W123 slug - suggestions?
 

Any help would be appreciated here.

my W123 280 E 1980 is lovely at speed, cruises great, but takes off like a slug.

i know it starts in second, but it is still ridiculously slow.

i know there could be a million reasons, but what is the wisest way to start on the trail by process of elimination?

commencing with the cheapest option?

many thanks
kmc

Does the engine race and it goes no where or do the engine revs stay low and slowly increase.

Engine type please, assume M110 DOHC, carb or FI?

the engine is really slow to gather revs, and blows a little soot when the auto-enrich is on, (i.e. when cold) but runs clean when warm.

(yes M110 DOHC, CI Inj'tn.)

The proper approach would be to start with a compression test. Look at the spark plugs while they are out, if black and sooty, the engine is running too rich, if white, too lean. If compression is good, check camshaft timing marks, followed by checking ignition timing. If everything up to now is good, you need to find someone with an exhaust analyzer and start from there.

Good luck,