Y2KE320

I just bought an 02 E430 with 9500 miles. Yes, you read that correctly, 9,500The car is like new but has an old car smell in the interior and trunk since it sat for a very long time. I treated the leather, sprayed some carpet stuff that kills odors and changed the cabin fIlter. This has helped 80% but still hasn't eliminated all of the smell. I realize it will take time with driving and keeping the windows open, etc. I was wondering if anyone had a good solutions beyond what I have already done. Thanks for the help.

Bob

boylston

I don't have any suggestions for the odor, but seeing your post reminded me that yesterday I saw at my dealer's a 2002 E320 with 7,700 miles. I guess there are a few out there! Good luck with it.

vader

Friend of mine had a smell like that and he bought activated carbon/charcoal from an aquarium place,PetSmart or one of those and put it ib a pan and left it in the car. It worked for the musty smell but it took a while...I recently purchased an old Chev that had been sitting since 68 with 8900 niles. It smelled pretty musty. I have an ozone genrator air purifier and I stuck it in their overnight...it worked real good. I hd to do it a couple times but worked like a charm. I suspect yours is not that bad and some fresh air and cleaning will work fine.

ElDiabloJoe

Thought One: Did the car suffer water damage under a previous owner? Is this a Hurricane Katrina car that got the odometer rolled back so it could sell?

Thought Two: The Carbon-filter is a good idea, I wouldn't've thought of that, I wonder if it would work.

Thought Three: Febreeze does a good job of taking out most odors, IMHO.

EDJ

Y2KE320

Thanks for the suggestions. I bought the car in Richmond, Va and I really doubt it has been flood damaged. I bought some products on line today that have a charcoal substance in bags that you put in the car to absorb moisture and odor. I think over time it will go away. The car is great, like a time machine getting a brand new W210 without all the headaches of the W211. The stories about the newer gen E scare the hell out of me. I hope MB gets their act together soon. I'm post some pics when I get a chance.

RJC

Buy some Damp Rid

neilbo75

If you want to fight fire with fire, don't use one of those car air freshener/perfume products -- you'll end up hating that smell too. Instead, pour some fresh unground coffee beans into a couple of pans and leave it in the car.

My 55 CLK was bought from a heavy smoker. My wife hates the smell of cigarettes (me too, but a CLK AMG with exclusive leather was way too rare to pass up).

After a week of the beans I took my wife for her first drive and she couldn't even notice any smoke. Only a vague pleasant coffee smell.

It's been 4 months now and just a bit of smoke odor is starting to creep back with the warmer weather.

Time to buy some more beans.

tummbler

I"ve been using Meguiar's Car Odor Eliminator with great success

http://www.autobarn.net/megg-2324.html

Can Drive 55

Maybe Zaino leather cleaner and leather conditioner would help. I have used them a couple of times on my car and it still smells like a new car.

Y2KE320

Thanks again, I did use ZAINO leather conditioner and overall it's much much better. I hope it improves each day.

Big Kahuna

The zaino has a great leather smell. I have also hear that a pan of "kitty litter" (no i'm not joking) will also absorb odors.