Electrical burning smell from vents
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Joined: Oct 2018
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2014 E63 AMGS
Electrical burning smell from vents
The other day I was driving home on a 100° day and had the AC on max. Halfway through the drive I started noticing a burning electrical smell coming out of the vents. At first I thought maybe it was coming in from outside but it continued and was getting worse. I didnt see any smoke or anything coming out of the vents or dash so really not sure where it was coming from. Has anyone had something similar happen or have any ideas on where to start looking?
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
Was the AC on recirculate or outside air?
was the stereo working ok? Known issue with amps burning up on the HK system
first thing is just look in the engine bay, take off any removable covers/shields etc etc
do you have any aftermarket stuff installed like wiring, amplifiers?
hasn't happened to me
was the stereo working ok? Known issue with amps burning up on the HK system
first thing is just look in the engine bay, take off any removable covers/shields etc etc
do you have any aftermarket stuff installed like wiring, amplifiers?
hasn't happened to me
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 36
Likes: 3
2014 E63 AMGS
AC was on recirc, the stereo was working normally and everything is stock with it. I also possibly heard something that sounded like zapping or sizzling but I couldn't tell if that was what I was hearing or just normal sounds from the ac lines changing temps or something, I don't know exactly how to explain the sound but I may have just been paranoid that the car was going to catch on fire and was hearing a normal sound that I thought was sparking. I don't see anything abnormal in the engine bay, I removed the blower motor cover that's over the battery and don't see or smell anything abnormal in there either.
Was the AC on recirculate or outside air?
was the stereo working ok? Known issue with amps burning up on the HK system
first thing is just look in the engine bay, take off any removable covers/shields etc etc
do you have any aftermarket stuff installed like wiring, amplifiers?
hasn't happened to me
was the stereo working ok? Known issue with amps burning up on the HK system
first thing is just look in the engine bay, take off any removable covers/shields etc etc
do you have any aftermarket stuff installed like wiring, amplifiers?
hasn't happened to me
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
AC was on recirc, the stereo was working normally and everything is stock with it. I also possibly heard something that sounded like zapping or sizzling but I couldn't tell if that was what I was hearing or just normal sounds from the ac lines changing temps or something, I don't know exactly how to explain the sound but I may have just been paranoid that the car was going to catch on fire and was hearing a normal sound that I thought was sparking. I don't see anything abnormal in the engine bay, I removed the blower motor cover that's over the battery and don't see or smell anything abnormal in there either.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2004
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
My guess is your HK amplifier or speakers melting (KNOWN ISSUE FOR W212) ... smell around the back doors and the rear deck area above the trunk from the interior
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...s-melting.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ed-smoked.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...s-melting.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ed-smoked.html
Last edited by PeterUbers; Sep 14, 2025 at 06:11 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
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2014 E63 AMGS
So I just sniffed around in the car and the only place I can smell anything burny is from the 2 front center vents, don't smell anything from the 2 front outter vents though just center.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2004
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
Hot day, blower motor? Or something behind the center console/COMAND
I believe the HK amp is below the driver seat under the carpet
or do you have bang olefsen ?
I believe the HK amp is below the driver seat under the carpet
or do you have bang olefsen ?
Last edited by PeterUbers; Sep 14, 2025 at 06:29 PM.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
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2014 E63 AMGS
Yeah I do have the HK system but it definitely seems like its coming from behind the center console. Not sure what's behind there that could do that though so I guess I'll just have to start tearing in to the dash to see if I can find anything that stands out. As far as blower motor that was my first thought but 1 it was still working and 2 the smell only seems to be coming from the 2 center vents, I'd think the blower motor would be blowing the smell out of all the vents. One thing I just thought of after reading another post on here is could I have the oil in my wiring harness issue and would that even cause something like this?
Last edited by Cardinal_E63S; Sep 15, 2025 at 06:53 PM.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,799
Likes: 3,228
2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
Yeah I do have the HK system but it definitely seems like its coming from behind the center console. Not sure what's behind there that could do that though so I guess I'll just have to start tearing in to the dash to see if I can find anything that stands out. As far as blower motor that was my first thought but 1 it was still working and 2 the smell only seems to be coming from the 2 center vents, I'd think the blower motor would be blowing the smell out of all the vents. One thing I just thought of after reading another post on here is could I have the oil in my wiring harness issue and would that even cause something like this?
behind the air vents is all your head unit/comand wire harnesses
