Rubber smell coming out of the engine compartment

2006 BMW X3
140,000 MILES • 3.0L • 6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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GUTJOSGT3
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
My wife complained to me that smoke came out the engine, I got home and I drove it and accelerated and nothing happened, Today I drove it to the supermarket and I can smell burn rubber smell. I looked up in the engine, I can smell it but I don't see any evidence of burning, I don't know but is it maybe the belts need replacement, can some one tell me if could be something else.
Nov 22, 2015 at 11:55 AM
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THEDOX451
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  • 2 POSTS
Is the clutch slipping on hard acceleration? Try changing to top gear and floor the throttle to see if its slipping.
Nov 22, 2015 at 2:06 PM
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GUTJOSGT3
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Is an automatic, the smell isn't always, it only happened once with me and one time with my wife. That is why I think it might need to have the belts replaced
Nov 22, 2015 at 3:19 PM
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CARPROWER
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  • 3 POSTS
yes, check the belts.
Nov 22, 2015 at 11:15 PM
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F4I_GUY
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 3,302 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Belts don't usually smell and if they do, you would of heard them make noise a long time before they smell.

The fact that you saw smoke and smell burnt rubber tells me that you may have an electrical wire that is burning or an insulation that is melting off. Just to be safe I would get the car looked at ASAP, incase it's a live wire that could cause a fire.
Nov 28, 2015 at 5:17 AM
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