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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: benmcdermott on Jun 06, 2026, 08:35 AM

Title: Coolant smell inside the cabin but no visible leaks
Post by: benmcdermott on Jun 06, 2026, 08:35 AM
I've got a 2018 BMW 330i and lately I've been smelling coolant inside the car, especially when the heater is on. The smell is sweet and noticeable, but I can't find any puddles under the car and the coolant level only drops slightly over weeks. I've read online that this could be a sign of a leaking heater core, which sounds expensive and labor intensive. I'm really hoping it's something simpler like a leaking hose under the hood that the HVAC system is pulling in. I need to find a shop that can do a proper pressure test and maybe use a borescope to check the heater core area. I've been looking for a Premium Leak Detection Abu Dhabi (https://bmw-garage.ae/leak-repair/) service that can pinpoint the exact source without tearing apart the whole dashboard. Has anyone here had a coolant smell in the cabin on a G20 and found it was just a loose clamp or a cracked expansion tank? Also wondering if a leaking turbo coolant line could cause the smell to get into the cabin. The car has 90k km and I really don't want to spend thousands on a heater core if I can avoid it. Any advice on what to check first or a good specialist in Abu Dhabi would be great. Thanks.