Need help mold smell
 

Any one have this problem. Car smells like a gym. All I want to know is if it is being caused by not having fender linings in and driving through the rain. I have an agreesive stance so no fender linings untill I could figure something out. My Dd broke down so I had to use the 8 in the rain which I usually don't.

I don't know for sure, but I would think if you drive it in the rain without the liners with the fresh air mode on, it could possibly pick up some into the ducts.
If you drive in the rain be sure your air mode is on recirculate.
Have you changed the cabin air filters recently? Mice can nest in there and smell.
I don't think there are any factory openings that would allow water in.
Do you have a sunroof? If so, check that the drains aren't plugged.
*edit* Might want to check your trunk seal and taillights for leaks too, could get mildew in the trunk.

I don't see the lack of fender linings directly causing this but BC mentions some good points.
depending on where you live, you could have a rodent of some sort getting into the cabin air filter space. (there's a thread about this somewhere)
If it happened while raining, that can't ignored. Water is potentially getting in somewhere.


time to trace that gym smell down.
where do you smell it most?
pop the trunk and start feeling around. anything moist?
take out the floor mats; does the carpet feel wet?

Had the same problem.


Check your ducks lips on the firewall and replace your cabin filter then shampoo your matts and carpet.


this fixed my problem.


The ducks lips are sticking closed and causing it to drain into the cabin and soaking the under pad under the carpet.


Here's some links


https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tro...cation-176868/


https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...r-feet-198188/


https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tro...rtment-201728/


https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tro...logged-222002/