A true test is to put the selector in 2 and it should start in 1st. If you floor it and it does not drop down then you could have an issue with your kickdown switch or solenoid. Also the Bowden cable should force a drop to first as well when the pedal is 3/4 or more pushed down and shift around 4000RPM if you do not engage the kickdown switch.

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~Jamie
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2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. ContiExtremes on the C7's.

1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

I think there is a reason why some car start with 2nd gear. Remember few yrs ago when you shfit to drive it slams your garage full throttle......Ooops forget to apply the brake before I shifted. May be that is the reason why 2nd gear start so it doesnt damage your garage as bad !!!! Is that posible?

No I dont think they engineered the cars based on garage damages...its called knowing how to drive.


BTW, on my C230K W202 I have that 1st gear or 2nd gear switch (W/S). Is it ok to leave it on the 2nd gear start selection all the time or will it lug the engine?

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

I read this thread hoping to see a comment on quick starts. I have a 1988 300CE that I start in 2nd position always. At around 3000 rpms, more or less depending on up or down grade and initial MPH I shift up to 3rd position. When 3rd position seems overtaxed it's time for drive position.

Oddly, I have encountered some bucking when I extend the accelerator too far. I must be finding 1st gear at these times. Since the pedal is long I have compensated with a longer "big toe." Now, I understand from this thread that if I slowly apply throttle and don't extend the accelerator much beyond half way I can go straight from 2nd into 3rd without putting the car into 1st in the middle of the shift. This really clarifies the point for me. I did figure this out in my driving and now to read it here is very helpful.

Please let me know if I have a basic understanding or if I need to adjust my lead foot. I only use the kick down when in D or when going from 3rd position for a moment before going into D position. So it can't be that the bucking is from the kickdown and thus is from the cable and due to me letting the RPMs or MPH get away from me before upshifting during standing start.

Thank you,
Jason

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1988 300CE 120K RIP(Midnight Blue/Parchment)
1987 300E 202K (Arctic White/Palomino)


Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth. ~Song of The Open Road

I just got a 92 190e 2.6. Oddly enough, it starts out in first, which is WONDERFUL compared to the second gear start on my 90' 300SE. I know all I have to do is shift it to 2, but it's so much easier when first gear is already there for you.

By the way, when Lexus copied the SE sedan back in '89, they also included the 2nd gear start. However, they learned quickly, and deleted it shortly afterwards.
The 300SE tranny is a joke; no torque off the line, unless you floor it and pop your neck. And no overdrive on the road, so you get horrible mpg and wear out the engine and accessories. Regardless, I will never let it go; everything else is just too perfect.

DG

I don't think it is possible to "lug" an engine with an automatic tranny.

FYI, there's more to "W" than just 2nd gear start. On my transmission, the 722.6, the "W" mode is designed for slippery conditions. It does 4 things: Second gear start, earlier shift points, higher reverse gear ratio, and prevents roll-back on steep hills("hill-hold"). You can use either "W" or "S" at any time or all the time. My main use for "W" is the hill-hold feature when driving in SF. It works great
Dan

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2012 E350 Bluetech