Symptoms of bad fuel pressure regualtor?

[E300D]

Hello,

What are the symptoms of a bad fuel pressure regulator?

My car, 92 W201 2.3L has a weird issue.

When engine fairly cold, upon cranking the engine, the rpm needle will bounce from 0 - 4500rpm and engine will develop a "choke like" sound and then it will fire up.

If shut down right away and restarted, this does not happen.

What could this be?

I think it could do something with fuel. It gets in in bursts now continous? Hence I ask about fuel pressure regulator.

Idle control valve opens ok
All new breather hoses installed.
?