The fuel pressure regulator is usually the culprit in a fault like you describe. My tech advised me that this part is one of the FEW badly designed elements on the M119 engine. Most of the engine is bullet-proof and will last forever.

It has a very fragile membrane that brakes easily and when this happens tends to flood cylinder No. 8. Hence, when you start the car it hesitates for a few seconds while it burns the excess fuel accumulated on that cylinder.

How to tell if this part is the problem? Your problem when starting should happen after driving the car and then letting the engine sit off for about 10 minutes or more. If you turn off the engine and turn it on right away it should start fine.

It is not an expensive part, as you posted before, although as far as I understand, when changed, the computer codes need to be reset.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]