When I did my DV's and fuel lines (97 E300 NA) I parked downhill towards my garage, full tank. Bad news: fuel just kept coming with every hose replacement (collected over a gallon in a large pan under the engine). Good news, it kind of primed itseld. Cranked twice before it fired up. Pretty nasty sputter and nailing on start-up though. First time I heard true loud nailing, sounded like a pounding a hammer on the valve cover for maybe a minute or two, seemed like an eternity.