Slight burning smell?

berb_uk · 03-07-2009, 07:10 AM

Hi guys,

I've got the E93 DCT M3. Recently I've noticed that after I've driven the car for at least 10-20 mins (only slightly aggressive acceleration - nothing out of the ordinary), when I've parked up and step outside of the car I notice a slight burning smell.

I don't seem to remember it before. I was thinking maybe it's something to do with the brakes?

Anyway I'd like to find out what your thoughts are and whether anyone has experienced the same issue? What could it be? I hope there's not a serious underlying problem!

Thanks.

alpine335i · 03-07-2009, 07:15 AM

We're going to have to smell it, unfortunately our current technology won't allow us to smell things over the internet.

My guess would be brakes. Is it just a smell, no smoke coming from anywhere?

edcvin · 03-07-2009, 08:13 AM

I get a smell like that usually from the driver side brake area.

-Vin

Rockclimber · 03-07-2009, 10:40 AM

Brakes did the same to me the first 500 or so miles. Did you bed your brakes in? Some members here have had a problem with oil leaks, so make sure it isn't that.

e46e92love · 03-07-2009, 01:16 PM

Could also be the material on the exhaust and inside the engine (can't remember the explanation even though I have read about it and gotten it multiple times). Granted, my 335i is different then your //M, but every BMW I have ever owned and most other cars have had that burning smell emanate from the car for the first few 1000 miles or so.

Drive it to the dealer so they can smell it, and I'm sure they will tell you its fine.

Cheers,
e46e92

NYSPEM3 · 03-07-2009, 04:29 PM

May well be a plastic bag stuck under the exhaust pipes or differential housing and burning up. It has happened to me several times.

booforty · 03-10-2009, 05:52 AM

Hi berb, hope you are well

Post this up in the UK forum (on e90post.com). There are quite a few E92 M3 owners on there who may have experienced the same...

Personally, I've not had any burning smells with mine

berb_uk · 03-14-2009, 09:22 AM

thanks booforty - will do.

U235 · 01-25-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinnycg

I get a smell like that usually from the driver side brake area.

-Vin

I have a smell that comes from the driver side front wheel/brake area as well. It smells kind of like clutch. Trying to diagnose it. 8600 miles and I'm second owner so it's hard to tell what it is.

freshwhite335 · 01-25-2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e46e92love

every BMW I have ever owned and most other cars have had that burning smell emanate from the car for the first few 1000 miles or so.

same. my 2011 135 just turned 1000 miles and I'm still getting that "new BMW after drive smell" Same happened on my parent's F01. Still happens now at 17000 miles after it's driven hard. I think its the brakes.

U235 · 01-25-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

What are the road conditions like when you drove? Salt on the road? Do you know what they use to keep the roads clear from ice?

I remember someone with a similar issue with his Porsche Cayman, and it turned out it was the chemicals they dumped on the road during cold temperatures.

Nothing on roads. Dry, mid 50s

U235 · 01-25-2011, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshwhite335

same. my 2011 135 just turned 1000 miles and I'm still getting that "new BMW after drive smell" Same happened on my parent's F01. Still happens now at 17000 miles after it's driven hard. I think its the brakes.

Are you on the brakes hard?

freshwhite335 · 01-29-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U235

Are you on the brakes hard?

When it happens in the 7 yes. In the 1 no.

ersin · 01-30-2011, 11:10 AM

I left the teakettle on the stove. Sorry about that, I'll go take it off right now.

When I run the car harder than normal I smell a faint, sort of burning smell too. It reminds me of the smell of an airplane when parking it after flying. I get the same smell in the cabin in the winter time with the heater on. Especially at higher altitudes (above 5000 ft). I've noticed this with my various vehicles for years. I don't worry about it. I hope I never come back to find it burnt to the ground though.

Cheers.

raiste · 01-31-2011, 01:40 PM

I get some brake heating smell when I make a mountain run. The first time had me wondering, but now its just normal to me.

.

Gkap · 01-31-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYSPEM3

May well be a plastic bag stuck under the exhaust pipes

That smell is the worst.

