The S/E swicth on my Euro 500 Se did not work. When I took the tranny out to reseal it I found the vacuum line to it pluged so that it always starts in first gear which is all right with me.The way mine works is that the switch on the concil is ele. that goes to a vacuum solinoid then to a vacuum line on the right side of the tranny to a unit that controls whether it starts in first or second.The solinoid on mine had been removed.

I can't see any real advantage to starting in second other than driving on ice or snow as you still have to get weight movimg and to my way of thinking you are better off starting in first in a car that has the gear ratios as well matched to the engine as MB dose plus it's more fun........

William Rogers.......