F10 528i mods and maintenance (Pics)

So its been a while and I've been battling a sour smell on start-up from the aircon vents. Things tried so far,

1. Vaccumed out the leaves build up near the blower vents and engine bay area.

2. Checked blower motor for any foreign debris (nothing was clear)

3. Replaced the cabin airfilters with Hengst Blue PM 2.5 brand new filters not long ago.

4. Sonax Aircon spray. $15
Result didn't do anything for the startup smell, think it made it even worse.
download1.jpg

5. Lysol Disinfectant Spray direct into vents $12
Result didn't do anything for the startup smell, think it made it even worse.

images.jpg


6. Time to call the big boys, Juzz Performance tunap disinfectant direct into the cooling coil $148.

Not that much work to disassemble the passenger side lower kick panel and remove the airfilters. Disinfectant was pumped in under high pressure direct to the cooling coil.

Result didn't do anything for the startup smell

https://www.bmw-sg.com/forums/threa...ng-disinfection-deep-clean-your-aircon.85755/


20220602_104304.jpg
20220602_104308.jpg
20220602_105251.jpg
20220602_105310.jpg
20220602_111411.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 20220602_105253.jpg
    20220602_105253.jpg
    685.8 KB · Views: 100
  • 20220602_105255.jpg
    20220602_105255.jpg
    639.3 KB · Views: 95
7. Seeing a few advertisements for 8line cooling coil clean decided to try the DiY route $15.90

Basically same thing as Tunap remove panels and cabin airfilters snake a tube into the HVAC box and pump it full of the disinfectant foam.

Result masked smell for 2 weeks or so but smell returned thereafter

https://shopee.sg/8line-Aircond-Coi...e-8-Line-Cool-(500-ML)-i.220028777.9291267281

8line.jpg



8. Decided to try Ozone treatment and hunted in carousel for a service

Came across this guy and went down to meet him. Seems to help and run a car grooming service, his van was packed with all sorta of grooming stuff as per his ad.

Told him about my issue he suggested to try out some anti bacterial mist instead of the ozone treatment $55. Looks impressive but he didn't remove the airfilters, but the mist was seen pouring out of all the aircon vents so it must still be going through the system.

Result, waste of $55 right there should have stuck to my research instead of trying the anti bacterial mist out. Smell still there on startup and now the car smells like some powdery substance quite strongly.

https://www.carousell.sg/p/ozone-treatment-1114955710/


20220603_095200.jpg
20220603_095207.jpg



9. Getting desperate now, Yigo had a solution though, $450 to tear the dash open and manually wash out the cooling and heater coil and flush any crap found in there. They've done quite a lot of F10 and have the proper tools equipment and knowledge to do it well.

https://www.facebook.com/YIGOCARAIRCON/

https://www.carousell.sg/p/bmw-chan...er_request_id=ddz6UtgR5topJeDP&t-tap_index=13

However there are a few issues, the old adage comes to mind, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Every time you remove something from an aging car you risk breaking something or cause another issue due to age or carelessness.

I firmly belive the cooling coil is stock orignal from bmw factory and so its a little over 8 years old now. Every BMW's cooling coil eventually will leak and require replacing at some point in its life, its just a fact of owning an old car. Therefore its a while your in there replace all the things that WILL eventually break which becomes fantastically expensive in very short while.

A quick call to Eng Soon yields costs for the following
Cooling Coil $200 (Mahle)
Expansion Valve $50 (ACM)
Aircon Drier Insert $130 (BMW)
Various O rings xxx
Add GST (BTW its illegal to quote prices in SG WITHOUT GST included if you are a registered GST entity)

https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods...-record-keeping/displaying-and-quoting-prices



Additionally replacing all this doesn't mean the problem is solved forever. Due to the constant usage of aircon, moisture builds up in the HVAC system and bacteria grows causing the smell once again and you're right back to square 1 even after spending upwards of $1000 ! Granted it will take sometime depending on usage and conditions etc but its an eventuality
 
10. So after its all said and done its back to Ozone treatment. Read up a bit more and found a small portable one.

I highly suggest anyone wanting to go down this route to READ and UNDERSTAND all the conditions of using an OZONE generator. Not going to baby it, read all instructions and be warned about its usage.

linky herehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y2CWX55/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So this is a massive DiY job here and I had a few days off. Everything can be done with basic hand tools and only a few brain cells were lost in the job.

