Here's a question for your question - why do you think somebody bothered to put a 'red line' on your tach? Why did they put a red line on your temperature gauge? If there was no risk to your vehicle running it over those limitations, why do you think they would bother?

First gear is just there to get you going from a stop - imho you should only select 1st if you are planning to do that, otherwise 2nd will do and the damage to the gearbox is minimised. Shoving it into 1st at 20 m/h will kill the box, sooner or later.

Maybe you should sell your car to your friend?

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1991 300 SEL
218,000 Km

"Xsbank's rules of mechanical intervention: Always go for the easiest solution first; 90% of what ails a gasoline engine is ignition; After that its all a WAG."