealer will try to add another part (I believe they said something like a pump) as they believe now that the smell might come from the differentiator oil and I will try again to see if it is fixed next week..another week..without the car.

I went down this route years ago with Nissan Corp 10+ years ago. Kind of wasting time... Hope you have better luck.

[ImpressionS]

if its not the cabin filter could be the fan? or something stuck in the tubes?

[pungo]

Originally Posted by silver82

Hello,

We bought a new x3 20i back in December and since week 1 I could identify a strange smell coming through the air vents to the point that sometimes I felt unwell.

Not that this answers your question, but this forum is for F25 X3 models and since yours is new, you have a G01 X3 model. Maybe ask the question in the G01 where someone with the same model as you might have experienced the same problem

FWIW, if it where mine, I'd get a loner from the dealer and leave your defective vehicle with them until the issue is resolved. You could be breathing toxic fumes since it makes you feel unwell.

[silver82]

Just an update. BMW accepted rejection. Dealer never found what it was.