Getting rid of smoke smell from a car

[James_B]

I picked up my new M3 today, dropping off my four month old M2 that I never got on with.

It turns out it was owned by a smoker. The smell is not severe, and as it was left with the windows open for collection I didn't notice at first, but I'd like to see what I can do to get rid of what smell there is.

It's parked with the windows cracked open, and will live like that for the rest of the sipummer, but has anyone found a way to help the process along?

It has white leather interior, so I don't think I can use any spray on the seats without marking them.

[0a]

I had a valet chap steam clean the interior of my 300e when I had it - the previous owner had smoked in the car and the smell had been very noticeable (he owned it for around a year). I never smelt it again after steam cleaning, and the interior was returned to new which was a great bonus.

[deltashad]

Smoke sticks to fabric. Like oa said. I'd carpet wash and also have the headlining washed.

[James_B]

Thanks, I'll see what my valet company can do.

[jeremyh1]

James you dont indicate where you keep it
If you can it will help if you can keep the windows open at night or even the doors if possible

[MethylatedSpirit]

If possible, remove the front seat and give every crevice under the seat a hoover and carpet washed as well.

[Justin S]

Smoke gets everywhere, even places you cant get to like fans for ventilation and fabrics. Check all filters for air are clean and maybe even try an air con smoke bomb to try and clear it. Steam clean is also a great thing to do.

[Section 8]

To truly eradicate the smell you ideally need a valeter that uses a fogging machine that neutralises the smoke smell. It will get into the vents and all places a good clean won't reach.

ETA above post got there before me .

[James_B]

jeremyh1 said:

James you dont indicate where you keep it
If you can it will help if you can keep the windows open at night or even the doors if possible

It's in a communal garage, so will live with the windows cracked open a couple of inches.

Fortunately the smell isn't bad, but it's noticeable.

[0a]

My car had that faint background ash smell... you know it's there, which is most annoying!

[Section 8]

May i suggest too if you have leather to give it a condition with Gliptone liquid leather. It has a quite strong chemical/ leather smell that could help out.

[WJNB]

Recognise this problem which happened upon taking delivery of a MX-5.
It reeked of cigarette smoke when I viewed it, which had even got into the fabric of the seats AND roof.
I took the following action.
Parked on drive NOT in garage.
Emptied a canister of air freshener into the cabin & every nook & cranny including the boot & left car overnight.
Cleaned the seat upholstery & inside of fabric roof.
Then - this is the bit that worked best ...
I placed on the passenger floor a small sheet of metal on which I placed a lit joss stick smelly thing. Did this 2 days/nights running.
As a result the seats & roof stank of poncy nice smelly stuff.
A few open air drives in cold weather got rid of the excessive poncy smell & the car was fresh as new for the next 4 years.

[CABC]

To add to above,
- Google vinegar
- Put some ground coffee in an open plastic bag somewhere secure in the car (rear pockets?)

[Ron99]

I once bought a car that was only a year old and one owner. I didn't notice any smell when I viewed it but its windows/boot had been left open (not unusual in early summer at a car dealership).
However it had been standing unsold for the previous few months which I suspect was due to potential buyers catching the slight whiff of ash/smoke during late winter when the dealer couldn't leave it open to air.
The smell wasn't bad - the car had only done 5k and I think it was more a case of someone getting in it immediately after smoking outside the car (the smell on their breath tainting the fabrics, along with some smoke wafting into the car).
It was cured after a few months simply leaving the windows open an inch when it wasn't in use - I had intended from the start to keep it in the garage anyway because it was just a small shopping trolley of a car that would only be used two or three times a week.

[James_B]

Thanks everyone.

The plan is to ,rave it open, have it well cleaned inside, and set off one of those chlorine bombs.

I'll then buy fake "new car smell" to put back in, and have a nice-smelling ,rather cleaner applied.

It's fortunately not too bad, it's a hint, which I'll notice, but as above, more from someone getting in after smoking perhaps.

I'm Stella hugely unimpressed by the garage, and will complain to BMW GB about how they've chosen to have over someone buying it unseen.

[0a]

As it's a pretty expensive car (I'd assume) could you ask BMW for a full valet?

I would hope they would act to ensure you are not unhappy.

[Thermobaric]

Yeah. I'd be on to the dealer to sort it. Clearly trying to hide the fact with the windows down.

Always sets off alarm bells for me as I've seen too many times tenants move out of non smoking properties and leave all the windows wide open upon check out inspection.

[James_B]

0a said:

As it's a pretty expensive car (I'd assume) could you ask BMW for a full valet?

I would hope they would act to ensure you are not unhappy.

I hope so, but we'll see. I'll accept them turning all of the connectivity on properly and updating the software for the stereo, nav, etc.

[williamp]

nightmare. Another thing to try is charcoal. It absorbs odor but its a long battle. Think of it over weeks rather then hours...

[tejr]

The smell gets worse in the winter when your windows are closed and the heaters are on.

I swapped out the interior in my 200sx and that got rid of most of it. It did seem to die down on its own after a couple years.