My '98 and the GF's Golf both have cats and the smell is quite "un-Diesel" like. The truck doesn't smell too bad and I only really smell it if I back up through the exhaust.

I believe that when you're behind a vehicle and you get the "stinky Diesel" smell it's from reduced compression in an older engine. But that's just a theory.

If you're smelling exhaust in your Benz while driving, you have a leak somewhere under the hood. You should never smell it while driving forward.

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250