Bluetec Exhaust Odor
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Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Hummer, E350 Bluetec
Bluetec Exhaust Odor
I just took delivery of my new 'used' 2011 E350 Bluetec Yesterday 10/6/12. The car came from Florida, and most likely never experienced cold weather in it's life. It was cold yesterday (48f). The Exhaust smell is quite prevalent. It doesn't smell like a Diesel at all, it smells like a RC Nitro Car. I tried to play around with the Nitro Cars a couple times, but couldn't get past the Toxic Smell of the Exhaust. Now it seems I may have no choice but to tolerate. Maybe i'm overly sensitive as the wife hasn't said a thing. But the smell gets in the cab and everywhere. Does anyone know what I'm talking about when referring to RC Nitro Cars Exhaust, and is this Normal for a 2011 E Class? I know they did some changes to the Engine in 2012. Maybe the changes were in dealing with this Odor? Maybe the car is running the Regeneration Cycle? Thoughts?
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 28
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2007 E320 Bluetec, 2007 ML320CDI
I have an E320 Bluetec and a ML320CDI and I have noticed very faint exhaust smell outside especially when pulling into the garage and then getting out of the car. I have never smelled anything inside the car. It's a particulate filter, not a exhaust filter, you will still smell some exhaust at times just like any vehicle. I have to say I smell it less than any gas vehicle I have owned especially when cold.
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From: Central Pennsylvania
2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
tome10: Are you being serious? Just get rid of the car. There is no fix for a Bluetec exhaust smell, unless the smell is a strong diesel smell (indicating something is not working). You will likely never be happy with the car, and, life is just to short to drive a car that does not make you smile. For someone with "smell issues" this could have easily been discovered before you purchased. Doesn't anyone test drive a car anymore?
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From: New Jersey
things with and without wheels
If the car has been only driven short distances or short drive cycles, then it sounds like it went into regen state. What that means is that its getting the exhaust hot enough to burn off the soot into ash in the DPF. you should let it finish the regen, sometimes it takes a while(20 min.). Best bet is to take the car for a nice highway run. If you shut the engine off in the middle of regen mode then it will try to do it again untill it's done.
If you see a check engine light then a visit to the dealer is needed.
If you see a check engine light then a visit to the dealer is needed.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,714
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
If the car has been only driven short distances or short drive cycles, then it sounds like it went into regen state. What that means is that its getting the exhaust hot enough to burn off the soot into ash in the DPF. you should let it finish the regen, sometimes it takes a while(20 min.). Best bet is to take the car for a nice highway run. If you shut the engine off in the middle of regen mode then it will try to do it again untill it's done.
If you see a check engine light then a visit to the dealer is needed.
If you see a check engine light then a visit to the dealer is needed.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Woodstock, IL
His 2019 RAM Cummins Turbo Diesel Laramie; Her's 2007 ML320 CDI P3; Mine BMW R1200R
The best way to describe the exhaust on mine is similar to what you smell from a clothes dryer vent.
I have never had an odor after 117K miles of use. You may have something wrong. Have it checked, or find someone or dealer with another Bluetec and compare.
I have never had an odor after 117K miles of use. You may have something wrong. Have it checked, or find someone or dealer with another Bluetec and compare.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 40
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From: Arkansas
Hummer, E350 Bluetec
I'm being serious. I bought it unseen Pictures only from a Ford Dealership in Florida. They didn't know they should have been asking a few grand more for it, or didn't care cause they ripped the guy a new one on the trade in for the King Ranch. I took delivery of it on Saturday, and it was cold. Maybe the computer wasn't calibrated to the cold weather being from Florida. But, you have to believe me, the smell was pretty bad. I don't smoke, so I'm sensitive to stuff, but it was pretty bad. I test drove a 2012, and didn't smell anything. Didn't the engine injection change to Direct Injection? I don't know if that improved the DEF functionality of the system, and my car is a 'normal' 2011, or if there is something wrong. I admit, I could only smell it every once in a while on Sunday. So it was better after being driven for a day. Supposedly, Water and Nitrogen is the end product of the DEF system, and Nitrogen isn't supposed to have an Odor, so maybe there is something wrong.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
I cannot comment on the Bluetec but my 220CDI which runs on 5% bio smells as clean as LPG at the exhaust with a slight fish & chip shop scent!!. It has 2 cats & no DPF.
Tome, Are you impressed with your new drive other than the smell ?
Tome, Are you impressed with your new drive other than the smell ?
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From: Bay Area, CA
09' E320
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area, CA
09' E320
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From: New Jersey
things with and without wheels
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
E320 BluTec
Bought my E320 BT new in 2007. In 2011, at 60,000 miles, car not get above 15-20 mph when starting off from a stop. Turning it off and back on would correct the problem. Immediately took it to my dealership. I had to replace the transmission. This acr had all services on time and from the dealer.
August 2012, it had the same problem. This time we replaced the inlet port shut off motor.
Back in shop right now. manifold has carbon build up.
