FWIW, my 280E had the same problem.

I was talking to one of the older tech's at Don Pool last week about cold start problems, and he mentioned that there was a kit mostly used on the K-Jet 4.5's that would pulse the cold start valve on a hot start. This was used to combat vapor lock. He said he would check his files. I will make it a point to talk to him next week.

If you wanted to test this theory, you could easily rig a push-button switch to put 12V to the valve for a second or two and see if that helps. You have replaced everything that could leak down.

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe