Replaced thermostat: no change. ~92,000 miles '95 SL 500 R129. Both aux cooling fans work and the engine fan seems OK as it spins.

Can't seem to see any lower level of coolant - or, doesn't seem to consume coolant although my wife says it smells like anti-freeze. But, not to me nor does it taste like anti-freeze.

It does not appear to be sucking trans fluid from the vacuum line of modulator best I can tell.

Kicker: I started this AM; no smoke but a tiny amount of vapor. Water still drips out the exhaust pipe. Again; no taste but some chemical to affect the tongue for ~5 seconds mildly.

If temp climbs it starts with a miss-fire and gets worse as temp rises.