Mercedes GLE Diesel power loss and smoke

Sounds like you're on the right track with the DPF Reduced power and smoke are classic symptoms Has the engine light come on Do you do mostly short trips, because that can clog up the filter pretty quickly Have you tried forcing a regeneration cycle If a sensor fault is the cause, that could also prevent regeneration If the backpressure is too high, that’s a pretty good indicator the DPF is blocked Do you have an OBD2 scanner Some of them can read DPF backpressure Is the car throwing any codes

Yes, the engine light is on now I do a mix of short and long trips I haven't tried forcing a regeneration cycle I don't have an OBD2 scanner that can read backpressure unfortunately If the DPF is severely clogged, is cleaning even worth it, or am I better off just replacing it

Okay, engine light plus your symptoms definitely points to a DPF issue If it's seriously clogged, cleaning might work, but it's a gamble It depends on how damaged the filter is If the core is melted or cracked, cleaning won't fix that Considering the mileage and the fact you're getting smoke, it might be beyond cleaning The best bet is to get it properly diagnosed at a workshop They can properly assess the DPF and tell you whether cleaning or replacement is the better option in the long run

I took it to a local mechanic, and they confirmed it was a defective filter Unfortunately, cleaning wasn't an option; it was too far gone Ended up costing me 1550€ for a replacement, but the car is running like new again Thanks again for your help