My 300SD operates exactly the same, and any diesel will. There's a simple explanation for that coming from the Chevron website:

"When a cold diesel engine is started (cold start), the heat of compression is the only energy source available to heat the gas in the combustion chamber to a temperature that will initiate the spontaneous combustion of the fuel (about 750°F [400°C]). Since the walls of the combustion chamber are initially at ambient temperature rather than operating temperature, they are a significant heat sink rather than a heat source. And since cranking speed is slower than operating speed, compression is also slower, which allows more time for the compressed air to lose heat to the chamber walls."

Add to that the fact that the coolant add to the heat sink effect, and the car is going to run poorly (sluggish) until it warms up a bit. I just drive mine gently for the first few blocks, and keep the shifter in a lower gear to assist in warming the engine by keeping the RPM's higher.

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Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."