Hey all, I am newbie here and in the process of buying my first MB, it's an '89 190e 2.6 auto and when driving it yesterday I noticed around 60 mph it's running 3000 rpm....is this normal?? Some say it is, some say it isn't from what I've read on other forums......if I try manually shifting it and start in 2nd, it has great power, but if I start in Drive and mash it....seems way under powered.....guy only wants $600 for it and it's in decent shape but I don't really want to burn myself.....anything response would be greatly appreciated....stay classy......JB

If you drive in the D position the transmission will start in 2nd gear, from there count the up shifts.
If you feel two shifts 3rd and 4th, in 4th gear, the RPM reading is the true number


In position 2 the transmission starts in 1st gear from a dead stop, In the D position to command a 1st gear
Start you must active the kick down solenoid, the switch under the gas pedal. In a quit location open the
Passenger side door, with the ignition switch on, floor the gas pedal if the system is working you should hear
a hear a click in the transmission


If you don’t, the KD fuse is blown; or the gas pedal is not pushing on the switch; the switch or solenoid
Is defective, you have a break in the wire going to the solenoid.

Thanks a lot for the reply, I'll check on the kickdown solenoid operation being I'll probably end up buying the car.......Thanks again....John