My 97 E300 Diesel has just started to start hard after sitting overnight. The car has a history of the infamous fuel leaks, and sticking resonance flaps.
The hard starting is akin to the cranking that is necessary after changing the fuel filters. The cranking engine sounds like no fuel or air in the system.
There has been on again/ off again weeping of fuel at the shutoff valve. It drips a few drops, then quits and is dry.
When the hard start happens, the ETS Traction warning indicator comes on.
After much cranking, it starts and runs fine. On subsequent starts after driving, it momentarily stumbles after start up.

Any ideas on what may be going on???

It sounds that you still have issues with leaking fuel lines. Anywhere that fuel leaks out, air is leaking in to replace it. That air can cause the injection pump to loose prime resulting in extended cranking times. It's likely that the ets is recognizing a low voltage condition during the extended cranking time. It's fault memory should be checked to confirm this, and cleared after fixing the fuel leaks and ensuring the battery has a good charge.

Thanks. Looks like its time to pull the manifolds and find out what is going on with the lines. Right now though there is no fuel smell nor signs of leaks.