Any one know if it is possible to get it to start in first gear WITHOUT putting the shift lever in "2" once the vehicle has stopped?? Thanks, Dan

www.bergwerks.com

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I put a clone of this in my car, and I really like it. My opinion, this is the best $ value improvement in performance (not HP, but "feel") that you can get. It will, however, hurt gas mileage a bit. I can't say if this is because of the first gear start or that I enjoy going fast more with it, and my foot gets "heavier". I can easily turn mine off - but because I drive only in dry warmish weather, I never do.

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86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

More info on the 'clone' ???
Thank you in advance

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DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!

I imagine you have a 722.4XX transmission. Bergwerks has a page on their site for a valve body modification. Unfortunately, I've waited a long time for this page to be completed.

I do believe that the change is a simple mod to the valve body. Maybe as simple as moving one spring. I've never been able to find the details.

I did run across a place on the net that does this mod. I don't remember who it was but it was unreasonably expensive, about $200-$300 if you sent your valve body in for the simple mod.

Please keep us posted on your progress.

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2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560

Changing a valve body (722.3 and 722.4) from second gear start to first gear start is just a matter of spring location.

Insert the spring before the "governer pressure boost valve" and the trans will start off in first gear.

Install the valve before the spring and the trans will start off in second gear.

Hope this helps.

David

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I looked at Bergwerks' website, and figured out what their first gear start was doing - basically, looking at the speedometer pulses and energizing/deeneergizing the transmission solenoid depending on the speed (this is what you do when you go to "B" on the shifter). I thought it would be neat to build one similar in function to it, so I did. Slightly tricky aspects are cleaning up the speedometer pulses (the voltage is not computer compatible) and designing a switch that can handle the solenoid current, about an amp (I was conservative, and I used a relay). I considered making a "production" unit (I actually did this, using a more common and less expensive processor) and selling it but I think that there are too many liability factors for me to want to get involved with it. The Bergwerks unit is fairly priced, considering what it does.

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86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

I know the basics ...All I want to figure out is what kind of decoder I can use to tranfer pulses/frequency to voltage so I can control the kickdown solenoid.
I do not mind buying the 1st start kit from Bergwerks,It's just the electronics is my hobby and I'll enjoy doing it myself.

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DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!

With due respect to the Bergwerks folks, the thing to consider is offering it as a kit and/or for off-road use only. You probably don't expect to retire off this idea so there's no profit motive. It's water under the bridge now that you've documented your concern but the key thing most folks can't figure out for themselves is the speed trigger. Someone with your knowledge and skills might offer a settable speed trigger circuit to lock the doors, turn on DRLs, turn up stereo volume or something innocuous like that. That it can be used to disengage the kickdown or first gear start solenoid is a curious side-effect. Imagine that

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I asked them about this and they replied to me that it wasn't for the 6 cyl. Too bad because the 1st gear start would really help the car.

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Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.