By incorporating an antimicrobial agent into the foam, filters, rubber and adhesive components of the Car’s AC system, mold isn’t able to begin growing in the first place. Why, it's the Climate Control System in your BMW. I checked my frunk to make sure nothing was left there, but cannot figure out why this is happening. The smell is faint when you get in the car, but when you turn on the A/C and put your face to the vent, it is quite strong. Chemical smell similar to paint thinner coming from my cars heat vents? Many times when the foul odor comes from the air vents, the unpleasant smell happens as a result of turning on the air conditioner. I have no problem with the cooling or volume. Before shutting off the car when using the AC, turn off the AC, and blast the fans all the way. When the weather is hot or humid my BMW X5 smells like mildew and mold the first 30 seconds after I start it. A mold smell will be more noticeable when the temperature is warmer, or when hot water passes over the leak area. For the past couple weeks, my air conditioning smells terrible (like vomit) for a few minutes, then eventually goes away. I came back from work and it is clear that the smell is still here, but now I can more relaxed say that it's more like house paint, acetone (nail polish) or paint … As well, if someone puts a light bulb in a socket where the light bulb is higher than the socket; i.e., a 75 watt bulb in a rated 40 watt fixture, you'll get a weird "plastic burning" smell after the light has been left on for a period. The only issues I have with my AC on my 2001 is that it begins to smell when the recirculator is on too long. How Ultra-Fresh Can Help Prevent Car AC Smells, Like Mildew. To figure out if the smell relates directly to the air conditioner, you should turn off the air conditioner to see if the smell goes away. We left all the doors open and that took care of the smell --- for a while. Odors from AC's are generally unacceptable and I go through great measures to do what I can to maintain a pleasant AC. Smells range from a mild musty odor often related to mildew, to a rotten or spoiled food smell that indicates mold or bacteria growth. The major cause of the odor is mold and mildew that take up residence in the system and live on the moisture that any AC system condenses out of the air. Here are my tips: 1. Without proper maintenance of the filters, coils, and drains, a portable air conditioner can become overrun with mold, but it is easily cleaned away in most cases. Whatever it smells like, it smells. If it goes away, turn on the air conditioner again to see if it returns. I have a 2006 cts, today a weird smell started to come out of the vents, its similar to the smell of paint thiner, or something like a black magic marker, not sure what it is. 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