Sounds like a turbo boost has has failed, quite common on all turbo cars.

Defo a tracker, I would cut al the wires off to be sure, and add a tin foil hat just to be sure.

Give it time.

Yes smaller wire should be charge light one.

Yes used to go to a few pay and play sites, always went for the deep water! learnt that only way to make sure was to strip and regrease after every day out.

My 200tdi 90 has had umpteen sets of wheel bearings, always due to water ingress.

I actually knew that, but anything post 200 comes up on my gaydar so I try no to comment :D

tAxle oil in the wheel beaings is quite normal, not correct but not unusual, some people remove the axle seal ro allow the oil into the hubs as the grease only set up is a bit ****.

So warning light is on with ign on but engine not running? Then when you start the engine the warning light stays on? Sure the warning light wire is on the correct terminal? pic of the back of the alt might help someone pinpoint your issue.

You sure it was smoke free on start up before the road trip? I ask as I have never actually looked at my tailpipe when starting. Though I have seen a few 200 gob out black smoke on start up over the years. 200 are a dirty engine, 300 less so.

I think you will find they are thicker walled than 1mm. 1mm walled nylon pipe is a real bastard for kinking.

Bet you the next set will do exactly the same. I would be replacing the bearing along with the discs/pads.

This is mine, guys at work swapped a cat engine for another used one, this hose was spare so I may have purloined it and this is where it has lived for the last 18 years. This is a 200 with the early narrow style radiator, I cannot comment on the later rads as obviously they are gay! Crap camera...

Or welded it!

You are going to need access to the underside, and remove the engine undertrays just to see what is going on.