Have you ever checked your codes for you CE light?

I'm willing to bet you'll get a code for a stuck egr valve.

And I'm willing to bet that you have a pipe clogged with carbon from egr vapors. It's the hot inlet pipe to the intake manifold. Very common on these engines.

Scroll to the bottom of this article:

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/EngineControls

I don't know about your state, but you couldn't pass a smog test with a tripped check engine light. It doesn't matter if the bulb has been taken out. The computer they use to test your car will pick it up.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".