Hey Guys
I have 2000 S500. Recently I did the transmission service and I feel (my be I am too sensitive) a little rough and take longer in 1>2 at cold. When the car warm it shifts smoothly. Is it normal?
This afternoon I tried to put the switch into winter mode and the car start to move very smoothly. I think it started with 2nd. It was in summer mode all the time. What do you guy thnk? should I put in Winter all year long? What will be a side effect?
All advise are welcome.

 

Shifting may be a little rough when it's cold because upshifts are delayed to warm up the catalytic converters (emissions thing) faster.

I believe in the S-Class, the Winter mode is called the Comfort mode, in that case I see no problem with that at all...although the first gear may feel a little neglected and depressed.

 

If it shifts smooth after its warm, that's fine.

My shifts are a little rough warm or cold. I replaced the fluid and its still a little rough. Oh well, as long as the tranny isn't getting damaged.

And you can select W or S anytime. W just starts you off in second. A little sluggish, but gets you going.

 

I thought the "S" was for "sport" mode???

 

It used to be Summer/Winter (S/W) but was changed to Sport/Comfort (S/C).

 

on the MY2003+ does the C mode start off in second gear also?

 

They all should work that way.

 

Even if you're in sport mode, can you force it to start in second?

MY2000 is gay. I manually tell it to start in 2nd but it starts in first anyways.

 

How do you manually tell it to start in 2nd?

 

Tip the shifter side to side in Drive.

 

Well then that happens in all MYs as far as I know. Putting it in second only tells it that 2nd is the highest gear you want to go, not to start off with. You can use it for engine braking when going downhill or whatever.

 

In the newer cars (well, the AMGs anyway), it will hold in the gear you desire.

I want that.

 

AsianML is right.
If you shift "manually" it only lets the tranny not shift into higher gear. If you select 2 gear manually and start in "S-mode" it starts in first and goes to second and nothing more. If you start in C/W-mode it starts in second and remains in second as long as you don't manually shift gears.
C or W will start in second gear, unless you kick down.

 

Hey Newton I believe your car does hold the gear you desire. Just put it in drive and bumb the shifter to the left and it will lower all the way down to 1st gear and hold untill you bumb it back to drive or to the next gear.