Own a 1988 300sel w126 and have been noticing for some time a smoke/burnt oil smell when driving. Rolling down the windows seems to dissipate the odor. I'm not sure where the smell is coming from. I don't think its the exhaust. Seems like there is a drop of oil maybe making contact with the exhaust. I close the vents which prevent the outside, i think, air from coming in. What would be giving off such an unpleasant oil or exhaust smell. Hard to really say what exactly it is..Please advise

A common cause of M103 engine oil leak:

PeachPartsWiki: How to reseal the front top timing cover

well there are few scenarios to unbearable smells coming into the cockpit or interior,

1. most common lately has been family or friends or trophy whom remains are left in the trunk

2. is coolant which when the heater core springs a leak it will really stink up the cockpit or interior

3. oil how ever external oil leaks seldom smell up the cockpit area

freon from the ac interior corresponding

burning catalytic converters will make bad smell like burning flesh
is there any new wet spots in the cockpit

Engine oil leaking on to hot exhaust will cause the symptoms described. Once under the hood, the leak should be relatively easy to find.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

My blower motor fuse holder melted over time causing a burnt smell. Not sure if your model has the same holder. Coffin like fuseholder next to left shock tower on my 1989 w124.

__________________


1989 300E

2005 Acura TL

2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited

Swing hard! Take chances!