Anyone have experience getting cigarette smell out of a car?

misterjim · 08-25-2016, 08:31 PM

Considering a 2013 335 CPO. Very clean, one owner, good service history, only 30k miles. It's the color combo I want and optioned the way I want.

The only issue is that the original owner must have been a smoker since I can smell a small amount of cigarette smoke even after it was detailed by the dealer.

There is a local independent detailer who claims they can get rid of all of the smell with a combo of thourough steam cleaning and ozone. Anyone have any experience with this? If I can't be reasonable confident of getting rid of the smell it's a deal breaker for me.

e90-328i · 08-25-2016, 09:57 PM

Find that valet that Seinfeld had for his 5er from ep#61- "the smelly car"
I'm sure he will get rid of smoking smell if he drives it for a bit.

sea6speed · 08-25-2016, 10:46 PM

Ozone. Get a decent quality ionizer. Not an in car one, but one designed for a house. It will produce enough ozone to fill a car several times over. Run it overnight several times with the windows closed.

Ozone kills off most odors. I run one in my basement next to the cat boxes. The cats left a dead rat next to it and the smell of a rotting rat never took over. That's how effective ozone is. Definitely not the healthiest thing to breathe in an enclosed space but it does the job. Just make sure to air the car out before driving it after using a device like that.

Here's one for example. It's a good tool to have around the house regardless. I've used them to take a number of odors out of the air. They're less effective on organic solvents (paint fumes) but anything cause by small particles (smoke/dust/mold) the ozone binds to and neutralizes it.

https://www.amazon.com/Enerzen-Comme...zg_bs_510196_8

BashShah · 08-26-2016, 03:01 AM

Ebay look up:
ultrasonic diffuser

Get your Favorite scent Oil.
Run in your Car for a few Hours for a Day for a Few Days.
Worked for me......and I smoke.....not in my Car anymore.
I am a Realtor and I need to start driving this Car for clients, and it worked.
In fact I had compliments from some lady Clients.

Don't let smoke smell break your find.

Best of luck.

JasW · 08-26-2016, 05:16 AM

Take up cigars.

BSM n54iS · 08-26-2016, 06:02 AM

.... or weed

imy · 08-26-2016, 06:31 AM

... fart it out

C1Boston · 08-26-2016, 08:08 AM

Why dont you tell the dealer or your SA that you really like the car but that awful smell is deterring you from purchasing. If they want to sell the car they'll accommodate you within reason and personally I think you requesting for them to get rid of the smell before you buy is something they shouldnt mind doing.

John 070 · 08-26-2016, 08:18 AM

I've had rentals where this has happened, and in every case I go back because I didn't want to get "charged" for smoking in the car when it is not allowed. One time I tried to make do and nothing would get rid of the smell, no amount of Lysol, air fresheners, etc.

08-25-2016, 08:31 PM	#1
misterjim Private First Class 35 Rep 191 Posts Drives: 2008 e93 335i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rochester, NY iTrader: (0)	Anyone have experience getting cigarette smell out of a car? Considering a 2013 335 CPO. Very clean, one owner, good service history, only 30k miles. It's the color combo I want and optioned the way I want. The only issue is that the original owner must have been a smoker since I can smell a small amount of cigarette smoke even after it was detailed by the dealer. There is a local independent detailer who claims they can get rid of all of the smell with a combo of thourough steam cleaning and ozone. Anyone have any experience with this? If I can't be reasonable confident of getting rid of the smell it's a deal breaker for me.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-25-2016, 09:57 PM	#2
e90-328i Second Lieutenant 18 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2011 328i RWD! Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: yyz iTrader: (0)	Find that valet that Seinfeld had for his 5er from ep#61- "the smelly car" I'm sure he will get rid of smoking smell if he drives it for a bit. __________________ 2011 328i RWD Sports 6MT, BMW P/E, aFe Magnum stage 2, AA tune, P3cars gauge, LUX
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-25-2016, 10:46 PM	#3
sea6speed First Lieutenant 93 Rep 343 Posts Drives: '10 335i Msport 6M / E34 535i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Ozone. Get a decent quality ionizer. Not an in car one, but one designed for a house. It will produce enough ozone to fill a car several times over. Run it overnight several times with the windows closed. Ozone kills off most odors. I run one in my basement next to the cat boxes. The cats left a dead rat next to it and the smell of a rotting rat never took over. That's how effective ozone is. Definitely not the healthiest thing to breathe in an enclosed space but it does the job. Just make sure to air the car out before driving it after using a device like that. Here's one for example. It's a good tool to have around the house regardless. I've used them to take a number of odors out of the air. They're less effective on organic solvents (paint fumes) but anything cause by small particles (smoke/dust/mold) the ozone binds to and neutralizes it. https://www.amazon.com/Enerzen-Comme...zg_bs_510196_8 Last edited by sea6speed; 08-25-2016 at 10:56 PM..
	Appreciate 2 blackhawkk22125.50 desertman1232213.50 Quote

