3.0d slow/sluggish & Black Smoke??

[3LitreD]

Hello guys,

Problem 1:

It seems like my X3LD is sluggish and takes a few seconds after putting my foot on the pedal before there is any noticable reply! This problem occurs from standstill and also at speed (50mph+). If I try and get more power by depressing the pedal further, I get plumes of black smoke emittting from my exhausts. Needless to say this is very embarrasing as the car doesn't pick up any significant pace and I look like I am trying to send smoke signals or trying to replicate Bond's smoke screen, lol...

I understand that diesel cars emit pariticulates aka black smoke from the exhaust when the fuel pedal is depressed heavily, but the black smoke emitted from my exhausts seems heavy. Seriously I am struggling to overtake even small cars, or they are up my ass trying to overtake me!

The other day a 04' X5 3.0d drove past me up a hill while I was staionary on it, and the sound and movement seemed way more powerful and graceful. Mine seems to sound like a transit van compared to it has about the same grace as well.

After reading a few posts here I got some Redex diesel fuel system cleaner that you add direct into the tank. Used a 2x dose as described in a thread by 'Supersteve' (although he used Lucas) and it seems to have had a marginally positive effect. Like the injectors could potentially have some issues or are very dirty/ clogged?? Or could it be a turbo issue?

Just wanted to know if I was being paranoid and these things are normal for the diesel (01-03) models, even though my X does seems real sluggish. Any help or advice would be great!!! Specifically if there's anything I can do myself to try and diagnose said issue rather than giving the stealers £100+ vat ($250+ for teh majority of you guys) per hour to find out what the problem is.

Problem 2:

Upon start up, on a fairly cold morning my car will emit white smoke from the exhausts for about 10secs. I wait for the pre-heating warning light to go out, then start the X and sure enough white smoke. The engine also seems a little shaky for a few seconds until it warms up.

I read that if the smoke is Blue then it could be a head gasket/ coolant leak issue. Black smoke is supposed to be unburnt diesel and the white smoke is condesation or summit although I may well have those mixed up, some clarification would be cool. Just thought I would add that to see if it ties into the sluggish performance at all...


Cheers!