mbfan123

When I turn on the fan with AC off, bad smell comes out. As soon as I turn on AC, the smell stops coming out. Could someone help to explain?

My friend suggest to change air filter. But before I go ahead to change, I need to confirm it is right solution.

If I do need to change, any instruction on the forum? Better with pictures.
My benz is 2006 E350.

TIA

fortlaudsummer

You probably have HVAC mildew....
Try a cleaning aerosol or foam first
Then try to change the cabin filters
If it is still there, have your evaporator replaced.

nopcbs

This is bacterial growth and there is a tech service bulletin out on it (TSB). Do a search in Google and you will find it. If you are under warranty, the dealer will first try to fog your entire HVAC system with a Wynn's, as I recall, product to kill the buggers. If that fails, they will replace some parts in your HVAC system where water accumulates as too contaminated to clean. On some models, the new plastic parts have biocide in the plastic. I have the exact same problem with my 2006 CDI and am just waiting for some time to get it to dealer. I think this is a sign of poor design as it is my first car, from Ford to GM to Mazda to Chevy to BMW to Lexus that I have ever owned that had this problem. The good part is that running the AC pauses it.

Good luck.

- nopcbs

konigstiger

Mention DTB S-B-83.30/74p includes cleaning system and replacing combination filter under warranty - for future reference filter is part #2118300018 (parts.com $20.12) if you want a copy of the DTB, PM your email address.

nopcbs

My 2006 E320 CDI is a used car from S. Carolina and I only detected the foul odor when I got it home to Michigan and turned off the AC. Then I did some searching and found the cause and the TSB. I thought this was a southern states thing and after getting it fixed at the local MB it would not recur in our more moderate climate.

Well surprise, surprise, when I called the local MB dealer to ask about this he knew all about it and said it had been happening in this area "for years". That tells me it is a really poor design on MB part as it does not stay hot or humid up here in MI for very long each year.

Anyway, the fix is the fogging with fungicide and maybe a housing swap.

Sheesh. Our 92 LS400 NEVER had this happen. Neither did our 2003 E46 330i nor our 2004 RX330 nor my 87 F150 pickup nor my 83 Mazda 626 etc. etc. How can they screw something like this up and then not fix it within a year or two when people start to complain? A fould-smelling $50,000+ car is just...wrong.

- nopcbs

mbfan123

My dealer did the clean for me. The service include: DTB 83.30/74p. Combination Filter replace, Desinfectant, WYNN's cleaning treatment.

Thanks all for the help.

Have a wonderful day

onthewall01

I think I have this same issue. I'm going to schedule an appointment for my car later this week.

justaloco

This condition happened to my 06 E350 after I had the car hand washed at a place that used recycled water. Notably, I drove home, about 1 mile, and then parked the car in my humid (S, Fla.) garage.

The smell was there the next day.

gottarex

How much did you pay, or was it covered under warranty? I have the same problem with my car

mbfan123

It is under warranty, so I paid nothing.

westcott

I spray Lysol disenfectant in the intake vents every couple of months as a preventative measure. All my cars sit for semi long periods of time. I also recommend to allow the fan to run for a while after shutting off the A/C. This helps remove excess moisture from the ducting before shutting the car down.

Really does make a difference!!!!

mbfan123

After one week, the smell comes back. I believe their AC duct design sucks.

onthewall01

I took my car in to have this exact problem looked at. After I picked the car up, when I turned on the AC the smell was still there. I gave it about a week and a half to give it a chance to possibly get the smell fully worked out but it still is there. I'm taking it back hopefully this week or next to have it looked at again. Have others had to take their cars in several times to have this problem fully remedied or was it a one stop fix?

mbfan123

Where is the intake? The dealer says the intake is underneath the car.

AmazinglySmooth

I would like to know also.

FT Benz

I brought mine in for service a day ago and it seems to have fixed the problem. Special thanks to konigstiger for sending me the service bulletin on it which I gave to the dealer when I dropped off the car. It was completely covered under warranty. They said they didn't have a certain tool for the ionization step but they said it was ordered if the problem was still happening and I wanted to bring the car back to have them do that they would. Anyone know what part of the service I missed?

konigstiger

Sounds as though they cleaned the evaporator with Contra Sept but did not follow up with Wynns treatment - see pages 5 of the DTB, and 12 in this link.

http://www.wynns.uk.com/brochure_tra...8%20upload.pdf

mbfan123

My dealer service include: DTB 83.30/74p. Combination Filter replace, Desinfectant, WYNN's cleaning treatment. But after a few days, the smell comes back.

konigstiger

PM your email address and I will send DTB S-B-83.00/115 for identifying odor(s) this may solve your problem.

treddel

Königstiger, could you send me the DTB S-B-83.00/115 as well, I seem to have the same problem.

Also, your name seems to pop up everywhere - specifically when I was looking for the install instructions of the Sirius modul in a 2004 E500. I would greatly appreciate that one as well.

I hope the day will come that I too can contribute like this.

konigstiger

PM your email address.

PCH_4.2

I have the same issue with my '04 E500.
It's been going on for a while & I'm glad my bro found this post thread for me.
Do you think the dealer will still look into this even though I'm out of warranty?
I did have major service done by the dealer last year.

Thanks.

mbfan123

You may ask your dealer. I have warranty when service is needed.