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R55 Need to Identify the Engine smell

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  #1  
Old 09-23-2020, 02:55 PM
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Need to Identify the Engine smell

Hello

I am looking for suggestions. I am the third owner of a 2012 Mini Cooper JCW Clubman, with 22K miles. Engine is a N14. I have owned the car for about three weeks. The car is in great shape. The second owner had the car for 5 years and only put 3k miles on the car. It has been garage kept and only used on sunny summer days. Did not know the first owner and how he treated car. I have driven it for three weeks with no issues until this Monday. When the car was driven by my wife, when returning from work, 30 mins away, it smelt like something was burnt. Smell fills up garage. Seem to be stronger at right rear of engine. It smelled like burnt mica or phenolic.

Looked over the car today and tried to identify the issue.

Checked:

· engine compartment

· Checked hoses

· Fuse box

· Belt

· Any area I could see from the top

· Under carriage

· Suspension

· Tires/brakes

· Exhaust

· Wiring that could be seen

· Performed OBD test with no faults

· No smell in cabin

Engine performance:

· Idles fine

· Warmed up with no problem

· Dives fine;

o Heat on

o A/c on

o Heated seats on

· No overheat light

·

The smell is still there.
 
  #2  
Old 09-23-2020, 03:05 PM
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You might have get the car up on stands so you can get under it. Probably a critter was working on a nest on top of the exhaust.
 
  #3  
Old 09-23-2020, 08:46 PM
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Auto or manual gear box?
 
  #4  
Old 09-24-2020, 09:33 AM
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Catalytic converter?
 
  #5  
Old 09-26-2020, 11:36 AM
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No luck yet in finding the answer, will continue. Thanks for the replies.
 
  #6  
Old 09-30-2020, 12:18 PM
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Could it be a stuck brake caliper? from lack of driving .Drive t again and check the rotors for a hot one...John
 
  #7  
Old 09-30-2020, 12:29 PM
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Could be anything - I can't smell it from here...
 
  #8  
Old 10-06-2020, 07:23 AM
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Sweet smell - coolant

Burnt, could be clutch, oil leak, wires. Brakes. They sometimes have a metal smell also.

Terrible - Could be transmission fluid.
 
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