I'm at a loss, most but not every Morning I start the car it takes a while even tho all glowplugs and module are new, I've replaced all fuel lines as I did have a small leak to be safe. Once started (its cold at moment so some mornings there's steam)....but as soon as I put into drive it starts to smoke....its usual gone by the time I get to the end of the street. Once I've driven it.....its as you would expect for the rest of the day, Starts on the button. I'm wondering if a low battery could cause it? I fitted a new battery and it seemed fine for 3 mornings then started to do it again?
I've left it overnight with the Radio Nav unit (Android) unplugged and it still did it. Today I been for a run.....come home and unplugged the power plugs to the from seats as I know this is common.
Also worth mensioning is I have an oil catch can. All inlet manifolds have been removed cleaned aluminium rods fitted, new swirl motor, new oil cooler and seals and its had a new turbo.
Another thought I had was that onced parked, could fumes in the now long pipes from the catch can condence to oily residue and be sucked in?
The bit I dont get is you can leave the car idling.....and its fine.....then soon as you put into either drive or Reverse is when the smoke starts??
Got me realy stressed, as I can usualy fix things, but this has got me stumped....again once started that morning.....drive around the block even....then for the rest of the day it starts as you expect.....but then its back to square one the following Morning which also means you have to wait overnight to know if what you have done has fixed it or not???
If after trying the seats unplugged its the same...I'm going to leave it on charge overnight to rule out the battery being low enough to start but not fully charged....

 

What is the color?

 

White to very light blue.....and does not linger....soon disapates.....its the fact its intermittant.....my best thought is low battery (thinking I have a low/small/slow drain) my charger says 100% after a run...but 65% in the Morning....So this is enough to start but as its turning over slow....take longer and theres a build up of fuel. What I dont get, unless the EGR opens when you put it in gear or similar? is why its worse for a short time when put in gear....its then clear in about 4-5 car lenghs of driving....then perfect the rest of the day.
Also some Mornings its fine....Grrr

 

Being that you are not sure of the color, I suggest that you check the loss of coolant via the reservoir.

It should be done on a cold start

 

Already checked....no coolent loss low to no oil loss its at 133k miles.....trying to upload videos of a good day and a bad one....

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK-f...ature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltv4...ature=youtu.be


Even the bad day...I'd say the actual SMOKE has cleared by the time I leave my drive.....its just steam as I drive down the street and thats even gone not much long after.....its bloody wierd and embarrasing....

 

When you try to open them, it says This Video is Unavailable, This video is private.

 

Changed to Public...was unrestricted.....not used to youtube.....

 

Do the Videos work now?

 

Yes the videos work. But that smoke could be normal vapor depending on the weather.

 

Left front seats power disconnected over night.....was a lot better this morning so took for a good run and tank fill so I know Battery is fully charged then see what its like over the comming few Mornings.

I know what you are saying about Vapor......but if I posted a video of it on its worst day you'd think I was running it on chippy oil.....I'm almost certain its low battery issue but time will tell.....

On the run this Morning I did a mix of country and Motorway.....and there is no smoke at all unless you really give it some and even then its bearly noticable.....its mapped so goes like a rocket too.

My other car is a CLS AMG, so I've made the ML a Brabus D6 look-a-Like with not far off the same power......I do love my Mercs so just hope this is an easy fix....as I've said...once past the end of the street its great for the rest of the day.....but if I pull out and a nieghbour is behind its a little embarrasing!

The CLS had the Seat drain issue.....which I resolved by taking an ignition live feed from the Wiper system....put in an in line fuse to the seats so they only have power when the ignition is on.....even the MEMORY function still works.

So if I have to do the same thing on the ML so be it.......

As you can probably tell from the Videos I have CCTV, so I can watch what it behaves like on each Morning....what I also notice is its worse when I takes longer to start and the revs are higher at idle.....when its "acceptable" it starts quicker and the revs at idle are lower.....again my therery being low battery....slow crank.....exess fuel....more smoke....higher revs.....seems to make sence...

 

You are rambling on about the battery. What the hell does the battery have to do with exhaust.

 

Diesels need to be spun over at correct speed for the fuel to combust.....unlike Petrol that has a spark. If the the voltage is high enough to turn the engine over but the crank speed is slow it will struddle to start....unburnt fuel will build up and then when it does start the excess fuel will cause smoke.
As I have said its only therory.....but open to other thoughts which is why I posted!
If I go out to it right now 2pm after the run I gave it at about 8am it will fire right up as expected.

 

Smell the exhaust when it is malfunctioning. Not kidding. What does it smell like? Use as many descriptive words as possible.

 

Defo unburnt diesel.....but two mornings now with front seats unplugged its been fine.....will give it a week like this as its done this before and been fine for 3 mornings leading me into a false sence of security (may have had a longer run that day) but fingers x'd.
My only other thought is an intermittent electrical fault on the glow plug side (all brand new Beru plugs and Module is latest one)......but if so that would be hard to find....so kinda hope its the seats....
There are NO codes stored via my iCarsoft MBII Scanner....

 

@ROSSY You have unburned diesel smell from the exhaust pipe, correct? Then you have unburned diesel coming out of the exhaust. Therefore all of the diesel that is being injected is not being burned.

How old are the main and auxiliary batteries?
How old is the fuel filter?
What is your opinion of water in the fuel, or in the fuel tank? A diesel repair shop drain the tank if this is a question for you.

After answering the above questions, the way forward may become clearer.

 

Fuel filter is new and does not have the sensor on top that I know can have an issue. I also changed the Fuel pipes and clamps.
This Morning it was strange.... it took a while to start (long crank) then started...I turned if off then started it again and it started fine. As already mensioned, all glow plugs are Beru and new as is the Glowplug Module....but this Morning it was like the glowplugs did not work even tho the light came on and off as it should. Also when engine warm the glowplug light is on for a shorter time indicated its working as it should???
The front seats are still unplugged.....
I have ordered a 2nd user throttle peddle as it has the common sticking issue and I noticed when its worse once started the revs are higher....when its good the revs a normal once started so another thing to rule out?
The Main Battery is an expensive one bought 2018 the aux battery I've never changed as on my other Merc I got a message to tell me it need one. I cant see the Aux battery causing this tho can you?

 

No. But one of these days you will need that small battery to get it into neutral so you can tow.

 

Still doing it...so wierd.....can start it....sit there no smoke....put in drive or reverse....then smoke.....but its intermittnt???

 

What engages when put into drive,EGR, Swirl Flaps? Its as tho somthings held back/oil vaper or moisture...then when put in gear/drive somthing operates (opens) and lets it through......and only overnight or when left for 12hrs plus?????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lslv...ature=youtu.be

Listen and you can hear when I put into drive...then watch the exhaust......this is friggin wierd.....can no-one help?