Why do 4spd Autos have a D-S-L shifter?

[KirkVining]

I guess this is really a triva questions. My 83 280SL has a 4spd auto. But the shift lever only shows D-S-L. When I want better performance, I can slip into "S" and it will cause the car to always start from 1st, then it lets 2nd wind out a little more than usual, and then I can feel it pop into third around 50, and I get a fantastic improvement in acceleration. If I manually shift it into D from over 50 MPH, I can feel it pop into 4th. Does anyone know why Mercedes didn't set up the shifter 1-2-3 D ? Do any of the 4spd Autos come set up like that?

[DavidSoine]

I suspect because 99.99% of their customers just put it in "D" and drive the car...

I have come to love "sport" mode in the auto transmissions we have...tho I think on the 87 I don't get a first gear start unless I move the shifter across to "B" then back up.

...come to think of it, I guess that is a 1-2-3-D shifter, isn't it? Sort of.

best,

Dave

[KirkVining]

I looked at an 87 560SL, and it had the 1-2-3 Drive configuration. Now I'm worried my car has the wrong shifter.

[demain]

It's the right shifter. I have the same in my 280 SLC and my old W116 280SE was also the same. I often use the S range for throwing the car around on the twisty hills here in Wellington, NZ. I even get into the L position for the odd hairpin corner (yes, we do have those here.. lots of them in fact!) Great fun. Getting the SLC out of D makes the car feel about half the weight!

[ned2683]

for some reason i thought S stands for "Second" as in 2nd gear. now come to think of it it didn't make much sense since it holds it in 3rd.

so does S stand for Sport? and L stand for Low?

[fahrgewehr2]

S stands for slope and L for low. S might also stand for Stadt, but I cant think of what L would stand for in that case. B stands for engine braking? maybe.

[David Langsam]

My '88 560sl has D 3 2 B. Pretty sure the manual said it stood for bottom.

Daivd

[Walrus]

Yes... The "B" stands for engine braking... It is recommended that when descending steep grades, down-shift the tranny, rather than heat up the brakes...

Along the same lines... Does anyone here know where the sales info can be found for the "B" module to activate 1st gear during normal operation. For those not aware, My 560SL, 1988 (and other years I understand) is designed to normally take off in second gear. Engaging the "B" switch, and manually shifting will allow an operator to take off in first, which is quite a rush with 279lbft of torque on tap at 3250rpm...

[KirkVining]

Does anyone know if the 4 spd shifter found in the 560 can be adapted to the 4spd auto in the 280 SL? I found one in a 560SL in a junkyard that got hit by a dump truck. BTW- it was an interesting wreck, because the rear frame bent straight up in a way that almost looked like it was by design for it to do so in order to absorb impact, and it looked like the driver probably survived.

[cbdo]

For Walrus (and anyone else who's interested), the first-gear-start module comes from Bergwerks, accessible online. The install took me (no expert) about an hour, and it's a very nice addition!

[Walrus]

Thanks...