Kieran28

There's a w210 wagon I'm really interested in, perfect colors for me, good price, decent miles, good condition... except that the inside smells like cigarettes. It's not overwhelming... but I do notice it as soon as I get in. I could imagine that if I had borrowed this car for a few days it'd be okay, but to OWN it, I think the smell would get to me.

This really bums me out, as otherwise it's perfect.

Has anyone had any success in removing odors (especially smoke smell) from a car? If so, how'd you do it?

The owner has offered to take it to a local detailer who has some sort of ozone treatment they claim will remove the smell. I'm skeptical, but we'll see. At least he's taking it on himself to try to fix the smell.

Any suggestions, ideas, experiences? Thanks...

sosh

Start smoking yourself.

werewolf34

No, smoke odor has been absorbed into every surface of the car...Leather, plastic, carpet

Very very hard to deodorize permanently. I would pass plus ozone is destructive starts to break down surface plastics.

Kieran28

Thanks werewolf...
Strangely, it seemed like it was stronger when the A/C was blowing hard. I wonder if it's actually a dirty airfilter... it SMELLS like tobacco smoke (not musty/moldy)... but why would that be stronger when the fans were blowing?

otaku

having grown up with smokers (parents mostly) I think owning a smokers car can be fine not sure about long term effects but my family always managed to sell our smokers cars just fine with a desmoking service at local shops done through the ac system-they came out smelling great (the ac is what mostly seems to be the source of smells)

djvj

I got one from a smoker. Had it detailed, ozoned, changed cabin filter with activated carbon filter. All failed, smoke odor is still there. I learned to live with it by slightly leaving the windows open when parked and lots of air fresheners