Cold engine and Acceleration problems

[Fightgear]

I just got my 1990 300 CE. Its the 24 valve version.
It is an absolute sod to start when its cold taking maybe 7 or more prolonged attempts before it splutters into life. Then it is really unresponsive to the throttle being slow to pull away for about the first half mile or so. Then, once its warm and I try an accelerate (without using kick-down) it is incredibly sluggish meaning at islands I get overtaken by old women on push bikes. Even when I use kick down it seems slow to take up the idea before the engine screams into life.

I've changed the plugs, changed the air filter and used a couple of bottles of injector cleaner but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Any help mercifully recieved!

Cheers

 

[spectre]

Try the ignition HT leads... just a hunch, but they might be failing. Do you find the engine is running hotter when it does warm up?
Dave

 

[Fightgear]

Doesn't seem to run too hot although i have noticed some water loss from the expansion after a decent run. Is it possible to test them without buying a set of (no doubt) expensive replacements? I can't help thinking it might be fuel related. When I try and start it on a morning, it putters as though its about to start and then subsequently for the next ten attempts or more, it either doesn't show any life or putters and then dies very quickly.

 

[spectre]

Leads can be tested by any tuning garage. But they arent that expensive.
try www.eurocarparts.co.uk for a price. This could also be a problem with the cold-idle valve, but if its the same when the engines hot, I'd look at the leads first. Its always worth spraying a touch of WD40 into the cold idol valve just to keep it from sticking.
Dave