Don't cycle the glow plugs like people recommend or do on the older diesels. Go through your normal sequence, but when the glow plug light goes off, don't do anything different. The glow plugs are still glowing and getting hotter. They glow up until 180 seconds or so, (you'll know when the glow plug relay kicks off as the dash lights get a little brighter :-) ). I usually waited at least another 20 seconds or so, I seriously counted 20 seconds prior to cranking, giving ample time for things to warm up prior to firing. Mine usually fired up without an issue, but it would and does nail like hell when it's that cold. My last winter prior to moving down South :-)

Mine will fire within the first few revolutions after glowing so long. In those temps you'll waste more battery energy cranking the engine longer, rather than glowing a little longer prior to cranking. I'll never forget, the last time my car was in those temps it was either 4 or -4 fahrenheit on the digital cluster. I let it glow around as long as I stated and it fired on the second revolution and came to life. Wooooom Woooooom, clank clank clank clank :-)



Regarding the sputtering, etc... I would say it could be in relation to the injectors ... i.e. calibration, etc....

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'97 E300
'99 E300