Hello i am a new member to this site and am based in the uk. i have recently purchased a 1996 e280 mercedes benz and have a problem with it.
Every time i try to start the car it takes quite a while before the engine catches and starts.I also sometimes experience no start at all, i put the key in and all that happens is the ignition lights come on, but have nothing from the engine. If i change selection on the auto box sometimes it will restart.
I was advised that it could be the inhibitor switch on the gearbox.
please can someone help!

can someone also tell if these vehicles come with a rev limiter, as when the car is in park or neutral and i rev to 4000 revs the needle does not want to go beyond this point.
I would be grateful if anyone could help.

Yes the cars have a rev limiter in park and neutral, which wont allow the car to rev past 4000 Rpm its to protect the engine its a little different when its under load but reving at no load could damage the engine, it sounds like a backfire slash turbo waste gate dump ?

Thank you Andrew for that information.
If anyone can help with the other starting problem i have i would very much like to hear from you.