WooHoo got it going! the P.O. had installed a new cap/rotor. I have had it off at least 10 times in this process, as it turns out, the rotor diode was severed in half underneath the plastic!

That would explain the irratic spark! Man, Ive been in/under/around this car for 3 days, had that cap off 10 times, oh well issue solved...

Thanks for the help guys, Ive become quite intimate with this benz in the last few days.

Incidentally, I bought it non running, never driven it or heard it run.
It drives beautifully, maybe the nicest benz Ive ever driven. it purrs so quiet I can stand at the hood and not hear it.


dhjenkins, slk230, thanks for all the help!

DHJ, the reason I didnt think it had anything to do with top dead center is because the 2.6 engine doesnt have a conventional distributor. the cap bolts to the engine, the rotor bolts right to the end of the camshaft. there isnt any way to set it 108 out, except by advancing the wires along the cap-which i tried too...