Significance of "first gear start"?

[Dee8go]

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?

[softconsult]

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

[Dee8go]

Thanks, Steve.

[just-n-time]

Originally Posted by Dee8go

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?

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

[Jim B.]

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

[MTI]

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.

[mbc43amg]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

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.

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.

[deanyel]

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

[mbc43amg]

That may be true, if arguably ... though I don't think it compares to the 'engrish' I've seen on eBay recently. Example:

- Adopt outstanding improve ultra to recommend work set the circuit free while being getting linear.
- Grade has enlarged the circuit for SRPP ago, have made the one machine loud and wide , distorted and little frequently.
- Output transformer is it import audio frequency special-purpose silicon steel sheet (0.35mm ) and high strength high-quality enameled wire and special to is it make craft make to wind to adopt.
- Machine this adopt foreign famous-brand special-purpose to Hifi grade electrolytic having polarity electric capacity and high-quality Third Ring Road money to hinder and make stereo, the main sound channel selects for use and imports the special-purpose volume electric potential device.
- This machine use grade gallbladder *7 of 12As not famous with behind grade use by gallbladder the EL84s and top-grade English walnut side board not wooden not real not famous.

I want my wood famously real ... and what about those who had their gallbladders removed?

[cool]

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

[babymog]

I never minded the 2nd-gear start in my '91 (300TE 4matic, sold in '96). To start in first gear without flooring it, you run the shifter from drive to 2 and back, it stays idling in first.