1st gear in a Mercedes???
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 5
From: Dallas, Texas
W203 C55 and SAAB 9-3 2.0T
1st gear in a Mercedes???
Ive been around cars my whole life and I have never understood how Mercedes trannys work when it comes to starting out in second gear? I know on 80's and 90's models ive seen people mod them to start out in first. I had a 93 w124 400E and I thought it was in first gear when I would floor it from a dead stop but people would still tell me it wasnt. How does this work? And do the w210's start off is first or second? Im just confused. 
Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Australia
W210 E320
how do you fix a broken s/w switch?
my one used to alternate between starting in 1st and 2nd but now i flick the switch and it doesn't do anything. the only way to get it to start in 1st is floor it hard or manually move the shifter down the gate...
also I believe having it in S will give you quicker shift times, W will slow down shift times to ensure grip is maintained.
my one used to alternate between starting in 1st and 2nd but now i flick the switch and it doesn't do anything. the only way to get it to start in 1st is floor it hard or manually move the shifter down the gate...
also I believe having it in S will give you quicker shift times, W will slow down shift times to ensure grip is maintained.
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 3
From: Chicago
2002 E430 4MATIC
how do you fix a broken s/w switch?
my one used to alternate between starting in 1st and 2nd but now i flick the switch and it doesn't do anything. the only way to get it to start in 1st is floor it hard or manually move the shifter down the gate...
also I believe having it in S will give you quicker shift times, W will slow down shift times to ensure grip is maintained.
my one used to alternate between starting in 1st and 2nd but now i flick the switch and it doesn't do anything. the only way to get it to start in 1st is floor it hard or manually move the shifter down the gate...
also I believe having it in S will give you quicker shift times, W will slow down shift times to ensure grip is maintained.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,072
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From: Pittsburgh,PA, Cambridge, Ontario, CN
2003 S210 3.8L Brabus wagon
Your tranny is an adaptive model meaning it will adapt to your driving style. If you manually hold gears longer then the shift points will raise. It will not shift any faster between gears however unless it is an AMG warmed tranny where the shift points are increased as well as the speed of the shift. Since the adaptive mode is a continually learning mode the transmission is always adapting to your driving style and as they say shift points may vary as your driving habits change over time. The W/S switch can only be replaced by replacing the shifting unit which can be had used at local parts houses like Potomac German Auto. They are a very easy DIY and there are many posts here on the forum.
