190e Using 4 gears?

[currybum]

Just acquired a really nice 190e 2.0. Loads of history, and drives beautifully....however, I have one nagging doubt. It's a 4? speed auto ( you can select 2 or 3 on the stick ), but driving through the gears, i only count 2 changes i.e. appears to be 3 speed??? Just nipped down the motorway, and 70 mph equates to 3400rpm. Am I in 3rd or 4th gear? Seems to be high revving for a relaxing motor? Hope I haven't got a dodgy box, as car is greeat otherwise.
Feedback on box issue welcome please. PS Gearbox oil changed in last 10000miles according to history. :-|

 

[mike65]

3400 at 70 equalls 140 at redline, I think!

Mike.

 

[currybum]

So Mike6 5- can I assume my box is OK, and I am indeed in the correct "top" gear? 140MPH would be nice, but I think the book speed is around 122mph!

 

[mike65]

Okay my gearing is slightly out but the revs/speed sounds about right, maybe the shift from 3rd to 4th so smooth you just can't tell!

My maunal 5 speed turns over at 3000 rpm at 70 in top.

Mike.

 

[currybum]

Thanks Mike :grin:

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

your car starts in 2nd gear, that's why you only count 2 changes. If you floor it when you start off it'll kickdown into 1st.

 

[currybum]

Thanks Mr Chazhuzzlewit ! That makes sense. Funnily enough, when i went out for test drive earlier, I floored the merc for the 1st time as was fairly shocked as she really has some get up and go! Tomorrow, (after a warm up ) i will floor in "s" mode, and see if I can count to 4! ( gears )

 

[Stevie A]

In "S" Standard mode you have 4 gears, in Economy mode it starts off in 2nd to save juice. Kickdown cancels E temporarily hence why you got the 4 gears.

 

[tom7035]

It may be you have a S/E switching problem, and may be in 'E' constantly, though it should still kickdown to 1st from standstill. I have the 200E 16V and seem to be in permanent 'S' as it moves off in first all the time - switching doesn't appear to do a thing. Haven't got round to investigating yet as it's not a big problem either way.
Don't know what the book says, but in calm conditions, at a steady speed on a level road, my instruments tell me;
3500 rpm = 77 mph, 3200 rpm = 70 mph and, for comparison at the lower end, 1400 rpm = 30 mph, rolling circumference of the tyres within standard spec.

Tom.

 

[drainaudio]

Hi..
Please post some pictures of your 190E in the W201 section!
Having owned my 1993 190E for about 6 months now and having almost completed my rolling restoration from "very well cared for 12 year old MB" to "as new 12 year old MB" I'm still continually surprised by how good these classic little over-engineered cars really are. Providing you are driving a mechanically to MB spec example the 190E is still a superior drive to a current Vauxhall or Ford etc IMO. The 2.0 is a great little engine that likes to be driven hard and sounds great doing it (providing you still have a MB exhaust). Try the following with your trans in "S" (like I would ever use "E") - while stationary change from D to 2 and then back to D, this will make the transmission start in 1st gear without having to kick-down (the pre-95 2nd gear idle/start was necessary to meet emissions regulations). Now put your foot to the floor and keep it there so the electronics know you want to go fast and make the trans wait longer before shifting up. This is when you will realise that the urban myth of "190E's are sluggish" came from people who should learn the particular attributes of a vehicle and how to drive it properly before mouthing off. Cheers, Geoff.

 

[JonathanC]

It may be you have a S/E switching problem, and may be in 'E' constantly, though it should still kickdown to 1st from standstill. I have the 200E 16V and seem to be in permanent 'S' as it moves off in first all the time - switching doesn't appear to do a thing. Haven't got round to investigating yet as it's not a big problem either way.
Don't know what the book says, but in calm conditions, at a steady speed on a level road, my instruments tell me;
3500 rpm = 77 mph, 3200 rpm = 70 mph and, for comparison at the lower end, 1400 rpm = 30 mph, rolling circumference of the tyres within standard spec.

Tom.

Hi Tom

As your car is one of the later 16v models it should always start in 1st - the shift program was changed at the same time that the 111 engines were introduced - hence no difference if you start in E or S. My onld 200 16v was exaclty the same,

Jonathan

 

[tom7035]

Hi Tom

As your car is one of the later 16v models it should always start in 1st - the shift program was changed at the same time that the 111 engines were introduced - hence no difference if you start in E or S. My onld 200 16v was exaclty the same,

Jonathan

Thanks for that Jonathan, wasn't aware. What's the difference then, does 'S' mode simply hold the lower gear ratios a tad longer or what?
Cheers, Tom.

 

[JonathanC]

Thanks for that Jonathan, wasn't aware. What's the difference then, does 'S' mode simply hold the lower gear ratios a tad longer or what?
Cheers, Tom.

Hi Tom

S = standard (not sport) so really the way to look at it is that E (economy) changes up earlier and resists part throttle kick down (i.e. you need to floor the accelerator to provoke kickdown. That's the theory, the reality is that there isn't that much difference between the two - that I can detect anyway (although heavy right foot may be the problem!!)

Cheers

Jonathan

 

[dogsbody]

190e using 4 gears

This is a bit off subject but my 2000 model E320 has s/w mode, where s=summer and w=winter, and when set in W mode starts in 2nd gear... question is ... is there any economy in this?

 

[JonathanC]

This is a bit off subject but my 2000 model E320 has s/w mode, where s=summer and w=winter, and when set in W mode starts in 2nd gear... question is ... is there any economy in this?

Mate, with an E320 there is no such thing as economy!! Serioulsy though your car has a different, electronically controlled gearbox hence the different labels on the switch. I thnk MB realised that having an economy mode on a big petrol car wasn't fooling anyone.

 

[currybum]

Thanks to everyone for their contribution. I have proved my 190e does have 4 gears in the autobox, just needed to flooooooooor the thing! Still surprised at how short top gear is though......would have expected a long overdrive.....

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

This is the one thing that annoys me about my car- I'm hoping to locate a 5-speed auto box and some point and hopefully transplant it into my car.