Starting issue 2002 E N16 QG15DE

I have an issue which I suspect might be fuel related.

On starting the car first thing in the morning it takes a long time to fire. Starter runs fine, you can here it trying to fire up so I presume that spark isn't an issue either. It just takes many many attempts to get the car running.

Once it starts it idles fine at 1k then drops to 800/900 rpm once it heats up. While driving around it seems to pull fine I don't notice any issues. If I stop the car and restart it it starts first time fine, if I go our for a journey then return - leave the car sitting for a couple of hours and go back out it starts runs and idles fine.

I have had no warning lights on the dash to suggest any issues?

Any help would be appreciated.

Also in addition if anyone else has a (2002 -52 plate)1.5E (QG15DE) where is the fuel filter? RIght hand side of the engine under airbox?

Because when I do a search on autofactor websites for a replacement part I am either shown a n inline filter which I cant see or this:



Which I have no idea where it goes? What I think is the filter is black plastic, long cylindrical almost like screw in styles with Tennex stamped on top of it, three pipes on the top of it one if which is a breather.

Problem resolved? I have the same issue how do you do it?