Hello all,

I'ma nw memberof the board and have bought my first mercedes, a 1987 560SEC. Most of my experience has been with old American Iron, and BMWs. I know I have a steep learning curve ahead, but this forum seems like it will be a great resource.

I do have one question to "start off "with, i.e.: The 560SEC is known to start off in 2nd gear. I have seen references on this board to "Bergwerks" as a source for a 1st gear start conversion, however when I google them all I get is a travel website. Are they still in business, and/or is there another co. that sells the necessary components?

One forum member even hinted at a DIY setup he had constructed, but gave no details.
Please let me know if you can help with this. T.I.A.


Regards,
M.R.

Welcome to the club, MR. I believe Bergwerks is Satish Tumal's company. If you try this link, I think you'll find what you're looking for.

http://www.motorwerksgroup.com/

BTW, nice choice of Mercedes! You obviously have excellent taste in cars.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

On that same website you may find this to be of particular interest.

http://www.motorwerksgroup.com/p1/

It's the owner's own car. Pretty impressive. JimB knows Satish and I think he's ridden in this car.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Bergwerks was Steve Linberg (and another guy)'s company and is no longer in business.
You can find a FGS on Ebay and it is made by a guy in Ireland. Coupe is his handle on Benzworld .org and I think he is a member here too.

Your 87 SEC should have FGS start anyway. here is how to check: First pull the shifter down to B(locked) at a light, then move the shifter back to D. When the light turns green, punch it and it'll shift through the gears as long as you dare to keep your foot in it.
The other way is to manually shift down to B, floor it, slap shift to 2 then 3 then 4.
IF you do not have 1st gear in either test then look under the car to see if the 1st gear solenoid is connected. it is on the passenger side rear of the tranny and is a one wire plug. My wire had been cut in my Euro 500 SEC.

__________________
1986 Euro 500SEC "RUF" 9:1CR, "Rose"
1985 Euro 500SEC Cabriolet AMG Widebody
1982 Euro 500SEL "Blue"
2001 Texas Heeler (Aussie/Queensland X) "Sulphie",
2012 Queensland Red Heeler "Squeak"
Best dogs I've ever had.

Thanks guys! It seems that the Motorworksgroup is a sales/service center. I didn't see any reference to parts being sold, although i could have missed it.
I have been to aother site that has the build up of the V8 swap. Very impressive, but not something I'd take on. Heck, it would have been simpler to just bolt in a turbo!
The V-12 looks awesome, although again, way too complex. Besides, I 'm still re-assembling the V-12 from my BMW 850i . One overwhwlming complexityat a time!
I'll try the manual override function and see how that works, although ultimately I'd like it to start in 1st all the time on it's own.

Dang! That's some big fonts in the sig! Better change that.

Thanks again,
M.R.

__________________
Vehicles:
'87 Mercedes 560SEC, '85 BMW 635CSi, '91 BMW 850i, '95 BMW 540i, '91 Honda CR500, 1950 Farmall Model-M

Interests/Hobbies:
Workin' on all these friggin' machines all the friggin' time!!

Occupation:
Radiation Control Tech (Radcon/RP/HP)

Location:
Austin, TX