Got the 1984 190d 5 speed fired back up...Been sitting close to two years now
 

Put in a set of good glow plugs and ran it from an aux fuel bottle and she fired over. I had to take the intake manifold off in order to get to the gp's. Makes a w123 model engine bay look spacious in comparison. The intake was right over the access to the glow plugs. I am sure other 190d owners have found another way to get to them but it seemed the most logical route after trying in vain for 20 minutes.

79Mercy took a great video of the engine fired over without the intake manifold attached. Man it was ear splitting and sparks were shooting out. I guess it was carbon being ejected :). I stuffed a rag in one ear, held a finger in the other and worked the throttle with my free hand. What a hoot!!!!

Where can I post the video?

Did you get the video? im not sure if my phone sent it, but if you did post it to youtube and then link it here.

If sparks were coming out you may have valve sealing issues.

Does this link work for everyone?

Mercedes 190d 2.2 non turbo starting with fresh glow pugs - YouTube

Well i think my friend Tom is rushing that valve business a bit. I think anytime an engine sits for a long time, and then you start it up without an exhaust, I am sure you will have some fireworks and of course a heck of a lot of noise.

He said the intake manifold was removed, not the exhaust.