08-26-2016, 03:01 AM	#4
BashShah Colonel 298 Rep 2,015 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	Ebay look up: ultrasonic diffuser Get your Favorite scent Oil. Run in your Car for a few Hours for a Day for a Few Days. Worked for me......and I smoke.....not in my Car anymore. I am a Realtor and I need to start driving this Car for clients, and it worked. In fact I had compliments from some lady Clients. Don't let smoke smell break your find. Best of luck.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2016, 05:16 AM	#5
JasW Captain 255 Rep 554 Posts Drives: 2013 335is E93 6MT Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW 335is E93 [8.00]	Take up cigars. __________________ 2013 335is E93 6MT \| LeMans Blue/Saddle Brown BQ Tuning MHD E60 flash \| Cobb catted DPs \| ETS 5" FMIC \| BMS DCI \| Fuel-It Stage 2 LPFP \| MMP inlets/outlets \| Forge DVs \| N20 TMAP sensor Vibrant 1790 resonators/mid-cat delete \| MPI CP \| Spec Stage 3+ clutch and steel SMFW \| Wavetrac LSD \| M3 rear subframe and diff bushings
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2016, 06:02 AM	#6
BSM n54iS Brigadier General 2685 Rep 4,202 Posts Drives: '11 335is \| '16 Macan Turbo Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Everywhere and Nowhere iTrader: (7)	.... or weed __________________ '11 335is BSM MT "BMW Performance Editon" \| '16 Porsche Macan Turbo GruppeM CF Intake \| AR Resonated DP \| ER CP \| Turbosmart RacePort BOV \| Cobb FMIC \| RB Inlets \| RB External Mishi/Turner OCC \| Michelin PS4 \| BMW Performance Springs/Bilstein B8 + Dinan & M3 bits \| BMW Brembo BBK \| BMW Performance CF Spoiler \| BMW Performance CF Lip \| BMW Performance Alcantara \| PS Designs GTS Armrest \| AG H6-40 \| Rear Seat Delete
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2016, 06:31 AM	#7
imy Captain 84 Rep 972 Posts Drives: M140i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: London iTrader: (1)	... fart it out __________________ 2016 M140i 07 E90 335i: JB4, Trebila BEF, BMS DCI, VRSF DPs, Scoops, 19" CSL Reps, 5" ETS FMIC, VTT Inlets, BMS CP, HKS BOV, BMS Meth Injection - sold
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2016, 08:08 AM	#8
C1Boston Private First Class 103 Rep 199 Posts Drives: Uber Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Why dont you tell the dealer or your SA that you really like the car but that awful smell is deterring you from purchasing. If they want to sell the car they'll accommodate you within reason and personally I think you requesting for them to get rid of the smell before you buy is something they shouldnt mind doing.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2016, 08:18 AM	#9
John 070 Lieutenant General 1706 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	I've had rentals where this has happened, and in every case I go back because I didn't want to get "charged" for smoking in the car when it is not allowed. One time I tried to make do and nothing would get rid of the smell, no amount of Lysol, air fresheners, etc.
	Appreciate 0 Quote