Mine is a 1994 Euro C180 Elegance with the E/S switch. Tell me, does this car start in 1st or 2nd If there are 3 gear changes, then it starts in 1st? How can I test this? Change to 2, then back to D should give me a start from 1st??? This can only be done with the engine running. In Jap cars, you can change to anything even if the motor is switched off. In my Benz, when the motor is off, the gear lever won't change. Its locked in P although it can move left to right in the slot.

Watch the tachometer. You should see the speed changes when it changes gears.