I just bought this MB about 3 weeks ago and have been trying to chase down the source of this "nailing" noise and smoke that has been sitting for about 6 years. So in here we go in no particular order.

• Changed oil and filter to rotella.
• Changed fuel filter and pre filter added Stanadyne fuel treatment, and put about 8 gallons of fresh fuel in.
• installed rebuilt injectors with monark nozzles
• New air filter
• fixed downpipe to turbo heat expander
• Fixed downpipe mount to exhaust manifold
• fixed broken air filter bracket
• removed defective egr, installed block off plates, removed associated vacuum lines.
• Cleaned ALDA banjo bolt at intake manifold
• Installed boost gauge (12 psi max boost)
• ALDA was already adjusted all the way out.
• New timining chain tensioner
• Timing chaing replaced by PO
• changed all fuses with proper copper ones and cleaned connections

I talked to my Father in law who owns an engine shop that builds gas race motors for cars and boats, he confirmed that most likely its not associated with hardware, but a timing issue, or glow plug issue.

So I ran with it as I was running out of ideas, and decided to run the car, then plug and unplug the glow plug relay. Interestingly enough it controlled my noise, but still smoked. Here is a video, after the first 20 sec or so, go about 2 min I start cycling the glow plug relay.

https://youtu.be/pCOVck2BphU



Any help would be great