2005 E320CDI "rolling coal"
 

My second CDI seems to be NOT as peppy as my first one, and also is "rolling coal" at hard acceleration. My first one would set you back in the seat kinda like one of those roller coasters that use magnets to propel the cars (California Screamin'), with no evidence of black smoke whatsoever. This one is a little lackluster in the acceleration department, and belches out black smoke in the process. Anyone know what might be the problem? I suspect a wastegate not sealing or opening too soon or something like that, but not exactly sure. Is there any live data that I can retrieve with my Icarsoft MBII that would be helpful (still not sure how to navigate through all the screens). I don't doubt the turbo is working, as it does accelerate pretty good, but nothing like the other one. Thanks in advance, Rich

Have you checked obvious things, like replacing the air filter?

Are there any stored codes?

You can read live data with your Isoft MBII when you first connect select ODBII. You'll find another menu after that which lets you select which engine points you wish to monitor.

Run it open pipe to rule out blocked catalytic converter.

I actually only got the car a couple weeks ago, and just today got my order from Pelican with an air filter, oil filter, trans filter and gasket, and an expansion tank. The tank has a tiny pinhole leak, the trans has the original fluid after 190,000 miles, and I am just replacing the air filter so I know that it has been done at the same time as all the other service. I want to start fresh. I will let you know how good/bad the filter was......Rich

I should select just OBDII and not MB? OBDII is not MB specific. I am learning, so please bear with me. Thanks, Rich

I have a W211, it's not quite the same as a W210.

Link is just to show it can be a simple fault rather than big $$$

FYI: I test drove several w211 cdi's and found a large disparity of performance between them.

Yes if you wish to view running data.

Okay, I hooked it up and selected OBDII. I could not find any selection on monitoring any data. I then went to the MB option, and found that every system can be monitored. I found a screen that showed the boost pressure, but was not sure exactly what it should be to determine if I have a problem there. I thought about somehow recording the results of my car, and then comparing them with the results I would get from my niece's car (same year and model, and about the same mileage). Even though I am able to gather a lot of information with this tool, I basically have no clue what I am looking at. I also checked every applicable system for stored codes, and there is none. I was hoping to find something obvious, but everything is normal according to the scanner. I am not sure what to do now.......Rich
EDIT: I went back into the OBDII option and found "Datastream"=17 items, none of which would be helpful in this case.

Monitored boost pressure
 

I went back into the MB section of the scanner, and after choosing the model, year range, body style, fuel etc, I got to the datastream for CDI-3. I selected boost pressure, and took it for a drive. I accelerated rapidly and observed the highest boost pressure. It was 2031MBAR. Thinking it would be better if I watched the road, and occasionally my reirview mirror for tailpipe coal, I went back and got my wife to watch the monitor. We did a few more speed runs, and the highest she observed was 2244MBAR. I have no clue if that is about what it should be, or if it is too low, and that is what is causing the smoke. I do know that it is definitely over fueling. I also know my fuel mileage is not as good as the other car was. Does anyone have a good running CDI and the MBII scanner that can duplicate this test? It would be nice to know if it is anywhere close........Rich

2,244mbar? I don't know if this helps or not, but that's close to 18 pounds of boost.
One thing is for certain - your turbo is most definitely working well.

I have the MBII scanner and personally hate it. I've email the company complaining that you can't data log. They seemed to be dumbfounded that somebody would want to do this. I bought an ELM327 v2.1 bluetooth dongle on ebay for under $10 shipped and downloaded Torque pro with charts for another $10 or so and can data log almost all the parameters that I was able to find in MBII. And not have to try to convert from mbar to PSI etc.

Then scanner has its places but mostly resetting and testing non driving situations. Maybe better on certain models but not my OM642 08 ML320 .