engine/vibration problems

[Hocky]

When I cold start, the steering wheel vibrates a bit and the rev counter fluctuates around 900 rpm + / - say 5 or even less, but you can see the movement of the needle . That is very little fluctuation, but the engine sound varies with the peaks. The usual RRrrrr has the ERrrr, ERrr, ERrr whenever the peaks come on every second. Does this sound very familiar to any of you guys out there
Otherwise the car is ok. When it is warm after a good run, this sound and vibration seems to go away or I get used to it or because the doors and windows are closed anyway and I can't hear it.
The only other thing I am still baffled about is the sharp jerk from 1st to 2nd, or is it 2nd to 3rd? Mine starts from 1st with the "S" selected, or 2nd with the "E" selected. I know everyone tells me it was designed to be that way, but it just does not explain why other makers got away without it and why Benz couldn't find the more user friendly way at that time(around the Cat system) instead of this rude jerk which is very annoying and embarassing with friends/passengers more used to other makes without this HICCUP. My car is a 1994 Euro C180 auto.