As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Many US 380SL and 560SL owners notice the car seems to pull away gently, almost lazily, from a stop. The reason is usually that the four-speed automatic is starting in second gear, which is how these cars were designed to behave in normal driving.
Is starting in second normal on the 722.3?
On many US-market cars with the four-speed 722.3 automatic, the transmission starts in second gear in Drive under light throttle. It was a fuel economy and smoothness measure. Press the pedal more firmly and it starts in first. The exact behavior depends on year, calibration and adjustment, so treat this as a general rule and verify against the manual for your car.
How to get first-gear starts
- Press the accelerator more firmly from a stop. On many cars, a bit more throttle brings first gear.
- Select “2” (or “S” or “3” on some selectors) to start in first, then move to “D” once moving. Check your owner’s manual for your selector’s positions.
- On cars with an S/E switch (mostly European), “S” starts in first.
When it is a fault
It may be a fault if:
- The car always starts in second even at heavy throttle
- It never shifts out of first or second
- The shift is accompanied by slipping or flaring
Common causes are a misadjusted Bowden cable, a vacuum leak at the modulator, low fluid, or a problem in the valve body. See shifting hard or late.
The shifting into 2 then D trick
When pulling away on a steep hill or with a load, select 2 to start in first, then move to D. It is harmless if done at low speed. Never shift into a low gear at high speed.
Quick answers
- Is it bad for the transmission? Starting in second is normal design, not wear.
- Why does my 450SL not do this? The 450SL uses a three-speed transmission with different logic.
- Will a transmission service change it? No, the behavior comes from design and adjustment.
- Does the Euro 500SL behave the same? Euro cars often have different calibration and sometimes an S/E switch, so behavior differs.
- Does the 560SL start in second too? Behavior depends on calibration and adjustment; firm throttle should give first gear.
