Here's a new one, my 380SE starts great when it's 20 degrees or below - touch the key and it starts. If it's warmer - like in the 30's or 40's - it cranks a little bit and starts, but it runs a little rough for a few minutes. When it's arctic weather, she runs like a top. I've grown to accept it, but I'm still curious.

Hmm... I wonder how temp sensitive the OVP is ?

Here's the BIG question, are our probs fuel or electric related?

??

Hi W126,
I second rudy's suggestion. When did you have the last tune-up?
May be the fuel pressure is lower after sitting so long. Check-valves for the pumps are only about $ 11 each at Fastlane. It probably is a combination of little things that makes for a poor start when it's that cold. After all, it still starts.
Luckily, I'm in the south ...
Regards
Reinhard Kreutzer

I agree, it's probably a combination of several factors that add up to a rough start. If you doubt the existence of such things, consider how many times you've taken the car in for service with a problem, only to have it perform flawlessly for the technician. In all honesty, in my case I think it may be humidity that is the culprit. When the temperature is warmer, the air is generally more humid and the intake air is more dense. I think that gives me the rough start and the rough idle. When it's cold, no humidity. I've owned several cars that were weather sensitive to various degrees as they got older. Is it possible the cold effects your fuel lines?

I'm the second owner, so not sure about the tune-up.

The service book has been stamped by the big MB dealer in Dallas (********) so that's been taken care of -- other than that, no other receipts. Runs and drives strong, with no oil use, or anything awry.

When I bought it, it was checked over by 2 different shops, and I got a thumbs up. Of course that was years ago, so it's only a matter of time before a real "issue" crops up.

The 120k mile service is coming up soon (this spring at the earliest), so will probably have it checked out then. For now, I think we'll just live with it.

Thanks for all the info guys!