[corbs09]

Does anyone else experience a strong coolant smell after driving from the drivers side wheel well/underhood area?

I am getting a strong smell of coolant, but no leaks. I took it to the dealership and they said they could smell it, but after a pressure test and visual inspection they found no leaks. They also checked the IC brick. Obviously the smell is still there.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[Enthusiast~1]

Yes I’ve noticed the smell in garage after pushing hard in Sport or Sport+ No visible leaks on floor.

[Ramlimited4500]

I have the similar issues and I lose a little bit of coolant every few thousand miles. I talk to my SA he said he has seen a couple come in with that issue but it’s not common but he couldn’t tell me exactly what it is. If you find out please post responses here!!!

[matyoka]

No leaks that I can see on my garage floor, I am missing more than just a little after driving... wonder where to start?

[Gsavarese]

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1970498

Different platform I know but these engines are so complicated it can be any of these causes

[corbs09]

I am glad I am not the only one. Please come back and post if your dealer finds a remedy. I took mine in and they pressure tested the system and found no leaks, also inspected the IC brick as that was a common failure point on the s55 and found no issues.

They told me to keep an eye on it and bring it back if I get a low coolant warning. Tech did note it was not low.

I am OCD so this is going to bother me until I get it figured out ha. My C63s did something similar and I actually sold the car. My G80 did not do this, but it had fewer miles (3k vs 15K)

[rofsky]

Originally Posted by corbs09

Does anyone else experience a strong coolant smell after driving from the drivers side wheel well/underhood area?

I am getting a strong smell of coolant, but no leaks. I took it to the dealership and they said they could smell it, but after a pressure test and visual inspection they found no leaks. They also checked the IC brick. Obviously the smell is still there.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I have exactly the same issue 2021, 20k miles it started around 10-12k and dealer did the pressure test etc.

After I went home and got a flashlight and what I could tell was coolant came out the overflow and I got a pressure washer (electric) with a low pressure nozzle and cleaned it a little with some simple green. After that a bit of the smell has been gone, but I get a hint again under that heavy pedal sport + typing driving and I pull in my garage. My garage is pretty sealed so and my ocd for this type of stuff is high. It is refreshing to know I’m not the only one, but clearly the dealer isn’t communicating with other dealers or whoever should know further up to determine if we are having an issue. It is a relatively new platform.

[mountainrivera]

My car is at the dealer for 2 things this being one, The first thing has been repaired but i was asked, "what smell?" My car is supposed to be ready in a day (for the first thing) and i am not going to accept that answer and take it home. I will let u know where this goes.

[corbs09]

Keep us posted mountainrivera

Oddly I notice the smell a lot more in sport or sport+. I wonder if it has something to do with the water pump seeping or more coolant flowing through the system so the overflow leaks?

Driving me insane to the point I want to sell the car ha

[JBX3MC]

I’m having the same issue. It’s going to the dealership tomorrow to take a look at. I’ll report back with what they say.

[corbs09]

Originally Posted by JBX3MC

I’m having the same issue. It’s going to the dealership tomorrow to take a look at. I’ll report back with what they say.

Keep us posted please! mountainrivera have you gotten an update on your car yet?

[JBX3MC]

They couldn’t find anything wrong. Pressure tested the system and it came back fine.

Frustrating but I’ll keep an eye on it to see if it gets worse. Hoping someone else gets resolution on it.

[corbs09]

Same thing with mine. Hoping some others chime in. Glad there doesn't seem to be a glaring issue, but its kind of annoying to know there is definitely coolant somewhere by the smell.

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by corbs09

Same thing with mine. Hoping some others chime in. Glad there doesn't seem to be a glaring issue, but its kind of annoying to know there is definitely coolant somewhere by the smell.

Must be a high-pressure/high-temp "venting" that is only happening after aggressive or hot drives.
I have it too, but only when the engine is really hot.
Pressure test may not be enough to get it to happen.

[corbs09]

Originally Posted by 95wildtt

Must be a high-pressure/high-temp "venting" that is only happening after aggressive or hot drives.
I have it too, but only when the engine is really hot.
Pressure test may not be enough to get it to happen.

My thought too, evaporative loss you can smell from a vent or something. Kind of sucks for a 80k car to smell like its leaking coolant. My G80 didn't do this but I kind of remember my c63s smelling like this but it had a leak.

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by corbs09

My thought too, evaporative loss you can smell from a vent or something. Kind of sucks for a 80k car to smell like its leaking coolant. My G80 didn't do this but I kind of remember my c63s smelling like this but it had a leak.

Our '20 Macan also does it after being driven a lot in the summer, must be a venting under high pressure/temp or something.

[cutnsew]

I haven't experienced the engine coolant smell, but the other day my "coolant low" light came on when I started the car. THen it went away and hasn't come back on?
It was the coldest it's been where I live in like 20 years though. Not sure if that had anything to do with it or not.

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by cutnsew

I haven't experienced the engine coolant smell, but the other day my "coolant low" light came on when I started the car. THen it went away and hasn't come back on?
It was the coldest it's been where I live in like 20 years though. Not sure if that had anything to do with it or not.

I had that this summer, checked the level in the resivor and it was borderline low.
I topped it off, no issues since.

[corbs09]

If it is low it has to be going somewhere. I am hoping one of us gets lucky with a really thorough tech and we can find the issue and get it fixed for a few of us.

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by corbs09

If it is low it has to be going somewhere. I am hoping one of us gets lucky with a really thorough tech and we can find the issue and get it fixed for a few of us.

It had gone down about 1/4" in almost 3 years... so I'll just attribute that to acceptable normal losses. But may explain the smell on occasion.

[corbs09]

I am still getting the smell, I checked the engine bay and dont see any leaks, I am half tempted to put a dye in the coolant and see if I can find it myself but I dont want to be pulling apart my newish car that is under warranty.

Hoping eventually someone finds the issue and can tell us all what to replace!

[corbs09]

Drove the car around in the snow yesterday (20 mph the entire time), when I parked it back in the garage the coolant smell was really bad. I checked the res, still full. This is the weirdest issue.