Literally...Just picked up my long awaited for MC PW/PW yesterday and have gotten nasty headaches each time I have driven it. The "new car" fumes are getting to me, I guess. I very rarely get headaches so I know it's not something else. Has anyone else had this kind of reaction to the fumes? How long will this last?

 

The fumes are probably the film that they cover parts of it in for the boat ride to protect it from the salt water. It'll go in a day or two.

It didnt bother me that much, I was having too much fun driving.

 

I got a sore neck a few times when I first got mine. I think it was from driving with the top opened and the windows down... and that may have saved me from "the fumes".

:smile: :smile:

God speed.

 

reggie, welcome to the site!

It sounds like you may have an environmental sensitivity to some of the plastics used in the manufacture of the car. I would doubt that this is just related to the plastic film (now removed) used for shipping, but rather is a result of the "off-gassing" of the various plastics used within the interior. Do you have leatherette seats? These have been noted by many namotoring members (myself included) to be responsible for keeping that "new car smell" around for a long time. As you probably know, that smell is actually off-gassing plastic. In fact, the MINI's interior contains so much plastic that some have noted that there's a film (from the off-gassed products) on the interior of the windows for the first several thousand miles.

My recommendation is that you park in a (private) garage as often as possible so that you can leave the windows down when you're not driving. Also, frequent drives with the windows and sunroof open will help expedite the removal of plastic gasses from the interior...and hopefully you can rid yourself of this problem. A thorough cleaning may help too...but for that you should check into the Detailing forum for recommended products and advice of getting rid of this new car smell. On the down-side (for you), the MINI tends to keep its new car smell for quite a while (due to all of the plastics). Mine has 20K miles, is over a year old, and still smells "new". That's great by me...but maybe not for you.

Good luck!

_________________

Bring Out the Scoops!

 

Here is another possibility - your brain might be getting confused (aka you got car sick)
It happened to me, so that's why I brought it up.

Did your previous car have a pretty good "field of view" (large windshield?)
MINI's windshield is relatively small, and as a driver, more of the interior is visible to you. As you drive down the road, your brain gets confused, because your brain expects things in your vision to move with car's motion. When that happens, your first reaction might be a headache.

Any human engineers care to jump in!?

The only solution is to go out and drive more. You need to train your brain to adopt to this smaller field of view.

 

Ya know - I'm not crazy then!

When we first got the MINI, I too got headaches and was car sick many times. And no, it wasn't from doing the twisties. This was just normal driving conditions. It's never happened while I was driving - only as a passenger and it never happened in any other car we ever owned...
donna@dcmetrominis.org

 

I'm wondering if you might have an allergy or something making you more sensitive than many to the off-gassing fumes. Actually, they are probably mildly toxic so allergy likely isn't the right word but all the more reason to make sure your body's not telling you something. Whatever, it will pass and I like the advice about having it opened up as much as possible. Good luck, enjoy, but take care!

 

<<<In fact, the MINI's interior contains so much plastic that some have noted that there's a film (from the off-gassed products) on the interior of the windows for the first several thousand miles.>>>

So THAT'S what that weird film is??? I was actually getting worried that there might be something wrong with the ventilation system. It's just as bad now (9 months, ~24k miles) as it was when the car was new-new. Huh... learn something new every day.

As far as the headaches, I have them all the time anyway, so I can't say as though I noticed an increas, but I DID notice some extreme sleepiness for the first few weeks I had the car. Every time I got in I felt like I wanted to take a nap. Weird chemical crap... Leaving it open is a good idea. Or, if you've the spare time, a 10,039 mile trip with the windows down gets rid of that new car smell pretty durn quickly!

 

This is interesting. I too got headaches but I didn't think it was the MINI. I smoke, I know, it's nasty, and I didn't want to smoke in the MINI. I still don't. :smile: Well what I did was whenever I wanted a smoke I would pull over somewhere and take a quick smoke. I though that may have been the cause of the headaches.

Anyone know how to remove the film from the inside of the windshield and keep it off? My windows are very seldom closed when I drive so I've aired it out a lot. I wash it constantly but it comes back. Like I said I don't smoke in the car but the film is worse than my previous car that I did smoke in. I've had the car since May and have 10,000 miles and the film still shows up after a few days.

_________________

 

>>Anyone know how to remove the film from the inside of the windshield and keep it off? My windows are very seldom closed when I drive so I've aired it out a lot. I wash it constantly but it comes back. Like I said I don't smoke in the car but the film is worse than my previous car that I did smoke in. I've had the car since May and have 10,000 miles and the film still shows up after a few days.
______________________-
As jsun said this is probably the outgassing of plastics in the car. And no, it is not the cosmoline that they used to coat the car during TransAtlantic shipping (that's already washed off at the port of entry during servicing.) I don't think there'such one can do about it: it's the nature of some materials to outgas. Even in homes (remember formaldehyde presence in wood adhesives in plywood years ago?).

I'd just keep the car very well ventilated, which is not easy now that we are into the cold season. If you are parked inside your own covered garage, leave the windows open.

BTW, did you know that potatoes give out ethylene gas during storage? That's why they recommend you to store your bananas and potatoes together if you want your bananas to ripen quicker. Another case of outgassing.

 

Or, if you've the spare time, a 10,039 mile trip with the windows down gets rid of that new car smell pretty durn quickly!
>>
__________________
Actually I kinda like the new car smell. Did you know that there's even something like "new car spray" scent available in some auto supply stores? Of course if you're allergic to that, then by all means go on a 10k tearing-up-the-country trip. Say, Om, let us know when you're ready to do another one. Maybe we can arrange for a grand entry to Northern Calif and SF. You go girl!

