Juicester

I recently purchased my first Benz (and diesel) about 1 month ago from a Mercedes dealership and really enjoyed the driving my turbo diesel. But for the past 2 weeks, it has been having a rough idle with some blue smoke during cold start up and it usually clears within 15-20 seconds. I had a hunch on maybe its due to cold weather (ie. car bought in Missouri and I live in Minnesota), but today it has been warm (50s F) and it still did the same thing. I do let the glow plug light go off before cranking it over.

I know blue smoke means oil burning of some sorts. I have done research on this online issue and I have noticed some general trends such as EGR and swirl flaps on the intake. I also found some posts regarding incorrect glow plugs (11v vs 5v; Buru vs Bosch). Some more general diesel forums have said it's normal for it to smoke a little at startup.

I am not sure what to think and believe from what I have been reading and feel scared turning it on as I don't want to kill the car. Any thoughts or suggestions as it's a daily driver and I plan to toss miles on it??

Specs:
- 2005 Mercedes E320 CDI, Missouri/Arkansas vehicle
- Bought with 160K on the odometer (put 3k in about 1 month)
- Almost all the service has been done at the Mercedes dealership I bought it from except for maybe a few oil changes. Glow plugs were replaced at 40K and also 60K

Here's the Carfax Report with most of the service history for reference

Plutoe

If the symptoms do not appear when hot follow your thoughts on the EGR, I would also watch the oil level

Azeem

I bought w211 cdi 4 years ago and I have spent unnecessarily in maintaining the inventory of some of the parts which were really not required either due to wrong diagnosis or in the name of preventive maintenance.
- If this car is maintained with complete service record then I would just follow the schedule of maintenance as they come.
- enjoy the drive and the car and as Plutoe suggested above keep an eye on oil level.
- I would suggest that if you intend to keep the car, invest in a good code reader, it will pay for itself in near future.

Juicester

Yeah, I have been monitoring the oil level and the level is fine.

Ionut_np

Hi, did you solved the issue? I have a similar behavior. Thanks!