Both of our SD's always start off in 1st. Mine will stay in second on rare occassion if I come off the freeway and very slowly accelerate, otherwise it always goes to first, it even does if I am coasting to a light and it goes green and I hit the pedal between 3-8mph, it will drop back to first for a moment to get going....

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'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)