Tech says that it is not the CVT.
This is three very expensive failures in a year.
Any suggestions appreciated.
August 2012, it had the same problem. This time we replaced the inlet port shut off motor.
Back in shop right now. manifold has carbon build up.
Tech says that it is not the CVT.
This is three very expensive failures in a year.
Any suggestions appreciated.
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From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
Mine smells in the garage, especially if I'm in the middle of a DPF regen. It smells like something burned, because that's what it is. I almost picture white ashes as it burns off the diesel soot.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 40
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From: Arkansas
Hummer, E350 Bluetec
Well, It's been a week, and I've driven it to the store and back a few times. I can't smell anything anymore. I guess the smell went away after I filled the tank with fuel. Maybe Florida puts some kind of additive in their fuel that makes it smell different? Maybe it was doing a DPF Burn. I don't know..
I love this thing! Awesome! Distronic Rocks too! ;-)
Tome, Are you impressed with your new drive other than the smell ?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Hummer, E350 Bluetec
Just to let you guys know, the odor is gone. It had to be an additive. Either the Dealership (Ford) put a fuel stabilizer to their cars on the lot, or Florida gets a Special Fuel Blend targeting water. The smell was precisely what my Nitro Powered RC car produced (Alcohol).
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From: New Jersey
things with and without wheels
Just to let you guys know, the odor is gone. It had to be an additive. Either the Dealership (Ford) put a fuel stabilizer to their cars on the lot, or Florida gets a Special Fuel Blend targeting water. The smell was precisely what my Nitro Powered RC car produced (Alcohol).
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 326
Likes: 2
300D Turbo 1984
I just took delivery of my new 'used' 2011 E350 Bluetec Yesterday 10/6/12. The car came from Florida, and most likely never experienced cold weather in it's life. It was cold yesterday (48f). The Exhaust smell is quite prevalent. It doesn't smell like a Diesel at all, it smells like a RC Nitro Car. I tried to play around with the Nitro Cars a couple times, but couldn't get past the Toxic Smell of the Exhaust. Now it seems I may have no choice but to tolerate. Maybe i'm overly sensitive as the wife hasn't said a thing. But the smell gets in the cab and everywhere. Does anyone know what I'm talking about when referring to RC Nitro Cars Exhaust, and is this Normal for a 2011 E Class? I know they did some changes to the Engine in 2012. Maybe the changes were in dealing with this Odor? Maybe the car is running the Regeneration Cycle? Thoughts?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Hummer, E350 Bluetec
Well, it's been 2 months, and I haven't smelled anything since my first fill up. I don't think it was the regen cycle as surely it has been in regen within the last two months. I think you can tell when it is in regen when the exhaust does the heat crackle a lot. There is only one explanation.. Or maybe two.
1) Florida Diesel gets a special mixture that is a higher percentage of Alcohol due to the (High Water Table?).
2) The Dealership put a Stabilizer with High Alcohol content in the Tank due to the car expected to sit for a while.
Note1> I bought the car unseen in Florida, and had it Shipped to Arkansas. Hence the fuel in the car with the smell was from Florida/Dealership.
Note2> I have a Duramax. I don't mind the smell of Diesel, but I can't stand the smell of my 1k RC Nitro Truck which is why it sits in the closet. It's exhaust Burns my Eyes, and burns my Lungs. I swear it's toxic.
And by the way this Bluetec is absolutely awesome. I'm getting Real World Average 32mpg. And she's beautiful on the Outside as well.
1) Florida Diesel gets a special mixture that is a higher percentage of Alcohol due to the (High Water Table?).
2) The Dealership put a Stabilizer with High Alcohol content in the Tank due to the car expected to sit for a while.
Note1> I bought the car unseen in Florida, and had it Shipped to Arkansas. Hence the fuel in the car with the smell was from Florida/Dealership.
Note2> I have a Duramax. I don't mind the smell of Diesel, but I can't stand the smell of my 1k RC Nitro Truck which is why it sits in the closet. It's exhaust Burns my Eyes, and burns my Lungs. I swear it's toxic.
And by the way this Bluetec is absolutely awesome. I'm getting Real World Average 32mpg. And she's beautiful on the Outside as well.
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
I call the smell of my (pre-urea) diesel "laundromat."
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,252
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From: Blaine, WA
07 E320 Bluetec
If the car has been only driven short distances or short drive cycles, then it sounds like it went into regen state. What that means is that its getting the exhaust hot enough to burn off the soot into ash in the DPF. you should let it finish the regen, sometimes it takes a while(20 min.). Best bet is to take the car for a nice highway run. If you shut the engine off in the middle of regen mode then it will try to do it again untill it's done.
If you see a check engine light then a visit to the dealer is needed.
If you see a check engine light then a visit to the dealer is needed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 56
From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
After reading all of this I do not think I would buy a car with a DPF . Just too much hastle & BS.
Hopefully my present 220CDI will see me out.!!
Hopefully my present 220CDI will see me out.!!
