Cars smells of sprinkler fluid

jcr · 06-03-2008, 02:22 PM

After a lot of visits to the dealer, arguing and trying another car (also a E91 330i), we've finally come to the conclusion that, most likely, all newer E90/E91's in (at least) Denmark have the same problem:

If the car breaks hard from low speed (like 5-10 km/h) or if the car drives over something that has a low (like 1-2 cm's) hard edge (like in a driveway) so that it shakes in the car well (still with low speed) then after 1-2 seconds there's a distinct smell of sprinkler fluid coming from airsystem. The more sprinkler fluid in the sprinkler container the worse the problem is. But even with low contents (like when the car asks for a refill) the problem still remains.

The dealer has checked the sprinkler container, checked all pipes, etc. but has been unable to find any cause of the problem,s o it must be a design problem.

Has anyone else noticed this/or is able to reproduce it?

Best regards

/Jeppe

TurboFan · 06-03-2008, 02:24 PM

what is the sprinkler? Do you have grass in the car?

jcr · 06-03-2008, 02:27 PM

My bad, I meant the windscreen washer

ALPINE6SPD · 06-03-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboFan

what is the sprinkler? Do you have grass in the car?

I think he is talking about the washer fluid. Are you that slow that you dont know what he is talking about?

EDK99 · 06-03-2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALPINE6SPD

I think he is talking about the washer fluid. Are you that slow that you dont know what he is talking about?

He was probably caught up in the other thread where some goof ball posted about his apartment complex sprinklers sprinkling on his car.

ALPINE6SPD · 06-03-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EK_335i

He was probably caught up in the other thread where some goof ball posted about his apartment complex sprinklers sprinkling on his car.

Ya I bet what a fool. He wont come back and post because he knows what he said was just plain dumb.

solefald · 06-03-2008, 02:39 PM

my old Jetta used to do this, specially on the hot days, but smell went away after few seconds.

i would not worry about that too much. your window washer fluid container lid should have a little hole in it, because the fluid expands at hot temperatures and needs to push out there extra air. you get this smell due to the location of the window washed fluid container hear the separate air filter for your cockpit.
nothing serious.

TurboFan · 06-03-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALPINE6SPD

I think he is talking about the washer fluid. Are you that slow that you dont know what he is talking about?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALPINE6SPD

Ya I bet what a fool. He wont come back and post because he knows what he said was just plain dumb.

hey ass clown - lighten up. You take yourself way too seriously.

TurboFan · 06-03-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcr

After a lot of visits to the dealer, arguing and trying another car (also a E91 330i), we've finally come to the conclusion that, most likely, all newer E90/E91's in (at least) Denmark have the same problem:

If the car breaks hard from low speed (like 5-10 km/h) or if the car drives over something that has a low (like 1-2 cm's) hard edge (like in a driveway) so that it shakes in the car well (still with low speed) then after 1-2 seconds there's a distinct smell of sprinkler fluid coming from airsystem. The more sprinkler fluid in the sprinkler container the worse the problem is. But even with low contents (like when the car asks for a refill) the problem still remains.

The dealer has checked the sprinkler container, checked all pipes, etc. but has been unable to find any cause of the problem,s o it must be a design problem.

Has anyone else noticed this/or is able to reproduce it?

Best regards

/Jeppe

I've never noticed this. I am assuming yours is right-hand drive? I'd have to look on my e90, but on my e46, the outdoor/fresh air intake was not too far from the washer nozzles. With the engine cold, I would put some papertowels under the hood in key locations around the washer fluid lines, and run the pump. See if you develop any leaks when the system is under pressure, particularly up closer to the fire wall, where the windshield meets the hood.

AJerman · 06-03-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALPINE6SPD

I think he is talking about the washer fluid. Are you that slow that you dont know what he is talking about?

Chill out my friend. I had a guess that he meant the washer, but certainly wasn't sure at all. I would have asked the same thing if I were the first to reply. Never heard someone say sprinkler fluid.

Gig103 · 06-03-2008, 03:12 PM

So, this is off topic, but do the windscreen wipers on RHD cars wipe the same way as they do on LHD cars (that is, from right-to-left)?

jcr · 06-03-2008, 03:13 PM

Thanks for replying

We expected that it was due to the overpressure/overflow system.
It realize it's nothing serious, but it's still annoying as it occurs several time during a drive :-|

TurboFan · 06-03-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gig103

So, this is off topic, but do the windscreen wipers on RHD cars wipe the same way as they do on LHD cars (that is, from right-to-left)?

Good question. I was wondering if they flip the location of the washer fluid sump.

3er BMW · 06-03-2008, 04:22 PM

Why would the car in question be RHD ?

