Black Smoke & Power Loss: Panamera Diesel Problems

Hey there! I had a very similar issue with my 2012 Cayenne Diesel last year. I have some experience working on cars, but turbo-related stuff is definitely workshop territory for me. Had the exact same symptoms, black smoke, weird hissing, power loss, and jerky acceleration. Turned out to be a faulty waste gate valve. Got it fixed at my trusted local Porsche specialist for about 860€. The car's been running perfectly since then. Could definitely be the same issue on your Panamera, since they share similar engine components. But just to be sure, what's your mileage, and have you noticed any other warning lights besides the CEL? Also, are you getting any specific error codes? Would help narrow things down.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 47777 KM and just had its service last month. I haven't pulled any error codes yet, but I'm planning to get that checked tomorrow. The CEL is the only warning light showing up at the moment. That waste gate valve issue you mentioned sounds pretty spot on with what I'm experiencing. Did you notice if the hissing got worse when accelerating? And was your repair done at an independent shop or the dealership? 860€ sounds way better than what I was expecting to pay!

Hey again! Yeah, I remember dealing with this on my Cayenne, the hissing definitely got worse during acceleration, especially when trying to push it above 3000 RPM. It was really nerve-wracking! I took mine to an independent Porsche specialist I've been using for years, "Auto Klaus" here in Munich. They're ex-Porsche mechanics and know these engines inside out. The dealership quoted me nearly double (around 1600€) for the same repair! The waste gate valve issue is pretty common on these diesel engines, especially around the 45-60K km mark. When I first noticed the symptoms, I also thought it might be the boost pressure sensor (which would've been cheaper), but the hissing and black smoke combo is usually a dead giveaway for the waste gate. Since your mileage is pretty similar to what mine was when it happened (I was at about 52K km), and the symptoms match exactly, I'd put money on it being the same issue. The repair took about 4-5 hours if I remember correctly. Let us know what the error codes say when you get them checked tomorrow. But honestly, based on what you're describing, I'd be really surprised if it turns out to be anything else.

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! That's really helpful. The similarity in mileage and symptoms makes me feel more confident about what I'm dealing with. I've got a trusted independent Porsche specialist nearby too, so I'll give them a call first thing tomorrow. Will definitely get those error codes checked and avoid the dealership markup! You've really put my mind at ease about the potential cost, I was honestly expecting a much bigger hit to my wallet. I'll probably lay off the heavy acceleration until it's fixed, just to be safe. Will update the thread once I get it sorted out. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with this! The similarity with your Cayenne situation is uncanny, guess these diesel engines really do share the same quirks! Thanks again for all the help!