Ellington...
Good call, I thought that too, but this is a random issue...
Today, with nothing touched, the car is running just fine!
If you look at my post further up,follow the link, you can see the plugs when we pulled them recently.
We are planning to get the valve stem seals done in the next two weeks or so.
I am just puzzled by the glowing exhaust!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec