weird disgusting smell from engine?

[jeevy]

everytime im driving fast and i stop i can notice this REALLY disgusting smell, its like someone farted or crapped there pants...and i kno it wasnt me haha.
but it is coming from my engine, me and my friends have figured this out, i can smell it inside if im at a red light, or outside when i step out after driving fast.

any ideas wut it is?

[uber e36]

^^^ I've heard that if your cat is going, then you'll get a funky smell..

[Mitch]

+1 for bad cats

[328 Power 04]

check for dead animals stuck under your car lately?

[Nice Guy Beck]

hmmm I get that fart smell too after I stop...
what is this "CAT" you speak of?????

[aaronwoode36]

catalitic converter... the thing that cleans the air. and restricts airflow. and sucks.

[Mitch]

your next smog is going to be money
:rofl

[themadhatter]

rotten egg or feces smell?

[STEVE36]

please refer to the "Hit a Cat" thread. it's possible you have a dead cat clinging to your undercarraige - you may want to get up to speed and swerve back and forth to dislodge the carcass.

Unless you're spewing oil or coolant then it is your cat due to age.

[Woodster]

It's the Cat (catalytic converter) it will smell of rotten eggs. UK company here charged £250 GBP to change the whole downpipe. But are you sure no one cut the cheese?

[WBS]

Familiar problem, but I never found the cause...

My car had a foul odour eminating from my engine compartment before -- a sort of a mix between anti-freeze and fecal matter. I checked for leaks and found nothing. No one from the the shop ever mentioned finding any animal remains under my car so that seemed unlikely.

I didn't have any Hydrogen-Sulfate odours (aka the "rotten egg" smell), and, I just passed Aircare (Smog Test) with flying colours -- so it wasn't the catalytic converter. There doesn't seem to be the odour anymore either.

Chances are my cause was likely some dog sh*t (or equivalent - let your imagination run wild) kicked up under my car on some spot that only heats up enough after a period of operation (hence mechanical shop will not notice). After enough time, the offending cr*p has probably run out of active ingredient, or has largely dislodged itself.

Try cleaning out the bottom of you car with a hose and see if the odour persists.

[RallyE36]

When was the last time you changed the cabin air filter?
It's probably clogged with "unmentionables", which is normal with time.
It's located behind the heater control area and you access it by removing the glove box and the passenger footwell partition.

[fredo328]

nest of rats living behind the firewall, I would check on that if I were you.....

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=469079&highlight=mice

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=298372&highlight=nest

[Aradaiel]

It's most likely bad cats.

[fredo328]

I'm telling you, check out the "varment" variable, dude lives up in victoria, who knows what lurks up there!? Big foot is up there isnt it?

[BMWjiggaB]

When was the last time you changed the cabin air filter?
It's probably clogged with "unmentionables", which is normal with time.
It's located behind the heater control area and you access it by removing the glove box and the passenger footwell partition.

First post, he said that he can smell it outside the car also. So i would think no on the cabin filter. Was a good thought though.

[jeevy]

I'm telling you, check out the "varment" variable, dude lives up in victoria, who knows what lurks up there!? Big foot is up there isnt it?

i think u made a mistake, iam bigfoot.

thanks for the help guys, it mosty likely is the cat..im gunna try n look into fixing that. thanks a lot