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Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 8:59 am
by Dan 6511
I know a few people have mentioned the infamous delorean smell before, but I'm sure mine is excessive. I don't remember my old car being that bad.

Even if I take the D to work which is about 40 mins drive, I arrive at work stinking of the thing. I have cleaned the seats and even tried driving it with a towel over the seat this morning, but sat here at my desk all I can smell is delorean interior! Its not as if its even a nice quality leather smell, just old musty car smell. I have lee patison's seat covers and the carpet has been cleaned.

Does anyone else suffer this and any idea what part of the interior is letting off so much stink?

Re: Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 9:35 am
by andyd
:lol: 80s plastic!!

Have you tried going over all the carpet bits with some kind of odour neutriliser powder. I store it with the windows open in the garage, but dont notice it as being too offensive...

Magic tree in the glovebox ("New Car Scent" :lol: ) also may help mask it.

Although I think most of my interior has been (badly) recovered, so may not have that quality Dunmurry covering...

Re: Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 9:41 am
by MikeWard
Mine is the same, my mrs always knows when I've been out in it as my clothes get a distinct smell on them.
I have also got Lee's cover's (although I had the same smell with the original covers so I don't think it's the covers themselves). If I had to guess perhaps it's the underlying foam of the seats which is holding the smell and/or the foam sound deadening on the parcel shelf? :? If it is, I'm not sure how you would go about eliminating the smell short of removing the covers and steam cleaning the foam?

I just accept that it's DeLorean smell and live with it :)

Re: Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 9:56 am
by Dan 6511
MikeWard wrote:Mine is the same, my mrs always knows when I've been out in it as my clothes get a distinct smell on them.


Haha same here, but slightly more embarasing when stinking out the office at work :lol:

Its probably normal then, but I just dont remember my old car doing it. Then again it was 10 years newer :shock:

Re: Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:13 am
by DMC1983
Whilst my interior has a smell, i cant say its that bad or even stains my clothes with the smell either.

Re: Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:17 pm
by CFI
MikeWard wrote: If I had to guess perhaps it's the underlying foam of the seats which is holding the smell and/or the foam sound deadening on the parcel shelf? :? If it is, I'm not sure how you would go about eliminating the smell short of removing the covers and steam cleaning the foam?

I just accept that it's DeLorean smell and live with it :)


The smell is mostly from the sound deadening material found both under the parcel shelf and the footwell carpeting. Owners who have replaced both noticed a dramatic improvement in smell.

Re: Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:26 pm
by jerzybondov
I know exactly what you mean Dan.

And if you've got a stainless exhaust on it, then you get to smell of fuel too! Especially if you've spent a long time sitting in traffic :dance:

Re: Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 2:38 pm
by arranj
As above mentioned a couple of times, it is certainly from the parcel shelf area sound foam, it stinks - even "new" (old stock) ones do - must be whatever it's made from.

Re: Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:29 pm
by jerzybondov
I wonder what they smelt like when they left the factory? Did they ever have that 'new car smell' or did they always smell like this?!

Re: Delorean Smell

PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:53 pm
by Dan 6511
Probably always stank Gez. I can't imagine the smell being good based on the quality of the rest of the car :lol: