With the cruise on, was the car accelerating at the time you noticed the black smoke? It is a characteristic of diesels to make more smoke when under a load. Just watch an 18 wheeler going thru the gears. You can tell when the throttle opens by the smoke from the exhaust stack. Plus, you car is not exactly a youngster. Happy motoring

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Jeff Lawrence
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325