I just bought the car here and drove it home. While on the road, it seemed ok. It was raining and when I goosed it a little, there seemed a little smoke. Not sure if it was water or whatever. Is this natural?

Also the engine seems louder than a gas C280 I had. Not sure if this is a natural issue with diesels.

Also the starting seems hard. After it has run for a bit and then you shut it down and try start it up even after the glow plug light goes off and it stumbles and once in a while dies out but mostly will catch after about 5 seconds of stumbling and having the check engine light. Any ideas?

The driver side headrest motor seems sticky and has to be pushed upwards to make it work.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

Congratulations on the new car.

Some smoke (black) could be considered normal under high load, such as 'goosing' it, particularly after some slower running allows carbon soot to accumulate in the engine and exhaust. It shouldn't smoke a lot, though, and none at idle.

The engine could very well sound louder, since diesels make more noise than gassers, but it shouldn't be objectionable.

If you're getting a Check Engine light, have a technician (Dealer or Independent) check the computers for codes to begin troubleshooting.

No ideas on headrest motor, but I'm sure others will chime in.

Best Regards,
Jim

The check engine light comes on when it is in the process of starting and stumbling and then when it catches and the idle smoothes it goes off. All of about 5 seconds.

It will crank and then the engine will try to get to a smooth rpm which it achieves in about 5 seconds, give or take a second. While it does, it is fine and the light goes off. While it is trying to keep running, the CE light is on. Is this normal or should it start up like a gasser?

Not normal. It should crank and start up like a gasser, particularly when it's warm. The CE light is telling you something's wrong. Get a tech to check the code(s) the CE stores.

Added by Edit: P.S. I'm assuming that you're waiting until the glow plug lamp extinguishes...

Jim

Yes I am. Like I said, while it is stumbling, the CE light comes on but after it is done, it is fine.

i think you should take it up on the highway and give it good long run. maybe it sat for a while before you bought it? get some fresh fuel in it and i bet it will improve.

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Andrew
OK, saw the post.
I'll see if I can come over and see what I think. Leave it sit overnight so I can do a cold start. I agree, could be old fuel. Or would any of you diesel heads agree it could be not neccesarily "old", but "summer" fuel? It's getting a little colder around these parts.
Be sure to realize this has "tip start" like your C280 had, so turn the key to start for about a second, then let go of the key and let the engine do it.
I wouldn't sweat the check engine light on startup quite yet. It would be good if you have the service history, but if none is known I'd lean towards fuel filters (if nothing else you'd know where you are at on those then, and it's an easy job).
We'll figure out the headrest problem, don't sweat that.
Gilly
PS to everyone else, AKLIM is an old customer of mine I see occasionally

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I'm not familiar with the newer diesels
but changing the fuel filters might not
be a bad idea.

I don't know if you can run some diesel purge
like in the older ones but this would/might
help.

I also would check for algea.
If they have a pre-filter that should be
easy.
It will look dark or black

Hope this helps.

Louis.

It was almost out of fuel yesterday so they topped up the tank. I did drive it for about 150 miles today so that should take care of the fuel freshness and being winter fuel and also the long run.

I have dumped in a can of Diesel Fuel Injector Cleaner I got from Wal*Mart and I figure it can't hurt.

on a bottle of biobor, 20 bucks to kill algae. keep it in the trunk. apply as needed. watch for little flecks that look like pepper in your prefilter. its algae.

I don't know if this means anything or not but I noticed that the gas cap has some rust on the metal part of it. I never had anything like that on my gas cars so I don't know if rust is natural or whether there is some water in the fuel.

Actually, if I'm not wrong it's a fungus that grows in the water that is found in diesel tanks, not algae.

I heard that the 606 engines are not easy on the glow plugs. Do glow plug faults show up through the glow light like on older MB Diesels or through the CEL? I've heard that it's not uncommon for a 606 glow plug to snap off in the head requiring a bit of work to remove completely. Something for a DIYer to consider.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Is this stuff readily advailable? I haven't seen it in parts stores too much.

I'm not too sure it is the glow plugs simply becaues it is hard to start cold or hot. Of course, if it is inside the garage, it is easier, relatively speaking, than outside but still a chore.

What mileage should you get out of glow plugs anyways?