Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought

jacclark · Thu, Jul-05-2018, 04:53:30 PM

My dear M3 has been stored inside a warm, humid garage - carefully and lovingly but not driven. Now I found some mold on the interior!

What should I do to clean everything perfectly? Any advice from someone with this experience?

Steam clean?
Biologic cleaners?
Something from BMW for the AC unit? Mold bomb?
Hot sun and clean?

Thanks everyone. I want to clean this car perfectly. She's a beast and needs some more attention (aka driving).

Thanks!!

JJCTHE1 · Thu, Jul-05-2018, 06:06:20 PM

It depends on the extent of the mold, but yes I would first drive the car to get everything moving, run the AC with the car on and driving, then run the HVAC system with the compress off before shutting the car off again so you can dry it out as much as possible. Then have the AC serviced, drained, recharged etc. I would replace all the filters, the floor mats, remove the seats and have everything cleaned including the carpets with all of the items you mention. It really just depends on the extent of the mold.

TheSt|G · Thu, Jul-05-2018, 06:25:26 PM

Burn it.

Zabalzae · Thu, Jul-05-2018, 06:32:00 PM

Yup depends on how much there is. I would remove most of the interior and use PDP enzyme cleaner 4:1 and also steam clean it. Replace filters and spray a lot of Lysol in the Ac vents. You can remove the final stage resistor and spray Lysol in there then run the ac on full blast and do it all over again.

Kirra · Thu, Jul-05-2018, 07:17:35 PM

I bought a moldy E46 wagon earlier this year and did pretty well with diluted ammonia and letting it bake in the sun for a while.

JJCTHE1 · Thu, Jul-05-2018, 08:26:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirra

I bought a moldy E46 wagon earlier this year and did pretty well with diluted ammonia and letting it bake in the sun for a while.

Yea this is a good idea too, Lysol is your friend too, hot dry sun as well

jacclark · Tue, Jul-10-2018, 02:01:28 AM

Thank you guys!

SlickmisterN · Tue, Jul-10-2018, 07:34:46 PM

Steve M3 · Tue, Jul-10-2018, 07:35:08 PM

Some ideas in this video as well.

Steve M3 · Tue, Jul-10-2018, 07:36:46 PM

Lol. That wasn't here when I clicked on the thread. Either way, just came out today so very good timing for this thread

Thu, Jul-05-2018, 04:53:30 PM	#1
jacclark Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 974 Reputation: 0 Location: Montreal	Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought My dear M3 has been stored inside a warm, humid garage - carefully and lovingly but not driven. Now I found some mold on the interior! What should I do to clean everything perfectly? Any advice from someone with this experience? Steam clean? Biologic cleaners? Something from BMW for the AC unit? Mold bomb? Hot sun and clean? Thanks everyone. I want to clean this car perfectly. She's a beast and needs some more attention (aka driving). Thanks!! __________________ '04 e46 TiAg M3 \| TCKline DA SA 500 600 \| TMS Sways \| Brembo BBK \| 18" SSR Comps \| K&N 63 \| Autosolutions Shifter \| TMS Subframe Reinforcement \| Powerflex RTABs FCABs \| \| JB Racing LTW Flywheel \| Recaro Sportster CS Seats \| JVT-R Headers \| Magnaflow Exhaust \| TMS Pulleys \| TMS Software \| RE Tranny Motor Mounts \| \| Angel Eyes \| 6k D2S \| HID Fog Lights \| CSL Diffuser, Trunk and Splitters \| Custom Alum Lightweight Rear Seat Delete \| Thanks to: Obioban and Dan Law at DER Motorsports Modification Recommendations: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=314627

Thu, Jul-05-2018, 06:06:20 PM	#2
JJCTHE1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 447 In the garage: '03 BMW E46 M3 '99 BMW ///M3 '87 FORD MUSTANG '16 MERCEDES-BENZ G63 AMG Reputation: 0 Location: Tampa	Re: Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought It depends on the extent of the mold, but yes I would first drive the car to get everything moving, run the AC with the car on and driving, then run the HVAC system with the compress off before shutting the car off again so you can dry it out as much as possible. Then have the AC serviced, drained, recharged etc. I would replace all the filters, the floor mats, remove the seats and have everything cleaned including the carpets with all of the items you mention. It really just depends on the extent of the mold. __________________

