[Evlkarl]

So the "Stink" on my A/C is back. The car went to the Dealer to have it fixed about 2 weeks ago. The Dealer checked the system blew out all the lines installed new Filter etc etc what ever needed to be done and now it stinks worse than before. I even switch the A/C now off when I park the car to see if it made a difference. It does not. The Dealer has no clue I checked it myself and can not find anything. I start to wonder if it is a design flaw from Mini that you just have enough water standing in the line to create that stink over time.

2014-2016 Mini Cooper A/C Fresh Air Duct Upper Section


I don, t know if the new A/C is different than the old once but I do not see any water dripping to the ground like it did on all the cars I drove in the past.




Time to get the heavy weapon out now ..."The Wunderbaum Giga Pack":laugh::laugh:

 

[Jonvee]

My dealer replaced the evaporator after I complained of the stink. It has been great for a year now.

 

[Evlkarl]

Jonvee, thanks for the heads up I will have a word with my Dealer.

 

[Desert Rat]

Is it a vinegar smell? Got it this morning when I started the air con. Only lasted a couple of seconds, but pretty annoying. I've read about it but hadn't experienced it until now.

 

[Evlkarl]

DR, mine smells more like "South West Road Kill" the problem I now have it is not constant. It might not smell for a week and than it smells 3 days in a row no matter if I switch the A/C off or not.

 

[vetsvette]

Noticed it for the first time today. My daughter and grandson commented on it before I noticed so It could have been doing it for a while since I'm normally alone. After running on Max for a few minutes it went away. If it continues I'll take it to the dealer.

 

[Jonathan]

Is it a vinegar smell? Got it this morning when I started the air con. Only lasted a couple of seconds, but pretty annoying. I've read about it but hadn't experienced it until now.

Have you washed your car or driven in the rain recently?

Mine makes the vinegar smell if there is too much water flowing down the windscreen and gets into the aircon intake vents.

Running the car aircon on full power for 20 minutes sorted it out.

 

[Evlkarl]

Jonathan, I wash my car once a week. Thanks for the tip I will give it a try tomorrow.

 

[Hat]

DR, mine smells more like "South West Road Kill" the problem I now have it is not constant. It might not smell for a week and than it smells 3 days in a row no matter if I switch the A/C off or not.

have you checked for roadkill?

 

[Evlkarl]

Maybe I should have a quick look under the car. :laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

[Desert Rat]

Have you washed your car or driven in the rain recently?

Mine makes the vinegar smell if there is too much water flowing down the windscreen and gets into the aircon intake vents.

Running the car aircon on full power for 20 minutes sorted it out.

Haven't had any rain in a month. It's been too hot to was the car, our daily temperature is 108F (42C).

The vinegar smell was there this morning for only a few seconds and it goes away. From what I've seen on forums its a common issue with no real resolution. I've read that MINI has a fix but it seems that the smell comes back after a while just as EK said.

 

[kenl]

This "could" be a health hazard! I would ask the dealer to push MINI for a permanent resolution.

On the other hand, could it be your screen wash? I used to get rental cars in Hawaii and when you used the screen washers there was a real stink of rotten eggs.

 

[Desert Rat]

This "could" be a health hazard! I would ask the dealer to push MINI for a permanent resolution.

On the other hand, could it be your screen wash? I used to get rental cars in Hawaii and when you used the screen washers there was a real stink of rotten eggs.

It's not the screen wash. I haven't used the screen wash and from what I've read it is a known issue going back to the 2014 models. It looks like they replace the evaporator in the dash and some other aircon components. Some get the smell back and some do not. I'll book it in, I'm just not keen on them dismantling my dashboard.

 

[Desert Rat]

For context below is a link to an 8 page post from NAM on this issue. Post 176 gives a description of the fix and the service bulletin number (M64 03 14).
It looks like the micro filter sits on the floor of the evap box over the drain and gets soaked with water causing the smell. They put a bead of hot glue on the bottom of the filter box to act like a spacer and raise it up so it doesn't get wet.

NAM Link

 

[Evlkarl]

That is what my dealer did the last time I brought the car in they even sprayed the filter with some stuff so it would smell better but no luck. So maybe it is a design flaw or it is Mini,s way of saying buy a new car beginning of the summer season.:laugh::laugh:

 

[Desert Rat]

From what I am reading, if the service tech does not put the bead of hot glue on the bottom of the filter to raise it up the smell will come back. Apparently the glue hardens and raises the filter up just enough to not cover the drain and get soaked

 

[hcube]

Hi, I’m driving a 3 mth old 2019 LCI MCS and after 1 month, my AC started to smell. I use AC all the time and condensation water flows normally under the car. I’ve checked the AC filter and they are clean and dry. I’ve put some silicon under the filter just in case. Did several AC disinfectant fogging including spraying Lysol but to no avail. Is this a permanent Mini defect?