I can't recall how your cars coldstart is activated.

The main reason is that in over thirty years working on MBs I have only seen maybe two defective cold start valves and their problems were both leaking fuel. I have never seen a cold starting problem due to the cold start valve.

If any part of your problem exists when the starter is not engaged then you need to look elsewhere. I'm guessing you don't have any starting enrichment. The check is to look at EHA current during cranking.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician