I see the term flaring at lot when talking about problems with the transmission...what is it?

Also, should my 87 300TD start in 1st gear all the time or was it designed for 2nd gear starts? All of my other MB's have always started in 1st. I can't tell for sure if its starts in 1st or 2nd, and the off the line performance seems the same if I put the tranny down to "3" or "2". (shifting to "3" or "2" will hold each gear longer on my w111's)

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1970 280SE Cab
1983 300D Euro 4-speed
past MB's:
1971 280SE 3.5 s/r
1981 300D
1985 300TD
1987 300TD

Remember the feel with a manual transmission when the clutch was worn
almost completely out? (slipping)
Your car should shift "crisply" (without endangering your teeth)

I don't know if the '87 was a 1st gear start tranny (maybe a 722.3?)
GSXR would know

usually you will see a spike in your RPM's with no noticeable difference in acceleration.

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Frank
84 500SEL EURO 101K ( JUST LIKE MY 1ST WIFE. GLAD TO GET RID OF HER! )
85 300D 310K (sold)
90 350SDL 184K sold
83 300D 118K (sold)
88 300E 153k (sold)
93 400E 105K (sold)

I believe it starts in 1st gear. The best way to tell is come to a dead stop on an onramp and count the gear shifts as you accelerate up to highway speeds. Remember to count the gear you start in (eg. 3 shifts = 4 gears)Even the 124 is a bit slow off the line so I doubt MBZ used second gear starts on any diesels.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold