Hi All, I'm new to the forum and Mini's, having just bought my first Mini, a 2009 S hardtop. It's in great shape, except it has a smell inside... It's really obnoxious. Kind of a cross between baby wipes, very old McDonald's french fries, and some other biological smells. When I ride with the roof open and the windows down, it goes away. But comes right back when I park it over night, even with the roof popped open. I don't want to just cover it up with other smells, I want to get rid of this odor. Any suggestions? I bought this stuff at the hardware store that actually emits chlorine gas. You open it up, put it in your car with the windows closed overnight, and it supposedly kills any bacteria in the car that's making smells. But the warnings say stuff like "chlorine gas may corrode metal and vinyl upholstery", etc, and so I'm afraid to use it! I've stuck my nose down everywhere in the car and can't pinpoint a location for the smell. It's just everywhere, I guess. Thanks for any recommendations! -Dan
After 3 years of sitting outside and not being used, I had some mold smell to contend with. Here's a link of some things regarding that, maybe it will help. http://wheelsguide.net/remove-mold-car-seats-interior/
Baking soda...I have left a pan of it under the seats, and in the trunk.... If it still comes back...Sprinkle it around.... Let it sit... vacume it out...might work for an odor...but... maybe just rent a carpet cleaner...and clean away. If there is dried bits stuck....nothing is gonna get it out till you get it OUT OF THE CAR.
I have 2 of these in the car: https://www.amazon.com/Moso-Natural-Purifying-Charcoal-Color/dp/B004BOH6BM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1469043917&sr=8-5&keywords=charcoal+filter+bag
Go find a local detailer and ask them if they do ozone treatments? It is a machine that they put in you car and seal up your car and it kills all and any bacteria and smells. My friend has one at his detail shop and runs it on every used car he does for a local dealership. They put it in the car and let it run overnight and the next day the car smells like nothing was ever inside at all.
@red bull and @Dave.o: I've never heard of ozone treatments, sounds like it's worth a try. And safer than that DIY chlorine gas kit I got... Thanks. As far as charcoal bags and other smell absorbers, I've had a lava rock one in there for a while that is supposed to absorb all odors in a 9000 sq ft room, and it did nothing. :-( I think I need to bring out the big guns like the ozone treatment to kill the bacteria! And I probably should shampoo the rugs and scrub the upholstery, maybe with one of those pet odor remover solvents? But sounds like a lot of work, lol. -Dan
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj2rxFS0qDQ"]The Smelly Smell that Smells Smelly (HD) - YouTube[/ame]
Did you change the cabin filter and clean the ducts to all the inside filters? Ozone treatment will kill most orders, but it has to be an overnight in a sealed up car to be effective. What is the history of the MINI, it has never been wet right, left open to the rain, sunk in a swamp, etc... etc ... Good luck. Don
Some places rent the ozone machine. Here is a simple DIY. http://m.wikihow.com/Do-an-Ozone-Shock-Treatment-on-a-Vehicle
I have a carbon cabin filer on order and will install when I get it. But the smell is NOT coming from the vents at all. I smell it strongest when the car has sat for several hours with the engine off and the windows closed. Even with the sunroof cracked open I still get the smell overnight. I bought the car from a guy up in the mountains who has a baby and a 10 year old daughter. He had it for a few years. There was standing water in the trunk under the tool tray -- he claimed he spilled a water jug back there a few days prior. I cleaned it out and scrubbed in there with ammonia. The smell isn't really coming from there, at least not that I can tell. There are no obvious stains or mold/mildew anywhere. It "looks" clean. Maybe it is in the vents -- how do you clean them? I found a place that does an overnight ozone treatment for $50. That's probably worth a try, but I'm thinking I should shampoo the rugs and upholstery first. -Dan
See my link for what you should clean and remove from your car before you take it for an ozone treatment. Don't even bother cleaning the vents as it not worth the effort if you are doing an ozone treatment soon.
Imo DO swap the cabin airfilter...or inspect it at the very least... Many folks have found mice nests...know you say it not the vents...but costs you zero to check. About 5 minutes.
Yeah, I have seen this treatment in progress at a dealership, and it removes even cigarette odors. They do it with the car running and the vent system on full blast and the temperature on "hot". So, it deodorizes everything, including the vents. CD
Has the headliner been replaced lately. I redid my liner and it took over a month to quit stinking to high heaven.
No it has the original headliner still. It's not a chemical/glue/plastic smell. It's definitely something organic... I found a local detailing shop that will do the ozone treatment for $50 -- not too bad! Or $250 for the interior detailing plus ozone... I also looked into renting the ozone machines. They even rent them at the local tool rental place. But it was like $75 a day, so might be better to just have the detailer do it. Thanks all for the info, I'll let you know how things turn out. -Dan
Organic?............well um.................could it be coming from the DRIVER?:eek6::lol::lol: Sorry couldn't let that pass oops no pun intended:biggrin5: