As the title states, I had this happen today where as soon as I shut off the car (after about a 20 minute normal drive), I had white smoke shooting out from about the emblem area on the grille. I want to say it was the radiator but didn't verify at the time. It was about 45 degrees and rainy (what else in the pacific nw!) and I was in a hurry to get to where I was so I just stuck my nose into the white smoke that was coming out and thankfully all I could smell was the rain with a hint of what I think was coolant. I also use the word "shooting out" because it really did look like it was coming straight out as opposed to other types of steam that would normally seep out all around a hood after shutting off a vehicle on a cold day.

I've searched around a bit and the only thing remotely close was this, although I didn't smell much in my case as opposed to this other thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ite-smoke.html

We just bought the car and am still getting used the vehicle. It's good and bad that this doesn't seem to be a common problem (deduced by the lack of search results) but I wanted to see if anyone else had any ideas. I'm thinking it was just steam from the radiator but not fully sure. It did not do the same thing when we got home so I couldn't confirm anything... The car was bought right around 30k and I highly doubt the previous owner had service done on it so it will be going in very soon. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Just keep an eye on the coolant level. If you drove through any standing water it is possible that anything under the hood got wet and was evaporating through the only opening available, the grille.

On a humid day you would definitely see steam.

OMG !!!! why would anyone drive their Mercedes in nasty weather

That is what Kia's and Chevrolet's are for !!!

I'd say it sounds about normal - I have seen mine steaming away before as well.

It didn't alarm me much - it's quite common on the smart to steam from under the bonnet during cold wet weather - so I am used to it.

Thanks for the heads up, the humidity part seems about right as its always humid (albeit cool humidity) around here.

lol, while I get your jk, I'm sure lambo owners say the same thing about our c-classes. Besides, cars are meant to be driven.. not parked!

I'm starting to get the feeling it's just another quirk of the car, like the crappy stink from the ac...

lol ... driven with sexy young thangs in the passenger seat too !!!!!

Like those Eurocharged Girls !!

I just cant talk myself into a kia

neither can ... why i have 4MATIC as well and the excursion and acura ...

Mine did the same thing tonight ... Seems odd, has yours done this again ? Did you take it into the dealer ?

This is normal, warm radiator + cold water and humid conditions equals, - steam.

Thanks for the fast reply ! I love the car so much I'm paranoid something will go wrong lol. Nice car btw !

I ran my car through the touch less wash yesterday and noticed the same thing. Temp outside was wrong 32F. Figured it was just moisture and the cold temps