Detailing & Automotive Care Use this forum to discuss detailing, cleaning and automotive care to maintain the beauty in your Mercedes-Benz.

Interior odor

Old Jun 4, 2006 | 05:55 PM
  #1  
Y2KE320's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Lower Hudson Valley of NY
08 E550
Interior odor

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
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2006 | 08:54 PM
  #2  
boylston's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 378
Likes: 15
From: Boston and SWFlorida
2025 GLC300 white, 2023 Taycan RWD black
Congratulations on the car

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.
Reply
Old Jun 4, 2006 | 08:59 PM
  #3  
vader's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,046
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
04 E55
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.
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2006 | 10:46 AM
  #4  
ElDiabloJoe's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,753
Likes: 3
From: South Orange Co., CA
'03 W211 aka E-500
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
Reply
Old Jun 5, 2006 | 08:47 PM
  #5  
Y2KE320's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Lower Hudson Valley of NY
08 E550
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.
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2006 | 12:04 AM
  #6  
RJC's Avatar
RJC
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 326
From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Buy some Damp Rid
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2006 | 03:08 PM
  #7  
neilbo75's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 528
Likes: 0
From: living in Paris, France and San Diego ...
2002 CLK 55 AMG Coupé
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.
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2006 | 11:20 PM
  #8  
tummbler's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
I"ve been using Meguiar's Car Odor Eliminator with great success

http://www.autobarn.net/megg-2324.html
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 6, 2006 | 11:36 PM
  #9  
Can Drive 55's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,266
Likes: 3
From: Texas
2005 E55
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.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2006 | 07:27 PM
  #10  
Y2KE320's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Lower Hudson Valley of NY
08 E550
Thanks again, I did use ZAINO leather conditioner and overall it's much much better. I hope it improves each day.
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2006 | 03:46 PM
  #11  
Big Kahuna's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
CLS-500, SL-500, BOXSTER-S
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.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:44 PM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE