Disclaimer: I only know what I'm about to say from experience and recent reading up on this FI and Ign system. I haven't been formally trained on Bosch products. The information your about to read may only be worth what you paid for it. But it makes sense to me.

The MAF sensor doesn't do anything during starting. The DME uses the Ambeint Air Temp (the one displayed on you inst cluster) for starting. The inst cluster forwards the value to the DME for starting only. I proved it to myself the other day. I pulled the entire tube out, MAF included. It started and died right away.

After not starting for 10-15 mins of cranking you may have been a little flooded. It leads me to believe, since it did actually start, swapping relays at the very least helped.

Has the problem come back since switching them?

Additionally, I have found several Vacuum leaks since I started trouble shooting the problem. Specifically, the Blue hose running from the vacuum switch to the secondary air pump, the white hose running from the vacuum res to the vacuum switch, and the oil drain line from the air/oil separator. I suspect you may also have some vacuum leaks.

Vacuum leaks cause the DME to think the engine is pumping more air than the MAF is sensing. It is being told by the O2 sensors it has a lean mixture. This causes the DME to operate out of the "closed loop" giudelines programmed into the DME. This causes the DME to enrichen the mixture; But, only after the 2-3 second start up.

Closed loop means the values being sent to the DME are within the parameters the DME is expecting to see. It can go to sleep because everything else is doing it's job. If the values are out of the parameters (open loop) the DME has to work very hard adjusting spark timing and fuel mixture

I don't think your starting problem is a result of the fan. For the first start of the day your Electronics Box should be stone cold. I would only suspect the fan if your problem consisted of running on a long trip, shutting it off, and then it not restarting or for the "Auto Shut Off" feature.

If the relays haven't fixed it I would start looking at the ignition switch.

My two cents.