My "new" car smells like wet socks
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Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 618
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From: Chicago
19 GLA45, 86 560SL, former: 14 E550 4Matic, 09 E350 4Matic, 83 240D manual, 78 450SLC, 81 500SLC
My "new" car smells like wet socks
When I get in the car for the first time after it's been sitting for a while, it smells like dirty laundry. I can't figure out if it's coming from the upholstery or the A/C.
If ti's the A/C, it sounds like it would be a ***** to get the mold or whatever cleaned out, but I haven't tried anything like that before.
Does anyone have any experience with this stank?
If ti's the A/C, it sounds like it would be a ***** to get the mold or whatever cleaned out, but I haven't tried anything like that before.
Does anyone have any experience with this stank?
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Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
When I get in the car for the first time after it's been sitting for a while, it smells like dirty laundry. I can't figure out if it's coming from the upholstery or the A/C.
If ti's the A/C, it sounds like it would be a ***** to get the mold or whatever cleaned out, but I haven't tried anything like that before.
Does anyone have any experience with this stank?
If ti's the A/C, it sounds like it would be a ***** to get the mold or whatever cleaned out, but I haven't tried anything like that before.
Does anyone have any experience with this stank?
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From: Toronto
2025 AMG G 63 SUV /// 2025 AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4 Door Coupé
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When I get in the car for the first time after it's been sitting for a while, it smells like dirty laundry. I can't figure out if it's coming from the upholstery or the A/C.
If ti's the A/C, it sounds like it would be a ***** to get the mold or whatever cleaned out, but I haven't tried anything like that before.
Does anyone have any experience with this stank?
If ti's the A/C, it sounds like it would be a ***** to get the mold or whatever cleaned out, but I haven't tried anything like that before.
Does anyone have any experience with this stank?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 406
Likes: 147
From: Toronto
2025 AMG G 63 SUV /// 2025 AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4 Door Coupé
I used it a couple times in the winter when it was dead cold to keep the cabin warm as long as possible.
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Every time you want the cabin to maintain temperature as long as possible after engine off, use it in the winter use it in the summer, winter it will blow remaining warm air from the engine, summer it will blow remaining a/c from the vents.
Last edited by W205C43PFL; Jun 4, 2025 at 01:36 AM.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2024
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From: Chicago
19 GLA45, 86 560SL, former: 14 E550 4Matic, 09 E350 4Matic, 83 240D manual, 78 450SLC, 81 500SLC
I went down a rabbit hole searching here for "dirty sock smell". Some interesting stuff.
Fortunately or unfortunately, this is the first Mercedes I've had where this was an issue.
I've never had a REST button, much less used one. I've never followed the proper procedure, except possibly accidentally.
I keep the climate control set to AUTO with A/C on 99.99% of the time.
I'll get this cleaned up, get a fresh filter in there, and see if it comes back and how long it takes if so... For science.
Fortunately or unfortunately, this is the first Mercedes I've had where this was an issue.
I've never had a REST button, much less used one. I've never followed the proper procedure, except possibly accidentally.
I keep the climate control set to AUTO with A/C on 99.99% of the time.
I'll get this cleaned up, get a fresh filter in there, and see if it comes back and how long it takes if so... For science.
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
cleaning the condenser physically (chemicals, foam), then using ozone. Then after driving and before shutdown turning off ac and letting the fan blow (not on recirc) to dry the ducts. Basically you’re trying to not leave the system wet when it shuts down and closes all the flaps.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 618
Likes: 241
From: Chicago
19 GLA45, 86 560SL, former: 14 E550 4Matic, 09 E350 4Matic, 83 240D manual, 78 450SLC, 81 500SLC
For now, the smell is gone though I can't point to a specific thing that resolved the issue.
It could just be that I've driven the car enough to blow out some crap that settled in there while the car wasn't being driven on the dealer's lot. It could be that I had the cabin filter replaced while the dealer was doing some other stuff (I didn't pay for it, but also didn't see the condition of the old filter). I also steam cleaned the carpets, floor mats, and alcantara, but I think the smell was mostly gone by that point.
I'm going to continue just leaving the A/C set to AUTO 24/7 as I've always done, and not follow "proper protocol" and see what happens.
It could just be that I've driven the car enough to blow out some crap that settled in there while the car wasn't being driven on the dealer's lot. It could be that I had the cabin filter replaced while the dealer was doing some other stuff (I didn't pay for it, but also didn't see the condition of the old filter). I also steam cleaned the carpets, floor mats, and alcantara, but I think the smell was mostly gone by that point.
I'm going to continue just leaving the A/C set to AUTO 24/7 as I've always done, and not follow "proper protocol" and see what happens.
