Leather smells - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BScottB · #1 08-27-2002, 01:19 PM

Has anyone had any experiences with their leather interior having a bad smell. Recently I have noted a smell that reminds me of rotting hides. this is in a W210 2000MY. If anyone has experienced this, what did you do to get rid of it. A search of the site did not really assist so am thinking it is something unique to my vehicle.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Scott.

mushedroom · #2 08-27-2002, 02:58 PM

you might have some mildew in the carpets...
my suggestion take out your mats, shampoo them, sun dry them and as for your car, have a detailer clean the carpets...then park the car in a sunny area for a day or two and crack your windows and sunroof as to let the evaporating water out...
hope this helps

BScottB · #3 08-27-2002, 04:23 PM

Mushedroom, Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I had thought about that but I have had it to the detailer and the vehicle has not seen rain for some time. I do wipe off the seats with a damp cloth to remove surface dust and wondered if that was setting off the process. As for cracking the window, I had the sun roof open last night in the garage and the smell this morning was pretty strong.

I keep thinking it is the leather but your advice is good in that it makes me think of other alternatives. I will check out the carpets tonight. Maybe when I wash it, there is water getting in.

Scott.

mushedroom · #4 08-27-2002, 05:15 PM

where do you live?

remember mold loves dark garages...and direct sunlight is the catalyst to cause moisture to evaporate, not simply having an open window inside an enclosed place...besides water and moisture could have come from your shoes...
spilled drink?
condensation from a/c?
many different things..

if our cars were impervious to water and moisture, they'd be submersible woo hoo!

park it outside in the sweltering sun for a couple of days....
then let's see what happens...
you could always do the doggie/kittie method and sniff your car's entirety? hehehehehehehe if you do, do it in private....or better yet send us mpeg's...woo hoo the forum would love to see a benzie lover scenting out his baby!!!!!!

mushedroom · #5 08-27-2002, 05:16 PM

and one last scary thought....
maybe a rodent a small one crawled into your car and died?
under the seat?

i had a rat die in my trunk of my caddy and it stunk for ever...ugh
let's hope it's not that but i wouldn't rule out a carcass of some sort...
maybe a stink beetle?

dieseldude · #6 08-27-2002, 06:06 PM

Scott, if you don't already use it, I might recommend a good leatherique treatment. Leather can rot, and that may be what you're smelling.

A good treatment or two of their Rejuvinator Oil, followed up with Prestine Clean will restore the 'leather smell' and let you know if indeed it is the leather. www.leatherique.com

If it is something else entirely, I'd go to a detail shop that uses ozone as odor treatment. I've heard that's popular for people who've had fire/smoke damage and it removes all trace of oders. ALthough it is hard on plastic surfaces and you need to treat the interior with a good moisturizer.

Good luck, let us know what happens!

Regards,
- Ryan

BScottB · #7 08-27-2002, 06:26 PM

Mushedroom, I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Maybe your still asking yourself "where the #%*@ is that".

Any sniffing will only be done in the privacy of my own garage - there are enough weirdos in this world without me adding to the population.

I will check the carpets and maybe put my dog in the car and let him see if he finds something interesting - that may substitute for the sniff test. He has not been in the car of late so he is not the culprit.

The more I think about it the more I am convinced the smell started after I used a leather conditioner on the seats. Maybe I used too much and the damp conditioner is setting off a rot in the leather.

My wife has been using the car and maybe she "filed" something under the seat - good thought on that.

Dieseldude, thanks for the tip on the leather conditioner. I will check it out.

Scott.

mushedroom · #8 08-27-2002, 06:30 PM

my first and foremost advice....
let the car naturally dry out in a hot sun's rays....
that is if canada has weather like that now?

i'm in calipornia so we have sunny days 360 days of the week....
3 of those days are rainy
and the last 2 are drizzle drizzle sunny sunny days...

BScottB · #9 08-27-2002, 06:39 PM

Quote:

i'm in calipornia so we have sunny days 360 days of the week....

Man, I knew the adult entertainment industry was big in California, but i didn't know they had renamed the state. Kind of has a ring to it though!

One thorough sun drying coming up and then we will look from there.

Thanks for the advice.

Scott.