Methods and apparatus for enhancing a search performance for timing includes a mobile station that detects a plurality of signals, each from one of a plurality of cells, wherein one of the plurality of cells is identified by the mobile station as a strong cell and the remaining cells are identified by the mobile station as weak cells. A first matched filter is applied to a signal from the strong cell to detect first parameters associated with the strong cell. A second matched filter is applied to at least one signal from one or more of the weak cells resulting in at least one second matched filter output. Interference is removed from the at least one second matched filter output to detect one or more second parameters associated with one of the weak cells and to establish a timing of one of the weak cells.