"S" stand for on shifter?
 

"S" and "L" on shifter stand for? 1981 300d non turbo...is s for slopes..if i'm going up hill leave it here? if i go up steep hills seems to help...also, should i feel the shift points? a little jerk or shuold not feel?..kinda like it a little firmer, seemed too soft before i adjusted...thanks again everyone!!

In my SLK it stands for standard setting and the L for assistance in slippery conditions like snow and ice.

I think it locks out first gear and forces start in second and, in my case, some other things maybe not on the 81 like ABS to let you get going and moving without spinning. Perhaps locking the differential etc.

Not sure its the same from back in 81 but I bet its similar?

The s and l are like on modern cars that have 2nd and third. It is in German i think.

my guess is Low and Second.

slope... if it is in this gear when you go down a hill it will use the engine as a brake... it works really well. i think it will shift through 1, 2, and 3


low... 1st and 2nd gears only and a high shift point

I'd second that.

I'd have to say S is "super". Puts you in 3rd gear (with a 4spd) for passing or driving up or down hills, etc. Def does not put you in second gear.

L is 'low". I believe it gives you 1 & 2 only.

I think I remember reading low and slope in the manual.

I wasn't even aware they had these fancy settings on them back that far. Don't got em in my 83 unless I missed something...

my 80 SD had the "settings"

It's nothing "Fancy" at all.

S locks out 4th gear.

L locks out all gears above 2 and forces the car to max the rpm in 1 out before allowing the shift to 2.

My bad... I was thinking he was talking about a switch... as I have in the SLK... come to think of it that one might be S and W?

but a re-read tells me he was talking about the shifter itself all along. Doh! Reading is fundamental but I am hooked on Phonics...

your S and W switch is for summer and winter if you didn't know

well. I did know... but now it appears a totally off topic unrelated thing don't it? :D

Slope and Low.