u/Brave_Buddy2483

I have a 85 300SD, 145 k miles, odometer is working. I bought it from someone that had a plan for it and never got around to it. For its age it's in reasonably good shape except for the driver's seat. The driver seat you could tell the person slid in and out. I have never owned a diesel prior to this one. Sometimes it's very complicated to get and keep started, I'm in the desert so it's not the cold. Once it is started it will be rough idle/die until it warms up a little bit and then it's fine. I can then drive with no issues. What would be a solution for this?

Edit. It's the OM617 engine.