BadAssBenz

Has anybody ever heard of the "2nd gear start" on Mercedes cars, where the transmission always begins in 2nd gear to reduce wheelspin? If so, is the w202 equipped with it? It seems like I get a lot of low end hesitation with my '95 c280. By the way, does anyone work at a Mercedes dealer as a mechanic? I'm interested in getting a job at one this summer.

Thanks

tpliquid

my ahs 2nd gear start. itz in W mode. S mode is 1st gear start.

BadAssBenz

I dont have the option of shifting into "S" or "W".

scorchie

There are many different years of the W202 with many different options, engines, transmissions, etc.

So if you ask "is the W202 equipped with it?" the answer is yes, some are. Does yours? I dunno, you didn't tell us what kind of car you have!

-s-

BadAssBenz

I sure did. Read again.

BadAssBenz

to be more specific, automatic, no traction control.

Rincewind

i think 98+ models start to get that W/S option

what tp said ...

sport = start in first
winter = start in second

pocholin

Does it hurt the transmission to always start it in second gear?
Even in the summer?

DougandhisC280

no, it's your only option on some w202's. If you want to start in first you have to floor it and press the kick down switch.

merclover

HAHAHAHAHAA
S is NOT "sport"!!!! its "standard" and it does start in second gear.
my 96 model has "E" instead of "W" and "E" stands for "economy". there is no "first gear" on auto benzes. the first gear is the one that on the auto tranny panel says "2" . However on the "4-matic" models there is a 1st (i think).. try to pop it into that "2" position and u'll see that it doesn't either upshift or downshift. Economy mode only changes the gears at a shorter interval than "STANDARD" so, no sport guys

DougandhisC280

98 and up starts in 1st gear.

scorchie

My bad.

Anyhow...

All 5-speed electronic transmissions start in 1st gear. These transmissions were in W202 models from 1997 (model year).

Some 5-speed electronic transmissions can be set to start in 2nd gear. These have a switch labeled "W" (winter) or "E" (economy), with the normal mode labeled "S" (summer or standard).

Some of the 4-speed mechanical transmissions start in 1st gear. There's no specific way to identify these cars... some of the gear shifts only go to "2", but some of those start in 2nd.

Some of the 4-speed mechanical transmissions start in 2nd gear. I do know that if your gear shift lever is labeled "D 3 2 B" (the "B" being in place of a "1"), then your transmission starts in 2nd gear.

If you have a "2nd gear start" car, you can kick it down to first by depressing the throttle fully, or if your gearshift supports it, shifting into 1st (sometimes labeled "B").

To convert your car to always start in 1st gear, you can obtain a 1st gear start kit from a few places. Most of these places generally will take your valve body and replace it with a reprogrammed one.

Actually, those kits were available for E500 and SL500 applications (same transmission), so I am not sure if they would apply to the C280.

-s-

tpliquid

make that 97+ i think my 97 has that hehe

DougandhisC280

Think?

DougandhisC280

I checked on this with one company and he said it was impossible. If any of you find out different, let me know.

scorchie

Renntech, PAD (now Performance Products), and there's that place in SoCal (can't remember the name but they sell the different final ratio gear sets)... they all had them for sale at one time or another.

-s-