Mine cruises at 70 mph @ 3000 rpm.
I'll have to check at 60 mph.
Mine used to start in second, but from there (rpm) the same as now.

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83 SD

84 CD

Mine also runs at 3000 rpm at 70 mph, 3500 at 80 mph... (Don't ask me how I know...)

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Mine: 1987 MB 420 SEL - 62K (Dec 2019)
Mine:1991 MB 350SDL - 244K (Aug 2011)- Totalled 9/14/2016
Mine:1981 MB 300SD - 326K mi (July 1997)-sold
Wife's: 2008 MB C300 Sport - 92K mi (April 2009)

Yes, you confirmed that the cable is working. My original premise is that the linkage went overcenter and the cable was doing nothing. This usually results in no first gear and all the other shifts being early.

I don't believe that adjusting that cable will net you much with regard to first gear. Something else is going on there...........not enough data to determine what...........

3000/70 = x/60.
x=2571.

And it still should.

If you are in D going 40 mph and select S, what happens?
If you are in S going 30 mph and select L, what happens?
If you are in L and slow from 20 mph to a full stop, how many downshifts occur?
If you are in L and accelerate from a full stop to 25 mph, how many shifts occur?

1) At 40 from D to 3 - 1 downshift
2) At 30 from 3 to 2 - 1 downshift
3) At 20 from 2 to stop (have to reconfirm, I think 1 downshift)
4) Accellerate to 25 from full stop in 2 - 2 upshifts

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This area is typically used to brag about one's current or former automobiles.

Thoughts on this?

Good to go? I still only feel 2 upshifts if i'm in D and accellerating normally

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This area is typically used to brag about one's current or former automobiles.

If you are getting a downshift when selecting 3 from D, you must be getting to 4th. If you are getting only two shifts on the way up, at what speeds do they occur? If those shifts occur at around 20 and 25 mph, seems to me that you are starting in second and not downshifting to first as should occur.

On the way in this AM, I tried accelerating with my foot to the floor and counted 3 upshifts. So was I just not aware of a soft shift at low speeds or is a full throttle acceleration the only way it starts in first for me?

Everyone's advice and thoughts have been a big help in working these gremlins out.

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This area is typically used to brag about one's current or former automobiles.

I believe that a person unfamiliar with these vehicles won't notice the 3-4 upshift unless they're deep into the pedal. The tach doesn't move much, if at all and the change in sound is minimal.

I'll bet the vehicle is functioning properly and the driver needs the tuneup.

That is entirely possible. When stopped in D or 3, the transmission should be in second gear. It should downshift into first when moving off when a slight amount of pedal is applied. (With no pedal, the car should move off in second gear.) Is your Bowden cable adjusted so that there is only the slightest amount of take-up required when pedal is applied?

The programming of the valve body is to start in second under normal driving conditions, if you stomp on it then it kicks down to first and you get all four gears.

We've had this discussion many times in the past and the conclusion is that these vehicles do not start in second gear under any circumstances unless the cable is not functioning properly.

The MB manual on the 722.3/4 transmission says otherwise.

Don't believe everything that you read.

I'm going to do a poll on it. It might be specific to a given year. Certain people swear by the second gear start...........others, including myself, have never had it occur. This cannot be a simple quirk.