DaveTheDrummer
Member
Hi Guys,
I've had a Jan 2002 W210 E320CDI estate for a year or so now and I'm very pleased with it. Especially after the p.o.s I had before it.
I may have a small problem though.
I have noticed that there is 'smoke' coming from the passenger side of the bonnet. It's the corner close to the windscreen.
It's happened twice about 5 months apart.
And it's scared the utter crap out of me both times.
Both times I had been in a traffic jam and moving fairly slowly, inching along etc... you know the drill. Engine temperature crept up to about a needle's width over half way and was happy staying there. I'd put it at 90 degrees on the guage. Although I have to say that I don't know if that's normal or not. The temperature on my last Honda Legend didn't move a millimeter no matter what the car was doing. I have no information regarding the Merc.
The first time I saw the 'smoke' I was jammed and inching along in a multi-storey car park and couldn't go anywhere. I was jammed for about 10 mins at most. I parked and had a look at the 'smoke'. I couldn't see where it was really coming from when I had the bonnet up but what I did notice was that it certainly did not smell like any kind of smoke one would get from an ailing engine. It's definitely not burning oil from a leak and it wasn't hot like steam is and it didn't react like steam either. It was more of a vapour, definitely lighter than air as it moved up like smoke. It smelled like a refrigerent to be honest. Sort of sweet and not unpleasant or acrid. The engine temperature was stable throughout at 90 degrees (just above half way).
The car started again after doing a bit of shopping and performed flawlessly on the way home.
Second time was last Saturday coming back from Southampton. Didn't know there was a footy match finishing and got stuck in the traffic.
Temperature crept up to just above half way. We were inching along for a good 20 mins or so when I saw the smoke again.
Same place. Passenger side by the windscreen.
Same symptoms ie. none.
No rise in temperature, no loss of performance, no silly noises, air con was working fine. Just this 'smoke' wisping out from under the corner and along the edge of the passenger side bonnet scaring the hell out of me with every moment.
After another 10 mins of moving at walking pace with some more occasional wisps of 'smoke' before we started moving at a sensible speed up the A33.
Smoke goes away, probably lost in the breeze. Didn't come back when I stopped at the lights.
Engine temp stayed at just over half way until I got onto the M3 where it slowly came down again to where it usually is when I'm driving around and not stuck in a traffic jam. That's about 70 degrees I'd estimate from the guage.
No loss in performance. No dashboard lights, no warnings, no noises, can't detect anything wrong with the car. All seems well.
Other than the smell of my fear.
So does anyone have any idea what this might be ?
I had the car B serviced by my local Mercedes main dealer before the first instance. I don't think it's linked though.
The only common elements seem to be the location of the smoke and the engine temperature.
I'd appreciate any help, suggestions or information you could offer.
Thanks guys.
I've had a Jan 2002 W210 E320CDI estate for a year or so now and I'm very pleased with it. Especially after the p.o.s I had before it.
I may have a small problem though.
I have noticed that there is 'smoke' coming from the passenger side of the bonnet. It's the corner close to the windscreen.
It's happened twice about 5 months apart.
And it's scared the utter crap out of me both times.
Both times I had been in a traffic jam and moving fairly slowly, inching along etc... you know the drill. Engine temperature crept up to about a needle's width over half way and was happy staying there. I'd put it at 90 degrees on the guage. Although I have to say that I don't know if that's normal or not. The temperature on my last Honda Legend didn't move a millimeter no matter what the car was doing. I have no information regarding the Merc.
The first time I saw the 'smoke' I was jammed and inching along in a multi-storey car park and couldn't go anywhere. I was jammed for about 10 mins at most. I parked and had a look at the 'smoke'. I couldn't see where it was really coming from when I had the bonnet up but what I did notice was that it certainly did not smell like any kind of smoke one would get from an ailing engine. It's definitely not burning oil from a leak and it wasn't hot like steam is and it didn't react like steam either. It was more of a vapour, definitely lighter than air as it moved up like smoke. It smelled like a refrigerent to be honest. Sort of sweet and not unpleasant or acrid. The engine temperature was stable throughout at 90 degrees (just above half way).
The car started again after doing a bit of shopping and performed flawlessly on the way home.
Second time was last Saturday coming back from Southampton. Didn't know there was a footy match finishing and got stuck in the traffic.
Temperature crept up to just above half way. We were inching along for a good 20 mins or so when I saw the smoke again.
Same place. Passenger side by the windscreen.
Same symptoms ie. none.
No rise in temperature, no loss of performance, no silly noises, air con was working fine. Just this 'smoke' wisping out from under the corner and along the edge of the passenger side bonnet scaring the hell out of me with every moment.
After another 10 mins of moving at walking pace with some more occasional wisps of 'smoke' before we started moving at a sensible speed up the A33.
Smoke goes away, probably lost in the breeze. Didn't come back when I stopped at the lights.
Engine temp stayed at just over half way until I got onto the M3 where it slowly came down again to where it usually is when I'm driving around and not stuck in a traffic jam. That's about 70 degrees I'd estimate from the guage.
No loss in performance. No dashboard lights, no warnings, no noises, can't detect anything wrong with the car. All seems well.
Other than the smell of my fear.
So does anyone have any idea what this might be ?
I had the car B serviced by my local Mercedes main dealer before the first instance. I don't think it's linked though.
The only common elements seem to be the location of the smoke and the engine temperature.
I'd appreciate any help, suggestions or information you could offer.
Thanks guys.
