I have 4 1985 300D Turbodiesels. They all start easily.
I have 1 1991 300SE and it does not start. It is amazing how many things can go wrong to make it not start or run properly. All of those things do not exist in the 1985 Turbodiesels.

Working on the 300SE makes me love the simplicity of the older 300D Turbodiesels.