Hi Guys,
Please forgive a lengthy post with lots of questions but I'm really desperate for answers as you wiill see.

I live in Australia and 2nd owner of a 1997 C200 that has 88,000 miles (140,000 km). I've done about half of that.

Now the car won't accelerate until the engine temp guage is halfway up, and until then it is practically undrivable. When the engine is warmed up basic driving is almost normal but it still lacks responsiveness to rapid acceleration, sometimes misfirng in the process. I realise a possible cause is the AMM and I've searched the forum to become acquainted with most of the issues.

The car has just undergone a routine service and I asked the MB dealer to check it. He says it is "probably" the AMM and the cost of the part is equivalent $730 USD, and another $70 USD for fitting. I didn't go ahead with the replacement and after the routine service the car is still the same. I have since found out that I can get the AMM from the local parts distributor at retail price $380 USD, and I accept that this is reasonable for my part of the world. I may be able to do even better somewhere else.

The MB dealer didn't reveal the codes he obtained, and I'm not sure if design rules here require OBDII or whether he used the MB service computer.

OK!, ... now for the questions:

1. Is this likely to be the AMM or could it be something else such as O2 sensor?

2. Is there some way I can absolutely confirm it is AMM before I purchase a new one?

3. If I replace the AMM myself, how do I release the electrical connector since it is difficult to separate and I don't want to break it?

4. If the AMM is the culprit and I replace it, will normal performace be returned fairly quickly without having to reset the codes?

For future reference:
A. Does the Australian C200 have OBDII?
B. Which interface standard does it use?
C. Where can I get a suitable do-it-yourself diagnostic scanner tool?

Any help will be most appreciated.

ClassicGuy