The car is a 1988 W124 260E. Auto and not 4WD.

The symptoms -

After a great deal of trying it will, eventually, start. When trying to start there are a few back fires. When it eventually catches it is slow to pick up revs.

When you actually drive the car, it is inclined to stall when you put it in gear. Add some revs and it will keep going.

It has hardly any power until you get to about 1800 rpm, at that point it starts to run sweetly. If you have to stop for any reason, you have to flick it out of gear before you stop and keep the revs up.

The two ***really*** weird symptoms.

Whilst cranking the engine, the windscreen wiper will start. Not every time, you crank, perhaps half of the time. No, I'm not touching the stalk.

The electric cooling fan will sometimes start whilst cranking it and yes, I do mean with a stone cold engine!

Dunno if those two things are relevant but I thought they were worth mentioning.

So folks, there ya go. Any ideas on what's needed to make my darling M-B sweet again? Hope it's nothing expensive, 'cos I ain't rich!

Thanks for your help.

Simon.