Among the signs and symptoms that you should treat as urgent include the smell of exhaust or fuel in the cabin. Gas fumes are not only unpleasant-smelling but also a health and fire risk. The exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which is quite lethal.
Unfortunately, carbon monoxide is odorless. If you smell something unpleasant in the cabin, don’t wait for the next scheduled maintenance. It may not get that far. Take immediate action.
Diagnosis
Before you can take action, be sure that the automobile ahead of you is not the one responsible for the fumes or exhaust.
Exhaust fumes can come from a leak in the exhaust system and that is quite worrisome. The problem will be located between the engine and the tailpipe.
Fuel fumes can indicate a leak somewhere in the fuel system. That means they can be anywhere in the engine compartment fuel lines or even the fuel tank.
Failing catalytic converter, usually characterized by a sulfur smell, is another common cause. The converter is an essential component in the anti-pollution system of your vehicle. Most US states require it. Over time, this vital component that converts harmful elements into less harmful ones can wear out. If this happens, your cabin starts to smell of rotten eggs.
Other tell-tale signs of a failing catalytic converter include reduced fuel efficiency and acceleration performance.
Have a qualified technician handle the catalytic converter problems.
What You Should Do
Problems in the fuel system are an imminent fire danger and should always be treated as such. Don’t sweep the issue under the rug, or you will be forced to pay top dollar for a repair. Even worse, you could lose your life when your BMW transforms into a ball of fire.
The best course of action is to park your vehicle safely and switch off the ignition. Go some distance away and call for help.
