Gross rotten egg smell ???
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
From: Queens NY
2012 GLK 350 P1 COMAND LIGHTING AMG... , 2011 maxima
Gross rotten egg smell ???
so I took the car on a small road trip this weekend and my rear passengers noticed that every time I got on the car a terrible rotten egg smell came thru the rear vents (or so we think that's where it's coming from). I put 93 gas from either shell or Exxon since day one just hit 3200k miles .. anyone every have this problem or idea what it could be. I'm guessing it's the exhaust smell and just a bad batch of gas?
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: New York
2012 C300 4Matic Sport, 2010 E350 4Matic Sport
Had the same issue with my 2010 E350. Started smelling an awful odor coming from the vents for about 30 seconds after the car was turned on.. (This occurred right after the car was in the shop for major body work due to hail damage, so I am not sure if this had anything to do with it).... turned out the car was in need of a simple air filter replacement. My Mb dealership (MB of Smithtown) replaced for no charge 
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Old Dominion
2015 VW GTI.S4; 2016 Audi Q3 Prestige
so I took the car on a small road trip this weekend and my rear passengers noticed that every time I got on the car a terrible rotten egg smell came thru the rear vents (or so we think that's where it's coming from). I put 93 gas from either shell or Exxon since day one just hit 3200k miles .. anyone every have this problem or idea what it could be. I'm guessing it's the exhaust smell and just a bad batch of gas?
Car is around 4200 miles.
Went out this AM & plugged in the air pump into glovebox...noticed smell since nose was @ passenger vent level.
We don't eat in the car (OCD house rules) so thought it was odd.
After awhile smell dissipated.
Wife got in & I was in driver seat & upon taking off - she noticed it too.
Will bring it in this week & recount MB Techman's comments.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 62
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From: Queens NY
2012 GLK 350 P1 COMAND LIGHTING AMG... , 2011 maxima
thanks for the info guys I'm going to take the car to my dealer here in Queens (helms brothers) hopefully they will take me without an appointment tomorrow morning being that i have a 3 month old mercedes that smells like eggs. will update as soon as I find anything out
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Joined: Sep 2011
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From: East Texas
2004 Volvo XC70; 2012 GLK 350 4matic
Yikes! Ours is about the same age and also at 4,300+ miles. Fingers crossed that it is an easy fix. Fingers also crossed that it is confined to the Northeast. Grinning.
Standing by.
Wayne
Standing by.
Wayne
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 62
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From: Queens NY
2012 GLK 350 P1 COMAND LIGHTING AMG... , 2011 maxima
I didn't even think of the AC. no I've never used it I got the car end of October I'm going to test out the AC see if it smells
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Nissan GT-R BE / '12 Ducati-1199 Panigale S / '12 C300-4M Loaded/GLK350-4M Loaded
First go buy a different brand of fuel... make sure it's 93 Octane... Then get on the freeway and floor it... keep it there until you have reached your limit.... do this a few times. This heats up the cat(s) real good and will help burn off any contaminants... If the smell continues to be an issue it could be your trim levels are running a bit too rich*... you'll need to have them measured with STAR... or if your car trips any fault codes, it could be a faulty O2 sensor or two. So a trip to the dealer will be your best bet if the above doesn't work.
PS When was the last time it was tuned-up, or had the twin air-filters checked or changed?
PS When was the last time it was tuned-up, or had the twin air-filters checked or changed?
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From: East Texas
2004 Volvo XC70; 2012 GLK 350 4matic
He juist got it in October with just a little over 3,200 miles.
My money is still on the mold/mildew incubater, a.k.a. A/C system and duct work. Especially the contorted ducts in the center tunnel. Based on their shape, they can trap moisture and grow beasties. It has been a relatively warm winter. Perfect for growth. Are the rear vents open so they get good air flow?
Wayne
My money is still on the mold/mildew incubater, a.k.a. A/C system and duct work. Especially the contorted ducts in the center tunnel. Based on their shape, they can trap moisture and grow beasties. It has been a relatively warm winter. Perfect for growth. Are the rear vents open so they get good air flow?
Wayne
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 62
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From: Queens NY
2012 GLK 350 P1 COMAND LIGHTING AMG... , 2011 maxima
I haven't had anything changed yet but I did notice something else that I never really noticed on my other cars... when I get on it full throttle I see a lot of smoke coming from the rear. even when the car is warmed up.. so much so that it fogs up the outside of my rear window, this happens every single time I get on it.. now on other cars I owned I remember this happening only when it's really cold(obviously) or when I hadn't gotten on the car in a while and it blew out dirt or whatever. so is this or normal?
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Nissan GT-R BE / '12 Ducati-1199 Panigale S / '12 C300-4M Loaded/GLK350-4M Loaded
He juist got it in October with just a little over 3,200 miles.
My money is still on the mold/mildew incubater, a.k.a. A/C system and duct work. Especially the contorted ducts in the center tunnel. Based on their shape, they can trap moisture and grow beasties. It has been a relatively warm winter. Perfect for growth. Are the rear vents open so they get good air flow?
Wayne
My money is still on the mold/mildew incubater, a.k.a. A/C system and duct work. Especially the contorted ducts in the center tunnel. Based on their shape, they can trap moisture and grow beasties. It has been a relatively warm winter. Perfect for growth. Are the rear vents open so they get good air flow?
Wayne
Again try switching gas stations, or fuel grades; then try what I said. If the smell is like a mildewy stench, try looking into the AC venting system issue.
Last edited by MBRedux; Feb 2, 2012 at 11:18 PM.
