90 420sel: starter seems fine, but it takes 8+ cranks to engage fuel

[moodkitten]

Hi, guys (I think i can safely say it's mostly testosterone-driven here!!)!

I picked up a SWEEEEEEET 1990 420sel a few weeks ago.

This beast is champagne outside, chocolate brown inside and in IMMACULATE condition...from the leather to the absence of dings and dents on the body.

I paid $1570 cash for it.
The guy said "he had traded his father-in-law a mattress and bedroom set for it".

Uh-huh. Right.

124K on the odometer.
He even filled up the tank with premium when we swapped cash/car.

I was going mad in a Ford Exploder (not my choice) and thought, who wouldn't?

1. The Blaupunkt (plug and pull) doesn't work, but the wiring behind has a positive charge.
2. Sunroof doesn't seem to work.
3. Cruise control doesn't seem to work.
4. Alarm doesn't seem to work.
5. Idles excessively high, i.e., i can literally coast through the residential areas without having to press the gas pedal...90% of the time the read-out is "Economy".
6. Turns over great, but the fuel just didn't seem to be getting fired correctly.
7. Worse on colder days. I've noted that if it was 100 outside, started up pretty fast. If it's less than 85, I've got to make 6 or more tries. If it's less than 70, it takes 10-12 tries.
8. Changed all spark plugs. That made the eventual ride smoother. It still didn't address initial start-up.
9. I removed the air filter and it started up right away and still idles high.

I bet this is a 20-second answer. It is an hour-long diatribe for me! LOL.

Thanks.
k