The odor is caused by mildew in your evaporator case. Most auto supply stores sell a product that you spray into your air intake to eliminate this order. Try to get into the habit of switching to recirculate the last couple of miles you drive you car as when your almost home from work. Switch to recirculate so that air outside air can get into your evaporator case to help dry it. Also check your evaporator drain and make sure it isn't kinked or clogged up to where water will accumulate in the bottom of the case causing mildew which in turn causes that foul odor. This is very common complaint in the a/c industry.

 

I've heard of this before and also read several articles on preventing/solving the problem.

It seems to prevent the problem you need to shut down the AC and run the blower on high and outside air for a few minutes before shutting down the engine. Apparently moisture accumulates in the AC system during use and this will dry it out. If not dryed out, mold begins to form and this is what causes the odor. This is from click and clack on Car Talk. I've done this on my 03 Cooper and never had a problem.

The solution, as several others have said, is to change the filter and run a system clenser/ freshener through the AC system. Any good auto shop should be able to do this for you if you don't want to try it youself.

Hope this helps

 

just before (5 minutes) you are to arrive at your destination, hit the "snowflake button" so as to disable the compressor. Follow this procedurte as often as you can remember to do it. This will allow the evaporator to assume outside ambient temp and when the car is shut down there will be little or no condensate to form on it (the evap.). When condensate forms on it, it can mildew/mold will accumulate. The smell is coming from this. Get a competent dealer to treat your car with frigi-fresh or a comparable product. Minimize the use of the recirculate button. Once the mildew/mold problem starts, it can take several treatments to remedy it. Do you live in a relatively humid area???...humidity is bad. GL.

 

I could think of worse smells.

 

Thanks to all the explanations and solutions. Very much indeed appreciated . I had my previous car rectified by spraying some cleaning solution into the blower and change to charcoal filter and it smell did not occur for years, however our mini dealer did not buy this method and its frustrating and cant do much as it is still under warranty .

 

BMW has a service bulletin for the 3 series: SIB 64 08 91 01/2002 Musty Odors From Air Conditioning System E38, E39, E46, E53

On my BMW board there were many people who had the problem. BMW refuses to admit that this is a design flaw but rather caused by "Environmental Conditions". Like when you use the A/C when it is hot and humid out Therefore, they will not cover this proceedure and will bang you out $165. Not sure if Mini dealers are familiar with this.

Here are some threads on my M3 board that explain causes and no-cost solutions:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/searc...archid=1135486

 

I have decided to send to outside workshop who can remove the odour smell with less high tech washing machine as suggested by our mini dealer.

 

Our dealer Mini Habitat till date have not fix the musty smell and each time when I called for an appointement they said they are waiting for those ' cleaning chemical to arrived and did not offer any other solution and that's a shame . I guessed they are expecting customer to live with it .............. . I will call the Habitat GM in regards to this matters.

 

May also be worth it to contact MINIUSA or your regional (not local/dealer) service manager if the issue is unacceptable, and the dealer expects you to live with it, that is not the level of service you should have froma company liek BMW.

 

I have decided have a word with the Habitat GM tommorrow followed by BMW Asia.

 

I left my car at the mini habitat for 8 days c/w a string of 5 items to be rectified under warranty claim and in addition I have requested an early oil change as I told them I will pay for it.
Upon collection , here are some christmas suprises mini habitat had given as present -
1. they had forgotten to carry oil change
2. Wiper marks on windscreen still exist after each sweep at the last stroke
3, Musty smell occurs 2 days later.

I have tried to be calm but am no angel , I will made arrangment to meet with BMW Asia on this matter after christmas. Boy our Mini Habitat is - "For He is a Golly Good Fellow, for he is a golly good fellows nobody cant denied ." these experience freaking