[marchamundo]

Hi,

I've got about 7,000 miles on my S now, but it still smells when I accelerate hard, and generally thrash the car. Does anyone get this metallic smell inside the car, its hard to describe what the smell is like, all I can say is that its an exhausty, metallic smell, its not toxic. I've smelt this before when running new cars in, i.e. the BMW. But that didn't take 7,000miles to dissappear. After a couple of thouasand miles it had gone.

Any ideas?

[adamlondon]

I think I have noticed the same problem. I think the smell is the clutch, and I only notice it when Im doing alot of reversing or accelerating hard. Im not sure if this should happen or not though...

All the best,

Adam

[kapps]

The clutch smells like a dull table saw when cutting through wood - and burning it on the way. That's the first thing that came to my mind when I first smelled it. A metallic smell? Hummmm...it might me the cat getting overloaded.

[Bert.]

I don't think that is the clutch. That smell if we're talking about the same thing is coming from the catalyst when it's getting overloaded

[Intrepid]

I've got about 2000 miles on the clock and still get a whiff of fairly strong engine smells... but only when the engine has been working hard... nothing to worry about though (I hope!)

[marchamundo]

A few people seem to think it could be the catalytic converter thats overloaded, is this a problem or just one of those things that happens under hard use. The smell only occurs when the car is "thrashed" lovingly of course.

[GordonD]

Cat convertors don't just 'overload' unless there is something else going on.

Typically problems come if people use leaded gas or even if the additives put in by the oil company gum stuff up. ESSO in Canada has just agreed to pay compensation to people who suffered a whole raft of problems - including trashed convertors.

Try changing gas companies. I use Sunoco 94 and have been told that the ethynol helps keep sensors etc clean.

[Bert.]

Quote: Originally Posted by GordonD

Cat convertors don't just 'overload' unless there is something else going on.

Typically problems come if people use leaded gas or even if the additives put in by the oil company gum stuff up. ESSO in Canada has just agreed to pay compensation to people who suffered a whole raft of problems - including trashed convertors.

Try changing gas companies. I use Sunoco 94 and have been told that the ethynol helps keep sensors etc clean.

Maybe you have a point. I try different companies but when I push it to the limit (before red area) the smell is there. That's why I insist that the ''problem'' is from the catalyst...

[RedUn]

if this is any use to ya'll when I give my One sum stick it smells the same.

I thought it was clutch

[adamlondon]

My baby has only had BP Ultimate to drink since I got her, so it cant be the petrol...

[stormcrow]

If it is the Cat that you can smell then thats nothing unusual.

You've also got plenty of other parts that can give off odours through excess heat. Clutch, brake pads, curing paint, belts, etc.

Sounds to me like the smell of fun

[kyriian]

the clutch seems to smell the worst for me... i've never smell a metallic smell before... hm... somethin to keep in mine... it smells something like burning plastic... i wonder.....

[camini]

I actually like the smell - I'm sure there's a name for it.
I don't think it's specific to the MCS.
Other cars do it too.
My first new MC had it, and so does my almost (run-in ) brand new MC.
Especially noticeable when going all the way through the gears (6000+) and speeding on the highway above 170km/h.

Then you smell it inside the car.

If you drive behind a car that does what I just described (racing), then, through the ventilation you get the exact same metallic "smell of acceleration".

Haven't figured out why it should smell inside the mini though and where it comes from..

[kapps]

That smell when you're behind a car under hard acceleration is the cat being overloaded. I actually hate that smell. The funny thing is that at the auto races (where all the exhausts are straight thru), the exhaust gas smells good to me. Oh well, get used to it.

[camini]

Hey kapps,
I guess it's easier to get used to when you like it.
Joking aside, what does it technically mean 'overloade cat' - is there a valve that releases some gasses when overloaded or just the cat not 'catting' everything it should.
And how does it enter the car habitat? There's no exhaust smell in my MC when I drive it normally - I wouldn't be typing if there were.. so, I'm confused.

[dnbmiller]

Quote: Originally Posted by camini

Hey kapps,
I guess it's easier to get used to when you like it.
Joking aside, what does it technically mean 'overloade cat' - is there a valve that releases some gasses when overloaded or just the cat not 'catting' everything it should.
And how does it enter the car habitat? There's no exhaust smell in my MC when I drive it normally - I wouldn't be typing if there were.. so, I'm confused.

I am totally guessing, but imagine this scenario. During hard driving the cat gets extremely hot (I have seen them turn red on other cars) - then the heat sheald material gets hot and gives off some odor - that could explain the smell.

[marchamundo]

Thanks guys for replying to my post, it seems most people have the smell, in that case I'm not worried and I can start to like the smell! I'll start giving the car stick again now.
I like the idea of completely removing the cat, I guess that would improve performance as there would be less back pressure in the exhaust system. I would probably make the emmissions bad though?

[kapps]

Oh yea, removing that cat is definitely illegal for road use and emissions will be out the roof.

To camini, the smell I was referring to was when you're behind someone who is accelerating hard. It's the cat being oveloaded with unburnt fuel and not being able to keep up. I've yet to smell my own cat from inside my car. The only thing that I've smelled was clutch; and that was with sunroof open.

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by marchamundo

Thanks guys for replying to my post, it seems most people have the smell, in that case I'm not worried and I can start to like the smell! I'll start giving the car stick again now.
I like the idea of completely removing the cat, I guess that would improve performance as there would be less back pressure in the exhaust system. I would probably make the emmissions bad though?

u can get away with it as long as u stick the cat back on for mot's