'00 BMW 320d

Maria88

Hi all,
Whenever the heaters are on full blast in my 320d and if the car is idle I can get the smell of diesel fumes. Any idea what this could be? have the car 3 months but only noticed this in the last 2 weeks.
Also, any other 320d owners, does it take ages for ye're heaters to get warm?
Thanks!

EPM

Can't help with smell but any diesel will take longer to heat up than a petrol unless there's a pre-heater.

PaulKK

Maria88 wrote: »

Hi all,
Whenever the heaters are on full blast in my 320d and if the car is idle I can get the smell of diesel fumes. Any idea what this could be? have the car 3 months but only noticed this in the last 2 weeks.

There is a flexi joint on the exhaust near the front cat that breaks, have a look at this.

Maria88 wrote: »

Also, any other 320d owners, does it take ages for ye're heaters to get warm?
Thanks!

Yes, but I think my thermostat is stuck open

argosy2006

Maria88 wrote: »

Hi all,
Whenever the heaters are on full blast in my 320d and if the car is idle I can get the smell of diesel fumes. Any idea what this could be? have the car 3 months but only noticed this in the last 2 weeks.
Also, any other 320d owners, does it take ages for ye're heaters to get warm?
Thanks!

it could be that car is up wind of the exhaust when at idle, and its drawing in fumes,park car in such a way that fumes from exhaust blow away from car at idle, then see if smell remains ,

Captain Slow IRL

Maria88 wrote: »

Hi all,
Whenever the heaters are on full blast in my 320d and if the car is idle I can get the smell of diesel fumes. Any idea what this could be? have the car 3 months but only noticed this in the last 2 weeks.
Also, any other 320d owners, does it take ages for ye're heaters to get warm?
Thanks!

Are you getting the smell of exhaust fumes or unburnt diesel? If it's exhaust fumes, it's most likely the flexi joint at the front of your exhaust, as mentioned by PaulKK - these are a notorious weak spot. If it is a smell of unburnt diesel fuel, it's possibly a fuel leak.

It takes the wife's car about a mile of driving before any heat comes through the heater vents, same car, same year, if that's any help!

If the smell is of actual diesel it's more than likely those leak off pipes that run to and from the cylinders, they perish with age and seep some diesel. Easy fix. Whip off the engine cover and have a peak for wet spots.

listermint

It sounds like the flexi joint alright. The central hanger on exhaust system can fail, its situated around the gearbox. This in turn can damage the flexi joint at front cat.

Its common enough fault.

Maria88

Thanks a mill for all the replies, will be getting it looked at in the next week just wanted to have an idea before then.