DPF Nightmare: Infiniti M Belching Black Smoke & Power Loss

I had almost identical issues with my 2010 Infiniti FX30d last year. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced black smoke, drop in power, and failed regens. Turned out my DPF was internally defective, not just clogged. The honeycomb structure inside was partially collapsed. Took it to the Infiniti dealership after two regular shops couldn't properly diagnose it. They had to remove the entire DPF unit to inspect it. Found out it needed a complete DPF replacement, not just a cleaning. The damage was pretty serious and could've led to more engine problems if left unfixed. These symptoms really shouldn't be ignored my case required a new DPF unit along with new pressure sensors. The whole job took about 2 days at the dealer, but it's been running perfectly since then. No more smoke, full power restored, and no warning lights. If you're near an Infiniti dealer, I'd recommend going there first since they deal with these specific systems regularly. The DPF system is pretty complex and needs proper diagnostic tools to fix properly.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That sounds exactly like what I'm going through. I'm actually considering taking mine to the dealer after reading this. Quick question do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? And has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you had any other issues pop up?

Hey there! After getting my 2010 FX30d fixed, I can finally give you a clear picture of the costs. The total came to 1550€ at the dealer yeah, it wasn't cheap, but it was totally worth it to get it done right. The DPF was internally defective, just like I mentioned before. The best news is that since the repair, everything's been running like a dream! That annoying DPF remaining mileage warning that kept showing up? Completely gone now. No more black smoke, power's back to normal, and the engine's purring like it should. I've put quite a few miles on it since then without any problems. Looking back, going to the dealer was definitely the right call. They knew exactly what they were dealing with and fixed it properly the first time. Given how similar your symptoms are to what I experienced, I'd say don't hesitate get it checked out before it potentially gets worse. Trust me, you'll feel the difference once it's fixed!

Just wanted to update everyone I took your advice and went to the Infiniti dealer yesterday. what a difference compared to my last mechanic! They diagnosed it right away, and yep, my DPF was shot too. Ended up paying around 1700€, which hurt the wallet a bit, but the car's running like new again. The whole process was pretty smooth dropped it off in the morning, and they had it ready by the next afternoon. The mechanic actually showed me the old DPF unit, and it was in really bad shape. No wonder I was having all those issues! Just took it for a proper drive, and it's like having a different car. No more black smoke, got all my power back, and that annoying warning light's finally gone. The exhaust smell's completely normal now too. Thanks again for pushing me towards the dealer. You were right sometimes it's worth paying a bit more to get things done properly the first time. Really appreciate everyone's help with this!