After perusing all of the threads that I could find on odiferous interiors I have collected some of the antidotes...

1. A lot of folks find their interiors have a foul odor.
2. Many say they notice no odor.
3. And some even enjoy the odor.

Causes include...

1. The adhesives and material used in the manufacture of European vehicles.
2. Odor build-up in the AC evaporator/ducts.
3. Moisture leaking onto the carpet.

Solutions include...

1. Car bombs.
2. Leaving the windows open.
3. Leaving the fan switch on the first detente.
4. Shampooing the carpet.
5. Changing the cabin air filter, preferably to an activated charcoal version.
6. Cleaning the drains under the plastic cowl under the wiper arms.
7. Clean and deodorize the AC system.
8. Turning off the recirculate on the AC before switching off the car.
9. Shut off the A/C and fan about 5 minutes before switching off the car.
10. Spray Lysol in the recirc vents.
11. Turn off the AC compressor(middle button), but leave the FAN running until the car is turned off.
12. turn off the engine and then press the "REST" button (lower center on a/c control) The fan will come back on at a low speed and help dry the extra condensation that helps feed the bacterias and molds.
13. pulling back the trunk liner and using fabric spray.
14. use a neutralizer like Bissell
15. oxy clean the carpets
16. coffee grinds in an open bowl under the seats
17. fabric softener sheets in the floor boards and trunk
18. ozone

I purchased my '05 with 18K back in June. It stunk then and it stinks now. I am the third, over 50 owner and it has lived it life in the dry climates of Colorado and New Mexico.
Crayons seems to be the most often used description of the odor. It has been a while since I have smelled a crayon and have only a vague memory of their scent. I have been driving for 38 years and cannot describe what I smell. It is not dog, vomit, coffee or anything else that I have smelled in vehicles. My '77 BMW 630 csi has a fairly typical old car scent. I prefer not to mask odors and would like to neutralize the odor.


-Leaving the windows open on a breezy day dis not work.
-It is winter so I assume that I can rule out the AC.
-The filter smells like the rest of the interior. I just purchased a charcoal version but hesitate to install it until I remove the odor.
-I removed the floor mats and the undersides stink.
-I have used the biological pet oder neutralizers/bio-enzymes purchased at PetSmart on a house subfloor with 0% results.
-I hesitate to go to the trouble of removing the seats in order to clean the carpet and still have the seats stink which leaves me with...

Ozone. Has anyone had any success? I called a local detail shop and they do not perform an ozone treatment. I saw a suggestion tho use the Uvonair 1000 Junior on a detailers website. The $185 price seems reasonable especially considering I could also use it in the future.

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