I am kinda a bit sensitive of odor, however my c300 has very very toxic smell if I open windows or moonroof while I am driving. It's smells like mold paint somehwere in my car. I can smell it only open a moonroof or open windows. Anyone has same expierence?

do you live in Detroit, maybe it's the air since your windows are opened?

I think you must mean New Jersey, along the turnpike!

Michigan air is wonderful!

Phoenix here..and it's not the air definetly. I have sensitive nose. It's the toxic paint odor before drying.

Highway speeds as well as stop and go traffic? I wonder if it's the smell of hot brakes?

I can smell either on highway or in my garage if I open windows or moonroof.

Sometimes the dealer will spray a glass lubricant on the tracks of the moon roof and door sills to get rid of any squeaks. They might have over sprayed it during your vehicle prep. I don't recall the odour from this lubricant but its not a normal chemical.
When you say "mold paint" I can't think of any thing that comes to mind without more of a normal description. Its either mold or paint odour perhaps stagnant water as a description.

What is mold paint??? Lol

New color option for $1400

If the smell is actually coming from the car, you should be able to find the source while the car is standing still. If it's coming from the paint or a lubricant, it should be apparent regardless of whether or not the car is in motion. If it's being caused by the heating of a component, you should also be able to smell it right after shutting the car off.

Normally, if the smell is from the car, opening up a window would clear it, not make it more obvious. This has to qualify as one of the oddest problems ever reported here.

I had bad experience with this smell still.


I wished the smell was gone for over a month.


However the ordor is still there. It is absolutely from the car only while driving. I know it is weird. I can't smell it while it stops. Higher speed strong bad paint smell. Anyone can think what cause this? Friends who drove my car smelled it also. so It is just not me...it's my car has something leak or wrong.

With all the weird unexpected issues people have been facing, please forgive me for thinking that this was initially a spoof post

On a more serious note.. could there be a dead critter or something somewhere in your car?

Are you absolutely sure it's not a fuel smell? There is an EECS bulletin/recall out for US cars.

I can say it is chemical smell not sure it's Fuel smell that I know. It's more likely thick paint smell. Heavier thick ordor in higher speed when open a window.

I've had the same smell mate, when I open my sunroof I too can smell it. Either driving or standing still. I havent talked to the dealer yet as I thought it would go away.

Yea..same thing..I wish it goes away..but it's totally unpleasant moment that I can't open a window.

I should also point out that new exhaust systems & Cats can put out some wierd smells in their early life that settle down after the first few 1000Km's of use.

I've experienced this before. Something like rotten eggs! (Edit: Not in any recent car though.)

You got it! It is highly dependent on fuel suphur levels. Your latest & excellent UK gas should not cause much of a smell as it is ultra low sulphur material now. US gas is much like SA's. Not so great because they want it cheap & no one wants to upgrade refineries without passing on the cost to the consumer, whereas in Europe it has been legislated. We are only going Euro 4 in the next year here.

Yeah! I'm talking about 10+ years ago when the family used to be in the car together and then randonly there was the wiff of rotten eggs. Followed shortly by an akward exchange of looks between each other trying to figure out if someone had let off some wind!

Haha, brings back memories!

/Toilet humour

Edit: Yes the high octane stuff that people look for the the US is what is considered standard at even every supermarket pump in the UK.

The UK & parts of Europe have the finest gas in the world.

aw..thank you very much! I will drive more then until it goes away

I can't promise that is the cause but it's one possibility.

Modern paints that Benz uses are water based base coat & low VOC nano ceramic clear coat. They give off very little smell at all.

Yes I have the same problem with my '15 C300, which has just passed 5K miles. The odor would come if I keep the moonroof open, and disappear quickly after I shut the moonroof and all windows. It smells like some kind of oil. I don't think it's from the car interior. More likely from the engine department due to the air pressure change with the windows opened.

Not sure if the same - but when leaving the car after driving - I have a pretty bad and strong smell especially at the sides near back of the car - I cannot really explain it or know anything similar to it. It's still there after 1500 miles