1st gear start in 190E - how do I make it start in 1st

[white190]

Hi

Just wondering has any body heard of a way to make a 190E auto start in 1st gear instead of 2nd

I've had a look around and can only find one way...
by using the Racelogic "switchlogic" system but this costs upwards of 1500 quid for my car ... there must be a cheaper way.....

 

[Matt Crooke]

1st gear start in 190E

Ahh, back we are again!!!

ill have a look on that US site to see if i can find the thread on 1st gear start

 

[Matt Crooke]

1st gear start in 190E

From the US Site...Andy may be able to shed some light on the cost or whatever.

"You modify 190 and 300E valve bodies to start off in 1st gear with an exchange valve body. For V8 and V12 cars up to 1995 (except 400E/E420 which start off in 1st gear), there is a control unit kit that I can put together for proper 1st gear starts.

Good for the motor, nice responsive transmission, and good safety for quick left turns, etc.

$500 for the electronic kit (takes an hour to install tops), or $500/exchange for the valve body for 4 and 6 cylinder cars. "

Satish

 

[steveperry]

1st gear start in 190E

White190,

One trick I've heard is to manually select 2nd when stopped, take the selector back to drive and when u take off the car uses 1st gear, the E/S selector needs to be in S mode.

Another way I think is that if you floor the accelerator, thus depressing the kickdown solenoid switch, the car will take off in 1st irrespective of whether E or S mode is selected.

S.

 

[Matt Crooke]

1st gear start in 190E

Steve, that does the trick alright, but it has to be done everytime you want to pull away.....if need be i just tend to push the throttle that little bit more to get it to kickdown to 1st

 

[steveperry]

1st gear start in 190E

Matt,

I wonder if you could mod the kick-down switch such that it was always made

Another hair-brained idea from yours truely :biggrin:

S.

 

[RobNelson]

1st gear start in 190E

Can't the kickdown threshhold be adjusted on the MB Autobox?  My mechanic had a 500SEL which he'd ajusted the kickdown threshhold (A bit too far for my liking) to improve responsiveness ....

That way we could all be nice quiet Mercedes drivers until someone tries it on!

 

[Matt Crooke]

1st gear start in 190E

Steve, that may be a possibility actually. ALthough when in S mode, the throttle dosent have to be pushed all the way to the switch for it to kick down to 1st....1/2 way is usually ok....but as we all know, on a quick pull out on a roundabout with a skip lorry coming towards you, the 190's somewhat 'relaxed' attitude to kicking down can be a pant changing experience.

 

[white190]

1st gear start in 190E

Matt you're not kidding
Thats what prompted me into posting this question again

After being cut up by a Tesco Petrol Tanker at a junction and being completley unable to get out of the way......
He managed to stop but only a matter of centimeters from my passenger door eeek.... I couldn't help but swear and curse at the cr*p idea of starting in 2nd....

I went home cleaned out my pants / cooled down... and now I like my Benz again now......

 

[Jules190]

1st gear start in 190E

Funny story Whitey - I can relate to that although I am fortunate to have a little more torque to pull away.  Traction on damp roads is my problem.  Do you have any tyres to recommend to replace my rears with?