MadDog · 06-03-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3er BMW

Why would the car in question be RHD ?

They don't know where Denmark is located.

Hanjob · 06-03-2008, 05:15 PM

What does sprinkler fluid smell like? Does it smell like blinker fluid?

Michael Schott · 06-03-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALPINE6SPD

Ya I bet what a fool. He wont come back and post because he knows what he said was just plain dumb.

Dude, he's from Denmark. English is not his native language.

Thanks, Mike.

TurboFan · 06-03-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3er BMW

Why would the car in question be RHD ?

I've never been there, I don't know which side of the road you drive on in Denmark.

AJerman · 06-03-2008, 11:11 PM

Just FYI, the large majority of countries drive with left hand drive vehicles. The right is mainly just a British thing.

ALPINE6SPD · 06-04-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboFan

hey ass clown - lighten up. You take yourself way too seriously.

Dude
you called me an ass clown and I take stuff too seriously? Sorry for offending you so bad that you had to call me such a horrible name.

darkphantom · 06-04-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALPINE6SPD

Dude
you called me an ass clown and I take stuff too seriously? Sorry for offending you so bad that you had to call me such a horrible name.

LOL and what a horrible name indeed...

06-03-2008, 02:22 PM	#1
jcr Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: E90 - 320d Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Cars smells of sprinkler fluid After a lot of visits to the dealer, arguing and trying another car (also a E91 330i), we've finally come to the conclusion that, most likely, all newer E90/E91's in (at least) Denmark have the same problem: If the car breaks hard from low speed (like 5-10 km/h) or if the car drives over something that has a low (like 1-2 cm's) hard edge (like in a driveway) so that it shakes in the car well (still with low speed) then after 1-2 seconds there's a distinct smell of sprinkler fluid coming from airsystem. The more sprinkler fluid in the sprinkler container the worse the problem is. But even with low contents (like when the car asks for a refill) the problem still remains. The dealer has checked the sprinkler container, checked all pipes, etc. but has been unable to find any cause of the problem,s o it must be a design problem. Has anyone else noticed this/or is able to reproduce it? Best regards /Jeppe
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06-03-2008, 02:24 PM	#2
TurboFan Ski bum 317 Rep 6,198 Posts Drives: sideways Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Knee deep in the pow iTrader: (8)	what is the sprinkler? Do you have grass in the car? __________________ 1999 e46 328i Ti Silver / Black[retired] 2007 e90 335xi Jet Black / Black[retired] 2011 e70 X5 35d Vermillion Red / Cinnamon 2011 e92 M3 LeMans / Fox Red extended
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06-03-2008, 02:27 PM	#3
jcr Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: E90 - 320d Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	My bad, I meant the windscreen washer
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06-03-2008, 02:39 PM	#7
solefald Nigerian Prince 385 Rep 2,180 Posts Drives: '11 F25 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List '11 BMW F25 [0.00]	my old Jetta used to do this, specially on the hot days, but smell went away after few seconds. i would not worry about that too much. your window washer fluid container lid should have a little hole in it, because the fluid expands at hot temperatures and needs to push out there extra air. you get this smell due to the location of the window washed fluid container hear the separate air filter for your cockpit. nothing serious. __________________ http://soundcloud.com/djtchort
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06-03-2008, 03:12 PM	#11
Gig103 Major 70 Rep 1,324 Posts Drives: 2014 Tesla P85D Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (1)	So, this is off topic, but do the windscreen wipers on RHD cars wipe the same way as they do on LHD cars (that is, from right-to-left)? __________________ Was: 2008 335xi sedan 6MT Black Sapphire Metallic Is: 2014 Tesla P85D (Blue Metallic) Wife's: 2013 Infiniti G37 S sedan 6MT, Black
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06-03-2008, 03:13 PM	#12
jcr Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: E90 - 320d Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Thanks for replying We expected that it was due to the overpressure/overflow system. It realize it's nothing serious, but it's still annoying as it occurs several time during a drive :-\|
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06-03-2008, 04:22 PM	#14
3er BMW Private 0 Rep 91 Posts Drives: E92 325i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Why would the car in question be RHD ?
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06-03-2008, 05:15 PM	#16
Hanjob Future Owner 0 Rep 57 Posts Drives: Future 335i Sedan Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nor Cal iTrader: (0)	What does sprinkler fluid smell like? Does it smell like blinker fluid?
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06-03-2008, 11:11 PM	#19
AJerman Major 30 Rep 1,381 Posts Drives: '08 335i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC iTrader: (0)	Just FYI, the large majority of countries drive with left hand drive vehicles. The right is mainly just a British thing. __________________ 2008 BMW 335i: Jet Black, Jade Gray, Gray Poplar, 6MT - Stock... for now.
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