gazfish

Curious to know if any of the 4 speeds that start in first from the factory have a higher failure rate?
Doing a bench comparison of springs and valves from these models should show what was changed.

Speedtoys

Being lower torque output, probly not.

I wish I had a photo of one from the 928, I'd point out whats being slowly ruined.

And if I did have the one I thought I had, it's best Greg share it, it's from his shop.

Hey_Allen

For whatever it's worth, the generally accepted knowledge on the MB forums about the 2nd gear start transmissions was that it was emissions related, not durability induced.

The same model year cars that were released to the European market had valve bodies that started in 1st gear, for instance, and were somewhat coveted by US market owners.
I had a spare euro spec trans from an 85 500SE that I kept for years, due to the valve body difference, only finally scrapping it when I moved this last time, long after having sold my grey market 500SEC.

Taipo

Absolutely has to do with 'gearing'. I think you are telling me that the Merc transmission is incapable of sustained use in first gear with any significant throttle opening. So I I'll refrain from going up the hill near my home in first!

Have a look at this thread https://www.500eboard.co/forums/thre...all-help.6882/. I see that the E400 was first gear start from the factory same or similar transmission.

I had understood that the second gear start was related to fuel economy.

Reminds me of the 100/4 Healey that had first gear locked out to stop people blowing up their gear boxes!