Black Smoke & Power Loss: Panamera Diesel Issues?

Hey there! I've got some experience with similar issues on my 2017 Cayenne Diesel (and I've owned a Macan before too). I'd say I have some decent experience with Porsches and diesel engines in general. Last year, I had almost identical symptoms, black smoke, power loss, and that unmistakable whistling sound. Turned out the wiring harness to the boost pressure actuator was damaged in my case. My trusted workshop found it during diagnostics, the wires were basically worn through from engine vibration. Cost me around 155€ to get it sorted, including parts and labor. Car's been running perfectly since then. Before we dig deeper though, could you share your mileage and whether you've had any recent work done on the engine? Also, have you scanned for error codes? This info would help narrow things down, as these symptoms could have a few different causes in these models. Hope this helps! Let me know if you need more details.

Hi! Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm at 95836 KM and had my last service about 2 months ago. Actually, your Cayenne story sounds really similar to what I'm experiencing. The wiring harness idea makes a lot of sense, I haven't checked that yet. I'll definitely get the codes scanned first before jumping to conclusions. But good to know it might not be as expensive as I feared if it's just the wiring! Did your mechanic mention any other common issues to watch out for while they were fixing yours?

Hey again! Glad I could help with sharing my Cayenne experience. Yeah, when my mechanic was working on the wiring harness issue, he actually pointed out a few other things to keep an eye on. Since your symptoms are so similar to what I dealt with, I think it's worth mentioning. He said these wiring issues are pretty common in our diesel models, especially around that mileage. While he was in there, he also noticed my turbo actuator seals were starting to wear, didn't cause any problems yet, but he said it's something to watch for. He recommended checking them every service just to be safe. One other thing, since you mentioned your recent service, did they change the air filter? My mechanic found that a partially clogged air filter can sometimes cause similar symptoms, though usually not as severe as what we experienced. It's a simple thing but worth checking. My Cayenne's been running like a dream since the fix, and I'm now at about 120,000 KM. Just make sure you get a proper diagnosis with the codes, it'll save you time and money in the long run. Let me know how it goes with yours!

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! Really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything. I actually called my mechanic right after reading your first response, and I've got an appointment for tomorrow morning. I'll definitely have them check the wiring harness first, along with the air filter, now that you mention it, I don't think they changed it during the last service. Those turbo actuator seals are good to know about too. I'll ask them to inspect those while they're at it. It's such a relief to hear your Cayenne's running great after the fix. Fingers crossed mine turns out to be something similarly straightforward! I'll update the thread once I get the diagnosis. Thanks again for all your help, it's great having experienced Porsche owners to turn to for advice!