Sounds more like a bad temp "feeler" (sensor) in the coolant crossover in the intake manifold. It seems that it isn't responding to engine temp.

Could be a bad wire, too, check. You must remove the air filter housing, it's on the passenger side, the connetor with a rectagular plug like the one in the air filter housing.

You may also have oil in the trigger points -- this will cause stagger and miss until the oil works off at higher temps. They are in the lower part of the distributor -- you must pull it to clean them.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!