20220624_131308.jpg
 
Last edited:
Detailing shops should have an ozone generator.But usually recommended for cabin smells . If the smell origin is deep in the aircon system , it will come back I guess.
 
Use the NOVITA NAS6000 from my room in the car. Powered by a old 200w inverter from 12V socket. Let it run for 30 mins full blast ozone.
 
Use the NOVITA NAS6000 from my room in the car. Powered by a old 200w inverter from 12V socket. Let it run for 30 mins full blast ozone.

Why would u use ozone in your room ? Ozone is hazardous.
 
Also there are 2 drain tubes in our HVAC system. Good idea to blow out the lines to remove any stagnant condensation. I didnt have compressed air so a quick trip to the gas station to the air pump did the trick. Select flat tyre and put the nozzle on the tube and go !!




20220624_091033.jpg
20220624_091115.jpg
20220624_091313.jpg
20220624_091510.jpg
20220624_091632.jpg
20220624_091650.jpg
 
Finally made the decision to have the whole thing cleaned out.

Went to Yigo cost was approx $470 downtime approx 4 hours start to finish. Prob could have finished faster had I not keep taking pics.

20220803_092643.jpg


20220803_101950.jpg
20220803_102100.jpg
20220803_102710.jpg
20220803_103056.jpg
20220803_103058.jpg
20220803_103101.jpg
 
Last edited:
Doesn't dash trim removal scare you haha . Creaking etc ?
 
I would have thought removing the dash + the trims would involve close to S$1k, unless u are changing the compressor, then probably the labour cost will be discounted.

Just cleaning with the dash removed and all (as per your pics) for S$470 sounds quite ok.

Thanks for sharing!
 
I would have thought removing the dash + the trims would involve close to S$1k, unless u are changing the compressor, then probably the labour cost will be discounted.

Just cleaning with the dash removed and all (as per your pics) for S$470 sounds quite ok.

Thanks for sharing!
how long did your clean smell last?
did it came back?

My old car have a smell, went to yigo, cleaned but still comes back in the end...
sold the car off sadly/
 
Combination of a few things worked.

1. The complete clean at Yigo
2. New cabin Ari filter
3. Ozone treatment with portable ozone machine several times through the system.
 
Latest fix. N20 PCV Diaphragm, a known weak point and happily DIY in 10 mins with only a flat screwdriver. This is mine at 108000kms.




20231124_120033.jpg

20231124_120038.jpg


IMG-20231018-WA0003.jpg


IMG-20231124-WA0000.jpeg
 
Got jelly of all the new cars having HUGE touchscreens. And so time to update the now 10 year old F10 interior.

Purchased here at $555.90 with a combination of black friday sale and coupons.
Shipping was super fast and well packed.
.
Got the 15 inch NBT 8gb 128gb version.
Complete with wireless android auto and carplay, 4G LTE connection.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.23.52cd1802lvyF6W

Install was done by Jimmy from carousell, he also sells the units and installs and sets it all up for you and even walks you through how to use it ! If you're unsure I highly recommend ordering through Jimmy to cut down on making any mistakes.

https://www.carousell.sg/u/gs.theshop/


20231205_222347.jpg
20231205_222359.jpg
20231205_222423.jpg
20231205_223800.jpg
20231205_223807.jpg
20231205_224318.jpg
20231205_225203.jpg
20231206_001223.jpg
 

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
82,741
Messages
1,019,286
Members
75,834
Latest member
vbo99codes

Latest posts

Ad | 📈Learn Trading Strategies, Lessons and Setups
Back
Top