MOB

I've noticed it lately too....outside the vehicle. Almost smells like heat shrink tubing when you heat it with a torch....more plastic-like than rubber. Smelling something "burnt" kinda worries me actually. I've got to take the car in for excessive wind noise from the rear quarter windows, excessive rear deck lid rattling that is driving me bonkers, and potentially the tranny reflash so I guess I'll just add it to the list.

RISKY GUY

iTrader: (9)

check your coolant overflow,mine was empty.
had a anifreze smell(have a new radiator,so that's not it)
I filled the resivoir & the smell went away.
my .02 is coolant is being burnt up from heater core.

Mike S.

Me three...I get it too...no winter tires here. Seems to smell like a bit of electrical burning/burning clutch after I get on it a bit. I always figured it was the AWD clutches working away. Not that I like it or that it makes me happy...but thats what I figured it was.

sebounet

So to sum up , almost everyone notice this curious smell. I agree with you , actually the road are dry and i didn't notice the smell. When i use a lot the AWD system and anti skid due to snow, i can smell the burning smell

PedroP

iTrader: (2)

I started to notice this burning rubber smell for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Since then it’s happened a couple more times. The first time, I noticed it I had just stopped at a stop sign. The smell was pretty strong at first but had subsided quite a bit before I got home a few minutes later. I checked under the hood and around the wheel wells but couldn't smell anything unusual. I do believe that each time it happened the roads were wet from rain or melting snow. I recently saw on this forum where some folks have reported an unusual amount of steam coming up in front of the car after they drive through a puddle of water. I recently observed this with my car also. Perhaps the two are somehow related since in my case and some others who have reported this; it seems to happen when the roads are wet.

GraphiteG37S

iTrader: (29)

Stop doing burn outs!!!

Morrissey

The guy in Florida has the same issue. So we should ssume it's not weather or tire related.

I have just started to smell this after 2000 miles.

Can we start to rule out different items and note the accurate tells?

Spirited driving is when I smell it. Awd car.
I agree with the op that its most apparent while standing outside the p side door.
I think it smells like it could be tubing, electrical, or?

It is a very concerning smell.
Pls post up more details everyone.

gimpy

iTrader: (1)

I'm also getting this odor from my 09 G37xs sedan but it doesn't seem to be present at all times. It occurs every now and then when I drive the car into my garage. Most times it's not there but when it's there it does seem to smell like overheated rubber. Of course it won't smell if I take the car to the dealer for service and ask them to look into it. Most problems have to be in your face before the dealer will admit to noticeing them.

3BEP6

I have a coupe with winter tires and my friend has a sedan with stock ones and we both get burning tire smell under regular driving conditions. Brought both to the dealer and all we got back was a shoulder shroud lol

MOB

In my case, NOT after spirited driving. Merely driving to work 30 miles on the freeway between 65-78mph then 4-5 miles of surface streets. Regular A-B commute driving. Got out & smelled it right away at the doors on the driver side. No smoke or anything like that, just the scent of something being singed or perhaps much hotter than it should be. Couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

MOB

And mine smells more of electrical/plastic vs. tire rubber

Morrissey

This describes mine as well

Almatti

PedroP may be on to something, i first smelled this ODOR - more like heated material than rubber, weeks ago. Also Intermittently - definetely with snow or wet on the road now that you mention it...Not yesterday, not today with dry roads....Curious.. An associate of mine at work, ran a major puddle with theire new MB E350 - water up to the door sill but not into the car during a major rain storm last fall, water got up into the engine compartment _ Bingo Fried MB engine. the car was Totaled by their Insurance company - now they they have a new MB....

sebounet

I think you are wright on dry pavement no smell, wathever the way i drive.

ozzypriest

iTrader: (2)

You can me to the list as well. It seems like something that's happening as our cars age.