 

<<<Say, Om, let us know when you're ready to do another one. Maybe we can arrange for a grand entry to Northern Calif and SF. You go girl! >>>

I'm ready NOW! Every day I get into my car it gets a little harder to get out of it...

But I digress. Carry on, all. Carry on...

 

Just wanted to add to this. i got awful migraines for about the first two weeks i had my MINI. i am prone to them, but this was excessive. A friend suggested it may have been a cleaning substance used on the car... i hadn't thought so - but now i may change my mind.

Thankfully, headaches gone and MINI is still great (5000 mi. in 2 1/2 months... eeesh, goodbye warranty)

 

Good evening,

Outgassing is a problem on new plastics, when I got my Corvette new- I felt a bit dizzy a few times with the ventilation off and the car enclosed (And vettes have tons of plastic inside them). I cracked my windows a few days in the garage, and always left the vent on (not on recirculate). I suspect I'll do the same with my MCS when I get in Jan. I use the "Stoner" glass cleaner, works great. Tho I always laugh at the name :smile: Also try some interior protectant (I use 3M protectant, Armor All's shine drives me nuts), sometimes wiping off the surface will remove some of the oils on the new plastics.

Of course a few weeks after the "new car smell" was reduced, I sorta missed the ambience of it :smile:

caio,

-Matt

 

So anyone had their car long enough to tell if it causes cancer?

2 trips from Irvine to LA in one weekend, my head is killing me!

 

Wow. This great information!!! I tend to be sensitive to environmental toxins so I guess I'll be joining the headache brigade myself.

Maybe that's why I get such a huge headache after the LA car show! I sit in all these new cars that are sitting inside.... hmmmmmmm!

Drink tons of water and take Vit C. It helps!

 

wow this thread sure is getting interesting.

Tomorrow I'll jump over to the BMW boards and ask if anyone gets a headache in their new car. I have always thought my headache was from getting motion sickness. It seems that quite a few people have a similar experience. If it is because of plastic out-gassing, then maybe those BMW guys will experience this headache as well.

One thing though - my BMW outgassed, and there was always this film on the windshield. However, I never got a headache in my BMW........

Let me throw in another possibility - CO poisoning. Another poster mentioned getting dizzy, sleepy, and a headache. That's the classic sign of CO poisoning. Maybe the hatchback shape is sucking exhaust back into the cabin?

 

The chemical in question is actually part of a class of chemicals known as phthalates. One of the most common is something called diethyl phthalate. Phthalates are commonly found in "flexible" plastics and many cosmetics. They are currently under investigation by epidemiologists for a range of harmful side effects. Apparently most of these effects are related to disruptions of normal hormone levels and possible birth defects. They are also well known to trigger headaches and other negative side effects in people with chemical sensitivities. Let me be careful to note that this is ALL SUBJECT TO CONJECTURE and I personally would place it in the danger range of any number of other environmental toxins (e.g., radon). Also, this wouldn't be a problem restricted to MINIs...but rather to any new car which uses a large amount of plastic in the interior, AND which has a well-sealed interior. That about covers all new cars IMO.

If you want to read more, here are a few links I found:

Article on CNN.com
Diethyl Phthalate Chemical Backgrounder
Newsday Article on DEP

Again, I will note that I present this info for those interested to start their own investigation. I personally am not bothered by the "new car smell" in my MINI and do not get headaches. My wife, on the other hand, does and won't ride in the car for more than about a half hour.

_________________

Bring Out the Scoops!

 

The only time my MCS gives me a headache is when it's time to make the car payment.

 

Just FYI, this subject - the film on the inside of MINI windows - came up on a thread back in July. Note that this is NOT the same as the "salt" streaks (that start out that thread and still plague my car)...but the subject of outgassing and curing plastic was ultimately identified as an issue.

 

*****'s

suck it up

 

Well I checked the responses on the BMW website.
I know for sure that my BMW outgas as well, as even after 9 years I still have to clean the film on the windows. All the responses there do agree that outgassing could be the cause, but it is also interesting to note that no one with new BMWs reported getting a headache.

This tells us either MINI uses cheaper/gassier plastic than BMWs, or that the real cause is the small field of vision. I know in my own case, the headache I got feels exactly like getting car/plane sick. I intentionally adjusted my seats to improve my field of vision. I also drove the heck out of my car to adapt to it.

 

Well, hummm. I am not ususally sensitive to fumes and things but perhaps this is a first. In my case, I really don't think the headaches have to do with motion sickness. My other car is a small car with a rough ride too. In fact, the MC feels smooth in comparison.

I kind of wondered, as I peeled off the sticker from the drivers side window that warned against cancer causing chemicals, what that was all about. I'm no wimp so I will just suck it up...as others have said. And I'm not overly concerned that it wouldn't go away. Just thought it was an interesting situation that I was experiencing. Motor on.

I will definately clear out the gargage this weekend so that I can store it with the windows down. Driving it with the windows down and with the sunroof open I'm sure has helped me but I like that suggestion. And I LOVE the new car smell. I haven't had a new car in over 14 years so it's not the smell I want to get rid of just possibly the fumes...they go hand in hand I guess though.

 

yes, I have leatherette seats...

 

One thing to note is that if you have a headacke for the first few days after delivery, it could also be a stress-relief headacke that is very common. The months towards delivery can be very stessful for some. Like when you study hard for a test and then the test is over... you get a headacke. Or when you work very hard during the week and relax in the weekend, you get a headacke.

Thinking of this, maybe the MINI is the relaxing-point in our life