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From: East Texas
2004 Volvo XC70; 2012 GLK 350 4matic
Cloud of smoke: I normally watch the road ahead when passing briskly. Last Saturday, at full throttle, I happend to look in the rear view mirror and saw the same thing. The car had been washed about 2 hours earlier. I thought it might have been water sloshing out from somewhere and hitting the hot exhaust. I will be driving on the highway again in 10 days. I will put the hammer down and report back.
Exhaust stench: I must lead a charmed life. Since 1962, the only exhaust system related foul smell that I have encounted was about 50 pounds of fresh cow pies that got thrown on the exhaust system of a Dodge truck and burned off. I have never had any exhaust smells inside the car in normal operation. What is M-B doing wrong?
Wayne
Exhaust stench: I must lead a charmed life. Since 1962, the only exhaust system related foul smell that I have encounted was about 50 pounds of fresh cow pies that got thrown on the exhaust system of a Dodge truck and burned off. I have never had any exhaust smells inside the car in normal operation. What is M-B doing wrong?
Wayne
Last edited by venchka; Feb 3, 2012 at 09:16 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Old Dominion
2015 VW GTI.S4; 2016 Audi Q3 Prestige
Yeah - I believe MRedux is correct.
In my case, the smell was like fart.
I recalled bragging to my wife last weekend that the Shell V-Power on I95 we had put in was the best stuff.
Next AM, that unburnt residue was stinky.
Maybe it was a crappy batch from the wholesaler to that Shell station.
Shell has F1 technology in that VPower.
Oh well - back to Sam's & Costco gas for us in town.
In my case, the smell was like fart.
I recalled bragging to my wife last weekend that the Shell V-Power on I95 we had put in was the best stuff.
Next AM, that unburnt residue was stinky.
Maybe it was a crappy batch from the wholesaler to that Shell station.
Shell has F1 technology in that VPower.
Oh well - back to Sam's & Costco gas for us in town.
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From: East Texas
2004 Volvo XC70; 2012 GLK 350 4matic
GOOGLE has pages and pages and pages about the rotten egg smell. Most noticeable on start up and standing at the exhauest TIPS outside of the car. This explanation may be the most hopeful:
"As the vehicle is driven, the oxidizing reaction odor in the converter will decrease with mileage and age."
Wayne
"As the vehicle is driven, the oxidizing reaction odor in the converter will decrease with mileage and age."
Wayne
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 308
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From: Tennessee, USA
Red GLK350, blue '87 Toyota Land Cruiser
I too have that cloud of smoke on heavy accel. My '65 Pontiac GTO would do that if I ran it through the gears after weeks of normal driving, but it only did it once. After that it ran like a sexually abused ape with just tire smoke in it's wake. I miss that car.
Last edited by 420tee; Feb 3, 2012 at 10:07 AM.
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From: East Texas
2004 Volvo XC70; 2012 GLK 350 4matic
Let me see if I have this right.
New car. At start up. With the windows open. Or standing at the rear of the car. There may, or may not, be traces of hydrogen sulfide (a.k.a. rotten egg smell) gas. Coming from the exhaust.
Is the smell noticeable with the windows closed? After the car warms up? Can you smell it once moving? Sitting at lights? On the highway at 50 mph+?
Maybe the gasoline in Louisiana & Texas has a lower sulfur content? That might explain why I have never noticed this odor. Combined with starting the car in a garage with the windows closed and promptly backing out and driving away. However, if the hydrogen sulfide were present at start up, some of it would be trapped in the garage. Lisa would smell it and complain. No complaints from her about rotten egg smells in any of our garages since 1978.
Now, the ginormous cloud of blue smoke belched out under full throttle is another story. In my experience that is oil blowing by the rings and burning off in the combustion chamber. Something that my previous vehicles have not done. A condition I would not expect from a so called luxury vehicle. Hopefully the rings will seat soon and the cloud will go away. Keeping an eye on the rear view mirror when the pedal hits the carpet.
Wayne
New car. At start up. With the windows open. Or standing at the rear of the car. There may, or may not, be traces of hydrogen sulfide (a.k.a. rotten egg smell) gas. Coming from the exhaust.
Is the smell noticeable with the windows closed? After the car warms up? Can you smell it once moving? Sitting at lights? On the highway at 50 mph+?
Maybe the gasoline in Louisiana & Texas has a lower sulfur content? That might explain why I have never noticed this odor. Combined with starting the car in a garage with the windows closed and promptly backing out and driving away. However, if the hydrogen sulfide were present at start up, some of it would be trapped in the garage. Lisa would smell it and complain. No complaints from her about rotten egg smells in any of our garages since 1978.
Now, the ginormous cloud of blue smoke belched out under full throttle is another story. In my experience that is oil blowing by the rings and burning off in the combustion chamber. Something that my previous vehicles have not done. A condition I would not expect from a so called luxury vehicle. Hopefully the rings will seat soon and the cloud will go away. Keeping an eye on the rear view mirror when the pedal hits the carpet.
Wayne
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 308
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From: Tennessee, USA
Red GLK350, blue '87 Toyota Land Cruiser
My mechanic, non MB, (full "A" service $125) told me they have noticed with synthetic oil even newer cars tend to burn some off and to be sure to occasionally check the level.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,522
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From: East Texas
2004 Volvo XC70; 2012 GLK 350 4matic
Our GLK is at the 4,300 + or - mile mark. Very new. Our first Volvo back in the Dark Ages used oil for the first 50,000 miles. Then not a drop thereafter. Monitoring.
Wayne
Wayne
