Suginami, pay close attention to this fact:

My 1995 E 320 T has second gear start (original 4-speed auto transmission fitted as an option).

When ther car was ordered from Germany, most W/S124 were fitted with an standard five-speed manual transmission. The automatic option offered two transmissions to choose from: the traditional four-speed auto with second gear start and an optional five-speed auto with first gear start.

Since the car was ordered fully optioned, originally the five-speed auto transmission was included. Then the salesman recommended to stick with the regular four-speed auto since it had better gear response for mountaneous driving conditions (as we have here in Costa Rica) according to M-B bulletins. So, he proceeded to delete the option. Later, I regreted it deeply, since I HATE the second gear start, and the five-speed auto had from factory first-gear start. The optional five speed auto carried a premium of about US$800 over the original four-speed auto (which by itself added about US$2,000 to the sticker price).

I guess that is where most of the confusion sorrounds first or second gear start on W124s automatics. Most world markets (including Germany) offered the traditional four-speed (second-gear start) as optional fitting on most models up until the demise or end of the series. Maybe as a cost saving measure???

In some special markets like the U.S., England, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Emirates, etc., the five speed auto was fitted standard on most W124 models sold there (unlike Germany and the rest of the world) making all of these cars first-gear starters. I am sure the four speed auto was considered obsolete for these special markets, where the US$2,800 premiun was just added to the original sticker without any worries that might scare customers on these wealthy regions.

As I understand, the five speed optional transmission with first gear start was also ONLY available to six-cylinder models (i.e. E 280 / E 320) from 1993 up. ALL diesels and four-cylinder (E 220 / E 220) W124 models came only with the four speed-second gear start automatic if an auto transmission was ordered over the standard fitted manual transmission.

So, in conclusion:

The five-speed auto with first gear start was fitted to E 280 / E320 models only from 1993 until the W124 finished its production as an optional item for most markets. Special markets had this transmission fitted as standard from 1993 on.

The four speed auto auto with second gear start was fitted to most W124s (four and six cylinder gas engines and ALL diesels) from its original production date up to the end of it.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]