Re: Oo-ooh, that smell! Fumes in passenger compartment from????

[K&K <kbandkr@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom, Alex,

The statement below is actually not correct.  My 89 635 (E24) is the same 
functionally as the 88 528 (E28) in that the center horizontal slide lever 
*is* exclusively for outside air.  The top and bottom levers are for the 
defroster and the floor vents, respectively, and both are sensitive to the 
heater thermostat.  The center lever is not sensitive to the heater.

Our 318is (E30) does not behave the same way and does behave like described 
below.  There is a button for fresh versus recycled air next to the air 
conditioning button.  The center lever in the E30 *is* sensitive to the 
heater thermostat just as the defrost and floor levers are sensitive to it.

Now as to the smell, having ridden in these cars since the early '80s, I 
must say that the heater *always* produced a smell that has some sort of 
burnt *something* to it - especially when turned to that hottest setting.  
But, if the smell is increasing or is truly distinct like that of burning 
oil, then I'd lift the hood when the car is warmed up and start looking for 
the source of the smell.  If it smells more like burning antifreeze then 
there are two possibilities - a fluid leak under the hood (i.e., radiator,
  hoses, etc.) or the heater core (or tubing) that is under the dash.  That 
last one is the most difficult to repair obviously.  But, if it is "burning"
  of coolant, then that should be obvious because the cooling system will 
always be needing to be topped off.  How do I know that?  BTDT just 
recently with a leaking water pump on the 635.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, but without smelling the strength of the 
smell I can't compare it to our cars.

Kevin
GGC BMWCCA

On Tuesday, November 20, 2001, at 02:21  PM, bmw-digest wrote:

> Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 11:56:56 -0600
> From: alex.fadeev@domain.elided
> Subject: Re: Oo-ooh, that smell!  Fumes in passenger compartment from????
>
> Tom,
> First of all, the horizontal (<= E30) HVAC controls have no effect on the
> air intake. The merely direct the air to different air vents inside the
> car.
> Fresh/mostly recycled air is selected with the square yellowish switch next
> to the AC button.
> What you smell with the heater on is most likely the coolant leaking and
> evaporating on the heater core. To stop the leak you will most likely have
> to replace the heater core or whatever part is leaking coolant.
>
> good luck,
> alex f

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