1983 240D

I changed my glow plugs last night and each plug had a significant amount of soot on it.

Is this indicative of anything?

Tref,
Nothing unusual about soot on the glow plugs. If you could see the tops of the pistons, you would see a lot of soot. You would also see clear tracks where the flame from the prechamber come out. This is all normal.
Bill Lewallen Lexington,Ky. Home of Jif Peanut Butter. Yes, it's all made right here.

And if you take a look in the intake pipes of the newer exhaust-gas re-circulating diesels, you will see lots of soot in there as well...

greetingz,