Any links to the early non turbo Diesels starting off in second gear ? .

A guy I know insists all Mercedes four speed automatics start off in first gear, anyone who's owned one knows better .

TIA,

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Don't tell him...you'll know something he doesn't ��

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

That wasn't helpful, he passed that stage .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Okay ;

I'm trying to scan the pertinent page of the 1979 Mercedes' 300TD owner's manual P.45

It says " "D"

Drive all gears are available, 1st gear can only be engaged by means of kickdown .

Position "D" affords optimum driving characteristics under all normal operating condition ."

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

3 speed starts in 1st. 4 speed starts in 2nd. You can make it start in 1st by shifting to L then back to D when parked then it'll start in 1st.

Thanx .

I shared the driver's manual info with him, we'll see what happens next .

I wasn't aware any W123's came with three speed automatics .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Nope ~ he now understands how it works but still refuses to say "I was wrong" .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

They did not.

The 722.0 was used with V8s, was essentially the same box as the 722.1 & 722.2 (four speeds), but with a valve body that disabled 1st gear. Hence, it was referred to as a "three-speed"; 2nd, 3rd, & 4th.

Thanx Frank ~

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

my '79 starts in 2nd

I know this is a request relative to MY1979, but is there a listing of years/models that do/don’t have this? At least in theory as they were delivered.

None of my w123/124/126 cars do this.

I’m buying a 190D and the owner had his AT modified for 1st gear start, so obviously some of those did….

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)

Mid 1981 model year was when first gear starts began .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

What is the other purpose of first gear?

The idea was to reduce fuel consumption as W123 Diesels were being sold to the upper class as economy cars, the price of Diesel fuel then was less than half of gasoline in the U.S.A. .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Apparently you've never driven one then as it does indeed start off in second gear make no mistake .

I had several of these and shifting into L for a moment whilst waiting for the red light started them off in first gear, you're correct in that they up shifted *very* quickly, within 30 feet or so but every little bit helped.

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better