sluggish acceleration when gas is floored (ML 320)
 

When I push down on the gas the vehicle feels like it is bucking like a horse and thirsting for acceleration. It also does not like to cold start, it shuts off.

A much better tech will be able form experience to guide you,

having said that, when my AMM was going bad and before it set the Check Engine Light on my car, what you described were the symptoms of a bad AMM - air mass meter - on my C230.

If yiou have an AUTOZONE store around go there and see if they can pull codes from your OBDII outlet. These codes can help lead you to determine the probelm.

Ray, you may be right, but why do you say stay away from Autozone, they just connect and start the car and read off the codes. And they do it no charge.