I have been driving my w124 around for a few weeks now and I just now noticed that 95% of the time it starts from a stop in second gear. Is this normal?

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2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins - Georend fully built trans, Banks Big Hoss Bundle, Smarty Tuner, 5" turbo back exhaust. 500 HP and 1100 ft/lbs to the ground.
1979 Mercedes-Benz 300CD - Lost to a four car pile up on 275, Thank You Michigan Drivers.
1986 Mercedes-Benz 300D - Sold, Euro non-turbo car.

I believe so. It was a comfort "feature" to stop creeping and reduce the brake pedal effort to keep it still.

It should go into first if you floor the accelerator or shift it into L.

On later cars (like W140 on up) there is a W/S (winter/summer) toggle switch near the shifter gate. If in the W position the car will always start in second gear.

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~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net