03-07-2009, 07:10 AM	#1
berb_uk Private First Class 19 Rep 134 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Slight burning smell? Hi guys, I've got the E93 DCT M3. Recently I've noticed that after I've driven the car for at least 10-20 mins (only slightly aggressive acceleration - nothing out of the ordinary), when I've parked up and step outside of the car I notice a slight burning smell. I don't seem to remember it before. I was thinking maybe it's something to do with the brakes? Anyway I'd like to find out what your thoughts are and whether anyone has experienced the same issue? What could it be? I hope there's not a serious underlying problem! Thanks. __________________ _______________________________________ E93 M3 M-DCT JzB/Ext BB.
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03-07-2009, 07:15 AM	#2
alpine335i Captain 44 Rep 687 Posts Drives: 08 e92 M3 6MT, 08 e90 328xi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY iTrader: (2)	We're going to have to smell it, unfortunately our current technology won't allow us to smell things over the internet. My guess would be brakes. Is it just a smell, no smoke coming from anywhere? __________________ 2008 Alpine White E92 ///M3
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03-07-2009, 08:13 AM	#3
edcvin Captain 126 Rep 880 Posts Drives: 2006 M5 \| 2011 M3 \| 2020 X3M Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York iTrader: (1)	I get a smell like that usually from the driver side brake area. -Vin
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03-07-2009, 10:40 AM	#4
Rockclimber Private 4 Rep 52 Posts Drives: E90 M3 2009 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Brakes did the same to me the first 500 or so miles. Did you bed your brakes in? Some members here have had a problem with oil leaks, so make sure it isn't that.
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03-07-2009, 01:16 PM	#5
e46e92love Brigadier General 236 Rep 3,303 Posts Drives: e92 ///M3; X3 (wife's) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: The East Side of Things iTrader: (0)	Could also be the material on the exhaust and inside the engine (can't remember the explanation even though I have read about it and gotten it multiple times). Granted, my 335i is different then your //M, but every BMW I have ever owned and most other cars have had that burning smell emanate from the car for the first few 1000 miles or so. Drive it to the dealer so they can smell it, and I'm sure they will tell you its fine. Cheers, e46e92 __________________ "...it's not about the money and not about the brand of the car, it's about handling,performance and passion......And that, no other car has all together like an M3........when you talk about the most complete car the M is invincible." --Tony Kanaan.
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03-07-2009, 04:29 PM	#6
NYSPEM3 Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 221 Posts Drives: E90 M3 DCT Join Date: May 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	May well be a plastic bag stuck under the exhaust pipes or differential housing and burning up. It has happened to me several times. __________________ -------------------------------------------------- E90 M3 DCT Interlagos Blue/Silver Interior, Tech Pkg, Prem Pkg, Folddown Seats, 19"... that's it Certified V1 Zombie
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03-10-2009, 05:52 AM	#7
booforty Major General 337 Rep 8,811 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	Hi berb, hope you are well Post this up in the UK forum (on e90post.com). There are quite a few E92 M3 owners on there who may have experienced the same... Personally, I've not had any burning smells with mine
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03-14-2009, 09:22 AM	#8
berb_uk Private First Class 19 Rep 134 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	thanks booforty - will do. __________________ _______________________________________ E93 M3 M-DCT JzB/Ext BB.
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01-30-2011, 11:10 AM	#14
ersin Brigadier General 126 Rep 4,144 Posts Drives: 17 YMB F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (1)	I left the teakettle on the stove. Sorry about that, I'll go take it off right now. When I run the car harder than normal I smell a faint, sort of burning smell too. It reminds me of the smell of an airplane when parking it after flying. I get the same smell in the cabin in the winter time with the heater on. Especially at higher altitudes (above 5000 ft). I've noticed this with my various vehicles for years. I don't worry about it. I hope I never come back to find it burnt to the ground though. Cheers. __________________ 2017 F80 YMB.
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01-31-2011, 01:40 PM	#15
raiste Time is the fire in which we burn. 4 Rep 176 Posts Drives: 2015 SSII M3 Join Date: May 2010 Location: SC iTrader: (2)	I get some brake heating smell when I make a mountain run. The first time had me wondering, but now its just normal to me. .
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