I am having a discussion with a very knowledgable guy in England about when first gear start arrived in W124's from the factory.

He claims the they didn't get this until 1995.

My 1993 300E (3.2) had first gear start.

Stu Ritter, in his book, "The E Class Owner's Bible", claims valve bodies from 1989 through 1990 can be modified to have a first gear start every time, while 1991 and newer 300E's have first gear start from the factory..."

Frank Barrett writes in "The Illustrated Buyer's Guide to Mercedes Benz":

"Automatic transmissions in 1986 - 1990 cars started in second gear, but in 1991 this was changed to first gear start with a higher-ratio rear end (2.87:1 vs. the previous 3.27:1)."

From what I have learned, the '86-'90 300E was equiped with transmission 722.320. This transmission starts in second gear.

In the middle of 1989 MB started equipping the 300E with transmission 722.358, which has first gear start. However, the 722.320 continued to be fitted onto the cars well into the 1991 year when it was finally phased out. The 722.358 was eventually phased out in early 1993 when the the 3.2 liter 104.992 engine was installed.

The confusion is that the two transmissions overlap through the years. In other words the 1989-1991 models were equipped with either one of the above transmissions.

Of course the selection about which transmission would be fitted in the car was dependent upon some factors that I am not familiar with. I suspect, (but I may well be wrong on this) that it must have something to do with the rear end ratios which as we know, also were changed around this time. So, maybe the first gear start 358 tranny was fitted to the cars with the low numeric rear end ratio. The second gear start 320 tranny maybe was fitted to the higher numeric ratio cars. Again this is just a suggestion but it makes sense to me, but I am not sure about it.

By the way, the 300E with the 2.6 engine had neither of these transmissions but was equiped with the 722.4.. series.

Also the 300CE's with the 24 valve engine 104.990 cars were equipped with yet another transmission, the 722.369.

I don't believe the V8 W124's (400E, E420, 500E, E500) ever got first gear start.

Please chime in if your 1990, 1991, 1992 300E has first or second gear start.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

My late '91 (in effect '92) US model 300E had first gear start from the factory. My current 'European' '94 E300D has it too.

In the UK (and most of Europe I think) the petrol models came with a switchable auto box with 'S' or 'E' modes. I've not owned one of these but I believe the 'S' setting would start you off in 1st. The diesels don't have this feature of course.

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

My car is a 1989 300ce with the M103 engine. The transmission is the 722.358 and is 2nd gear start. I just had my transmission rebuilt and I had the option to make it a 1st gear start, but the rebuilder advised me against it. He didn't refuse to do it, just recommended I kept it the exact way it was designed. The only thing different on mine now is the he did the necessary updates.

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1989 300CE Astralsilber/Schwarz
1992 300CE Schwarz/Schwarz

My 91 300E has first gear start, and im glad. I wish the gearing was taller though....this high rpms at 75mph sucks, gas too.

My 1991 300CE has the 722.359 tranny with 2nd gear start.

glenmore
1991 300CE
1991 LS400

No problem. At a stop, shift briefly into low then back into drive. Bingo! !st gear start!

Of course, you knew that.

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62 220sb
67 250S
72 280SE 4.5
74 280C
77 300D
82 240D
85 190E 2.3
86 300E RIP 12/28/09
85 300SD
92 300D 2.5
00 E320 Current
Over 1,000,000 miles in Benzes, Since66

....and a whole passel of BMW 2002 and Tii