When I got out of my car tonight I noticed a new, unique kind of a blown out candle smell coming from my car, an 05' S, which seemed to be coming from the front of my engine? No warning lights have come on in my dash, and the car seems to be running great!! What the heck might this smell be, and has anyone else experienced this? Thanks!!

 

maybey a bit o clutch? did you drop the clutch or were you riding it?

did you have any hard braking experiences before stopping to smell the motor?

brakes and clutch have definite smells after you use them either hard or imporperly.....

 

Had the same smell the other day. I tried to light-up the tires and forgot to take the the DCS off . This may also happen if you have the parking break slightly engaged.

 

Yah, that was my first thought, clutch and brakes cause funky smells, but I've driven standard shift cars my whole life and am actually very easy on clutches, and I certainly didn't stress it more than I usually do! I've smelled that brake smell before and I'm 99% sure I'm OK there. It's like something that shouldn't be touching some hot engine part is touching it, (plastic or something), and it's burning. Anyway, thanks for the reply, and PLEASE keep em' coming!! Thanks again!

 

hmm..... i'l have to go look at mine when i get it back from the dealer, i'll see if i see any rubbing or close contact problems...


i'll let ya know if i think of anything

 

Yah...I've done the E-brake thing before too, and I always have the Traction control OFF, unless raining, etc. HMMMMMM?

 

gavin7777,

I wouldn't worry too much. The smell you described doesn't sound like an electrical thing; it sounds like a heat thing.

If you're not familiar with the smells produced by brakes or clutches when they get really hot from hard use, that could be it. My suggestion would be to allow the car plenty of time to cool off completely. Check your oil. If the oil level is OK, take it out for a nice leisurely test drive, stopping periodically to see if the smell has returned.

If it has, visist the MINI dealer to have them assess it. If not, try using the brakes aggressively several times and check again for the smell. If you don't smell anything, don't worry about it. If you do, you'll have to judge for yourself whether your braking was out of the ordinary; brakes do smell when they get really hot. If not, visit the dealer.

 

Thanks eMINI, yah, I went and drove it again, but I kicked it's butt, the weather is awesome here tonight, and my 05' was just SMOKIN'!! No smell at all in the cabin, I get out and go to the front of the engine, there's the candle wick smoke smell again? Who knows, maybe I'll try that leisurly drive idea!

 

Maybe some garbage from the road caught up under the engine somewhere?

 

My girlfriends Mini had some weird smells for the 1st week. Mine didn't have them as bad but they were there a little.

Brad

 

Gavin, perhaps your MINI had some residual cosmolene still in the engine. That is a protective coating that protects our MINIs from the elements as they cross the Atlantic. Pop the bonnet and see if you notice any beige goop residue anywhere at all. Hope that helps! :smile:


Clover

 

Funny thing is I've got 3200 miles on the car, and to my knowledge I haven't noticed this smell before. I did see a bit of that beige goop here and there though. I just went and drove the car again...LEISURELY, and seemed to do pretty good. Then I drove my wife's S, leisurely, and compared the smells and they were about the same, I think. Anyway, I've driven the car hard, (not stupidly) plenty of times with no crazy smell, so why now? I guess all I can do is keep an eye on it, and hope for the best. I've got a track day planned for Sunday though, so I want the car to be ready to roll!! Thanks again!! Peace.

 

I had a similar smell after I ran over a plastic bag that stuck to the exhaust. Since I drive 3 miles each way to work that sucker stank for a good 6 weeks.

 

Say a little prayer and let 'er rip

 

Maybe your MINI was participating in mourning the death of the pope. That would explain the candle smell...

 

That's hillarious!! I drove the car this morning, and it seems to be a little better. I drove it hard, and had just a hint of that smell. You know....I remember running over a plastic bag yesterday too. Maybe that is it, and my exhaust burnt it up or something like yours Veni_Vidi!! Just curious can anyone describe what a burnt up or bad clutch would smell like? I've heard of our cars occasionally having bad clutches from the factory. I don't think that's what it is, as it seems to be engaging strong and not slipping. Well thanks again for all of your replies and help!! Peace!!

 

I can't discribe burn't clutch,but it smells like nothing else your car can produce.Plus the odour does not go away very fast,and you will likely smell it in the cab.

 

If you have a problem with your clutch, it will become apparant. And you'll have more symptoms than just a smell. I'm voting for the plastic bag. :smile:

 

If your car is pretty new, there are all sorts of coatings and sealants that burn off the first time you really give the car a workout. Peek under your car, make sure nothing is trapped under there, then let er rip!

 

My bet is it's a plastic bag. You need to always make sure that if you drive over a plastic bag, and it doesnt come out the other side, you need to pull over and make sure that it's not stuck in the engine, because it can actually damage the car, depending on where it's stuck.

I'd say go through the engine bay, underside and exhaust with a torch (flashlight), make sure no plastic there.

 

when the Zoomness was new, every time we stopped after a decently long run, the exhaust STAAANK like heck! this has not been happening lately though-maybe the dealer forgot to take off some protective plastic from around the tailpipes? but since your MINI already has 3200 miles, i don't know.

-Paul

 

Hmmmm....Gavin, did you take off the little plastic label from the engine when your MINI was new? That might have caused the stink!


Clover

 

Maybe a faulty/weak coolant tank? If coolant spills on to the heat shield it can make a sort of burning smell that one can sometimes smell from inside the car, and sometimes from outside too.