Water in the fuel, 1991 300Sl

[Robert Deming]

I have been having a lot of trouble with water in the gasoline/ethanol fuel of my 300SL. If I leave it parked for a week or more, I can drive it for about 5 minutes, then it stumbles and stalls for about 5 more minutes until I get the water pumped through. I'm pretty sure the problem is due to phase separation, because I didn't have it until Washington State mandated ethanol in our fuel.

I have two other cars which I occasionally leave parked for periods as long as five weeks with no trouble re-starting and running at the end of the period.

Is there a peculiarity of the K-Jetronic injection system which makes it particularly susceptable to water? Or, is there something about the tank and fuel lines of the R129 which makes it collect/concentrate water? Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what have you done to correct it or live with it?

All suggestions gratefully received.