Significance of "first gear start"?
 

I have seen this phrase in various places on the forum and wondered what the significance of "first gear start" is. Do most Benzes start in second? What's the advantage of starting from first?

Many did. Fuel Economy I guess. You could still start in first with some shift gyrations.
First gear start introduced on W124's in '91 or '92. Models with the electronic transmissions have a Winter / Summer shift button. Winter starts in 2nd and shift points are altered.

Steve

Thanks, Steve.

First gear
 

Hay Dee8go,first gear in my 420 is an as- kicker, just had to try it out once I found out how to get it,this thing dose a darn good job off the line from 2nd, but push the gear lever to the right and once in the lower area of the selector and look out Louie.it really gets up and is gone. I did not mash it for tire squeal but you will notice a heck of a lot more g force.JNT:dizzy2:

More on first gear start...
 

Tom,

The US specification 560 coupes and sedans came from the factory with 2nd gear start and a vacuum operated "economy" guage" on the dashboard along with the VERY lazy 2:47 limited slip diff. It was supposed to provide for a slower, more economical start, and provide a bit more traction in winter conditions.

The Euro specification 560 W126 cars had an S/E (sport and economy) switch on the console which let you choose which you wanted; "Sport" was lst gear start, and "economy" was 2nd gear start.

Here's a picture of a Euro S/E switch that was installed by Satish on a US spec 560SEC (Scroll halfway down the page)
http://www.mbcoupes.com/euroconversion/conversion.htm

You'll probably never see another one like this vehicle. Forum member and W126 expert, Jonathan Hodgcock who owns Blue Ridge Mercedes down Atlanta way owns that car now, (I have seen it, in Las Vegas, when the PO had it) and I can assert it's maybe the nicest and best equipped 560SEC in the country. If you could persuade him to cut loose of it, it's the best 560SEC you could find at any price ( save perhaps Satish's 560SEC V12 conversion maybel)

I feel lucky to have purchased one of the Bergwerks First gear start kits before Bergwerks shut down a few years ago.

After a while I got used to it, it gives you instant power when you start up, if you want it, yet I am used to going easy on the gas in snowy wet or slushy conditions of winter, so I'm a fan of the modification. I paid Bergwerks $250 for the FGS kit, including tax/shipping and it was worth every cent.

I'm unaware of anyone in the states offering the kit now, maybe Jonathan could be persuaded to do a run one day, it would be a hit, but I think he's busy on a 560 SEC tri - Y euro headers project, I think.

Per my signature, the Euro headlights, lowering springs, and lst gear start are the only mods of note, that I have on my car. Each of them paid off well in driving enhancement and pleasure.

Other things, like Sheepskin seat covers, cupholders, burlwood gearshift knobs, uprated stereo, and things like that are just matters of personal preference.

There's a procedure, though, that you can follow to make your U.S. specification 560SEC , 2nd gear start equipped, actually start in 1st gear.
It involves moving the level and then dropping the gearshift knob down to lst gear, someone here who knows more than me can explain it, so you'll know when you finally have your own 560SEC

There's often confusion about the S/E switch on the console, especially with the term "Sport."

Mercedes also referred to the "S" as Standard, which meant that the transmission behaved like the normal one, with 2nd gear start. The "E" stood for Economy, which also had a 2nd gear start, but would shift sooner into 3rd and 4th for fuel economy.

Jim and MTI perfect explanation (also the truth to the matter)

What timing! I received this broadcast to one of my public e-mail addresses a few days ago:

http://www.fgsswitch.com/

First time I ever appreciated getting spam ... ;)
It's going to be resulting in a sale, for my 560SL.

What a poorly written brochure. It reads like a bad translation from Chinese from 20 years ago.

That may be true, if arguably ... though I don't think it compares to the 'engrish' I've seen on eBay recently. Example::dizzy2: :P
I want my wood famously real ... and what about those who had their gallbladders removed?

I have a few Euro W126 first gear start valve bodies. I plan to disassemble one side by side my extra stock US second gear start body to find out exactly what the difference is... Of course pictures will be taken and items noted.

My guess, not much. Would not be very economic for MB to radically alter the valve body. The SDL I own also starts in first gear, so there could be another option for anyone interested. As I recall from my 722 shop book, the governor assembly for the specific motor is in the tailshaft.

I've build enough domestic valve bodies over the years that this procedure does not bother me. The MB valve body takes maybe 15min to remove.

Look for this info later this summer. First candidate will be my 300SEL.

A friend who rebuilds Mercedes transmissions says there is a piston and spring in the valve body that controls first gear start depending on which side of the piston the spring is located (or spring may be absent altogether). I have also seen a diagram in the archives that shows this. Look for a post by JoeR back in June 2005.

It would be nice to have the option though of switching from first to second gear start for winter driving.

I've heard that also, it's in out of the outer bores. It should be an easy thing to find if it holds true.

The MB 722 book I have is VERY blunt to make sure you know where the valve body springs go.

First gear start mod
 

My '89 190E 2.6 was converted to 1st gear start about 1992 by removing the spring behind the kickdown piston in the valve body. Instructions came from MBUSA and the job was done by the shop foreman at my dealer while I watched. I carried that itty-bitty spring in a bag in the car for years.

Is it the same as the picture in question? :confused: