Seems to be present when A/C is off and accelerating at a brisk rate, coming through vents. Smell is strong to the point of causing a headache, I'm not able to identify what it smells like (not rotting or mildew, more like burning coolant or something) but it's quite strong requiring rolling down the windows.
I first noticed when I picked up the car from it's Inspection I service several months ago...the SA actually noticed while the car was idling in service area and took it back and put up on the lift but couldn't identify the source. Any thoughts??

 

but other than that, no clue.

Matt

 

Could it be a newer car? I know when I drive my car hard it makes a smell. The smell used to be alot more noticable when the car was new.

 

No, it's an '04 I bought new, now 34k miles on the clock.

 

you should look around the exhaust header and piples, look to insulation that crept out from behind the heat shields, and buring round belts, and from things like the alernator or A/C compressor.

Other places to look are where rotational friction can occure. Rear wheel bearings, half-shafts and the like.

If you still can't find it, get one of those little green pine trees to hang from your rear-view.

Good luck hunting it down.

One more thought. Get some rubber hose, and smell from specific locations. It may help localize the source...

Matt

 

Guess you could say that your car goes like stink

Really though, it can't be good for your if it causes a headache. Have they checked sufficiently for a coolant leak?

 

I have a similar problem when accelerating hard--an odor that enters the cabin, but quickly dissipates. I notice the odor from other cars also and believe it's some byproduct of burning the oxygenated fuels we have here in New Mexico. I checked my exhaust and there's no leaks, but I wish it would go away...
phil

 

Both of my cars do it. Only when i'm really gettin' on it. I have no idea what it is. I've been messin' with cars pretty much my whole life and have smelled a ton of different smells, this one is odd.

I smell the smelly smell of something that smells smelly.

 

i think it's your cats

 

Yeah, cats can be kinda smelly - gotta change the litter more often

 

They're asleep on the sofa....

Matt

 

I had this problem.

Then one day it disappeared along with my transmission.

 

I have this too. When I changed over to the Magnaflow it went away for a while but it came back. Dealer says all Mini's do it

 

Stay away from Mexican food?
Do they brainwash them at MINI school? I have heard that statement way too many times. My MINI doesn't do that, and if all MINIs did, don't you think we would have heard more about it?

 

They're just BSing you....

Matt

 

MY stock 2003 S has the odor under hard acceleration since the day I broke it in, as does other stock Cooper S's I have driven, I consider it normal. Where It comes from is anyones guess

 

It's an undocumented design feature, not a bug!

Matt

 

Like burning coolant...well you might have an evporator leak, which would be accompanied by wet carpet though. Another could be that exhaust fumes are leaking into the vents somehow...but I don't think that'd be it.

 

I might know what smell you're talking about. I usually get it when i'm accelarating hard. I think it's the clutch burning off! hahahaa! I had to replace my clutch lining after 20,000kms and the smell was very prominate after the new lining was in. But this doesn't happen when driving normally, only when driving hard. Now that it's worn in, the smell is minimal, but can be noticed sometimes.

Sometimes, the smell was so strong that I've had to open the sunroof and windows.

Would my description fit your scenario?

 

The problem with that is he shouldn't smell it from his vents. I'd think any smell like that would just come from all around the car, but not from the vents specifically. Some clarification could be used here and it can very well be same as the problem you had as I never heard of burning coolant being a very naseous smell.

And clutch lining shouldn't burn off even when accelerating hard, seems like the spring isn't strong enough to keep it from slipping under full acceleration.

Unless your car is modded and the clutch just can't take the HP you're trying to put down

 

Dunno, but after only a year of a mixed conservative and spirited driving, the car had squeeks from the engine bay everytime there was a load or strain to the clutch. Ie: Uphill stationary moving off and cold start drives. Brought it back to the dealer and they changed my clutch lining stating it had worn off. Seems odd that they wore off so fast considering that i wasn't driving aggressively ALL the time... Honest!

Nothing much to my mods, well, nothing much to the engine. Just the basic few better sounding items. So i didn't see why it would wear off so soon.

In any case, I'll see how this new lining goes. If it wears off prematurely again, it's might probably be due to my driving (which i highly doubt as i drive mostly in the city). It'd be a good chance go change to a more uprated one. And a lightened flywheel since the tranny's off!

 

That is so abnormal. It shouldn't slip when you have the clutch fully out no matter how hard you get on the gas. Glad you got the clutch replaced under warranty though. that's a tough sell most of the time. City driving meaning constant use of the clutch CAN cause premature wear but not at the rate you're talking about.

 

Try the recirculate before driving the car briskly. If it's still there it's probably not a melted plastic bag, sulfur from the cats, or the clutch. Might be heater core leaking only when the waterpump is spinning fast.

 

My 2006 MCS has the smell, only when I am passing. I'm doing around 70 mph, and hitting it hard. Then when I have already passed, I always get that burnt smell. Smells like burning oil maybe? Its not coolant, for sure.

 

I'd check your passenger's pants. I think my "brisk" driving has caused my passengers to have a "accident" or two