High idle is likely same cause different symptom:
IE high idle can be due to dirty ICV, vac lines old and cracked, throttle body dirty, etc Engine and computer likey trying to compensate for something else that has set and is not operating up to standard. Hard start could easily be caused by bad or dirty injector as a result of sitting for a time. Also, the cold start valve, which is really another fuel injector that injects directlyin to the intake for fast start when cold could aslo either be dirty, bad, or leaking. SO, many of the things that you are annoyed about could be from lack of use and varnish or gum accumulating or just being dirty from use and age and sitting undriven. See why it could benefit from a long highway speed drive, it heats things up, burns of bad gas and blockages and gummed up injector system. You might find something fixed after the drive and if you dont, it was still fun.
Note: Cheveron Techtron gas has a small amount of the same cleaner Techron, that I want you to buy and use periodically in your fuel tank, say at least once a year or twice, you dont drive it much, I have done it as often as every 3 months in my 16v with no negitive results, only a fast clean, nicely handling engine.
PS - My pride and joy, 1986 2.3-16v doesnt always start right up on the first key turn either and I paid a bit over 3 times what you paid for your new baby to get this one is such good condition from Florida, big deal. I could be an endless search to finally get all the possible reasons sorted out to get it to guarantee it starts on the first turn. Who cares, it is running well, all else is within specs, valves set correctly and babied with tons of new parts casue I like to turn wrenches. Just drive it.

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

I will give it Chevron no problem gas station is 2 blocks away so its the closest...

Thanks will work on more vac hoses when I can peel back the ignition wires away
Not touching them til I have new
rubber connection on dius boots is old I can see one cracked

Like to find that icv & clean it
think its about a $100 part can't remember

Oh it starts cold like a champ even after days
right up fast & strong almost immediate
Never had a car start like it does

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

Order some parts like that vac hose on line as long as MB doesn't have it
sometimes its alot cheaper sometimes not much

Tranny thing is scary
Don't know about that...

Hope its nothing serious...

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

CS,
If it starts right up cold, the cold start valve is likely good. When it snorts the extra fuel in the chamber it cant help but start right up. After the computer registers a warm or hot engine, the cold start valve is taken out of operation to avoid a too rich mixture.

If you icvis only $100 I am jeolous, mine for a 190E is about $200 to $240 for OEM new

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Don't feel jealous
I just looked it up and it may not be OEM
Says retails for $700
there price $213

must have though of anotherpart

Trouble w my car is I can't look up 83 500 sec
I have to either do 83 380 sec or 84 500 sec
then there is the chance the part won't be right
So I can't gamble w $200 parts

part says for 3.8/5.0
so I might look up 83 380 & see if part is same

Well, ICV is same on 2 years so guess thats it


http://www.germanimportedparts.com/Order/PartDescription.aspx?PartNumber=000-141-1225&linecode=141

Ignition wires is a different thing

Guess I;ll have to find it & cllean it but its hiding



I got the tecrron conc
walked to the corner to get it
hate to fuss with that stuff at the pump
So now I have the dilemna
got about 3/4 tank & this stuff treats 20 galx
So I got to figure out qnty of techron conc..
or dump it all in & leave it concentrated or top it off with a few gal.

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

Whew! The tranny was way low...Bad Charlie, BAB,Bad Charlie....I should have checked it before driving down to Valencia. Took the spark plugs out and replaced them with the correct ones, the old ones were Bosch, but have the numbers and letters RO 836. I don't know what this translates too. The old ones are not that bad, all have the nice brownish white color. but the sharp corners of the electrodes are now rounded and the gap was too big.

While I had the Air cleaner off, I did the carbcleaner trick on all the vacuum connections I could see and no increase in rpm's. noticed that some had newer rubber conn. than others so some have been replaced.

Maybe my cold start valve is bad, because it'll never start and stay running with just the key. However this morning it was cool out and it did start and stay running, so maybe it works. ??? I'm getting weary chasing this stalling out and not starting.

It ran pretty good today going down the mountain.

I have an OPR coming this week.