Thu, Jul-05-2018, 06:25:26 PM	#3
TheSt\|G Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24,422 In the garage: '05 BMW M3 '10 BMW 130i '85 Porsche 911 Reputation: 0 Location: SE PA	Re: Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought Burn it. __________________ WTS - OE CSL Trunk, Mint Condition, Uninstalled and with Hardware - $1150 Current - '05 Interlagos E46 M3 SMG Delete 6MT Coupe - 3337lbs Current - '85 Schwarze 911 3.2 Carrera 5MT Coupe - 2550lbs 911 Journal/Build Thread Sold - '03 Lemans on Lemans E39 M5 6MT Sold - '99 Kosmos-Schwarzes E36 5MT M3 Coupe

Thu, Jul-05-2018, 06:32:00 PM	#4
Zabalzae Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 626 Reputation: 0 Location: Vacaville, CA	Re: Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought Yup depends on how much there is. I would remove most of the interior and use PDP enzyme cleaner 4:1 and also steam clean it. Replace filters and spray a lot of Lysol in the Ac vents. You can remove the final stage resistor and spray Lysol in there then run the ac on full blast and do it all over again. __________________ 02 M3 SMG->6MT - Tiag/Cinnamon RK-Tunes Alpha N \| Evolve Airbox \| Eventuri Scoop \| SGT Headers \| SGT-SCZA-FRP \| CPI Euro200R \| RE El Diablo \| APEX \| AKG \| PowerFlex \| Beisan \| TMS Reinforcement \| BC \| VibraTechnics \| StopTech ST40 \| TMS (3)Pulleys \| BMW Performance SS w/ F10 knob \| Bavsound \| Last edited by Zabalzae; Thu, Jul-05-2018 at 09:20:38 PM.

Thu, Jul-05-2018, 07:17:35 PM	#5
Kirra Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 349 In the garage: '05 BMW M3 Convertible Reputation: 0 Location: PDX	Re: Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought I bought a moldy E46 wagon earlier this year and did pretty well with diluted ammonia and letting it bake in the sun for a while.

Tue, Jul-10-2018, 02:01:28 AM	#7
jacclark Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 974 Reputation: 0 Location: Montreal	Re: Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought Thank you guys! __________________ '04 e46 TiAg M3 \| TCKline DA SA 500 600 \| TMS Sways \| Brembo BBK \| 18" SSR Comps \| K&N 63 \| Autosolutions Shifter \| TMS Subframe Reinforcement \| Powerflex RTABs FCABs \| \| JB Racing LTW Flywheel \| Recaro Sportster CS Seats \| JVT-R Headers \| Magnaflow Exhaust \| TMS Pulleys \| TMS Software \| RE Tranny Motor Mounts \| \| Angel Eyes \| 6k D2S \| HID Fog Lights \| CSL Diffuser, Trunk and Splitters \| Custom Alum Lightweight Rear Seat Delete \| Thanks to: Obioban and Dan Law at DER Motorsports Modification Recommendations: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=314627

Tue, Jul-10-2018, 07:34:46 PM	#8
SlickmisterN Surrounded By Grapes Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 462 Reputation: 0 Location: Napa/Ziakas	Re: Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUw6pGmBGmo __________________ Modified Stock Section 1 and Section 2's Illuminated Shift knobs, Wheel spacers, clear corners, shifter trim

Tue, Jul-10-2018, 07:35:08 PM	#9
Steve M3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 1,816 Reputation: 0 Location: Houston	Re: Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought YouTube (Short URL) Some ideas in this video as well.

Tue, Jul-10-2018, 07:36:46 PM	#10
Steve M3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 1,816 Reputation: 0 Location: Houston	Re: Help Cleaning Mold - Advice Sought Lol. That wasn't here when I clicked on the thread. Either way, just came out today so very good timing for this thread

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