What does the "B" Stand for?

[msq]

This is not a priority so feel free to ignore.

The owners manual for my car is in German and I do have an English version around the house somewhere but that may not help anyway.
Does anyone know what the "B" stands for on the shifter console (pic enclosed) in German?
I realize this is to manually put the car in first gear, and I looked up German word for "first" or "start" or "begin" and the only thing I could come up with is "beginnen" (as in kick off). I suspect that is not it, but I have no clue.
Any idea what the "B" stands for (i.e. what German word?)

I know this lockdown may continue long enough for me to go buy a German dictionary and go through every word that starts with "B", but by the time I get through that I may be old enough to qualify for the high risk group or I will have lost my mind and not be able to come up with the answer anyway.

 

[gsxr]

I believe it stands for 'Brake' or 'Braking', for descending a long, steep grade. That is the intended function, although it happens to also work for a 1-time first gear start as well.

 

[msq]

I believe it stands for 'Brake' or 'Braking', for descending a long, steep grade. That is the intended function, although it happens to also work for a 1-time first gear start as well.

Thanks @gsxr. Makes sense.

One thing I realized today when driving - it sounds obvious, but I have never typically used this on other cars since the other cars I've driven in last 10+ years have had the more modern transmissions - when driving at speeds say 40 - 50 MPH and I want to accelerate more quickly than normal that its useful to just manually drop this back into 3rd and then back into D once the RPM's are where I want them.
I know this sounds really obvious, but I just never used this on other non-manual transmissions, because most of them were more modern transmissions with a bit more electronic sophistication.

 

[gsxr]

... when driving at speeds say 40 - 50 MPH and I want to accelerate more quickly than normal that its useful to just manually drop this back into 3rd and then back into D once the RPM's are where I want them. I know this sounds really obvious...

This is EXACTLY how Mercedes meant for the car to be driven. Many people who complain about the slow/lazy/crappy automatic in the W124 are expecting it to read your mind. It doesn't. It expects you to grab that shift lever and wrestle it into your desired gear ratio! Once you figure this out, the cars become a lot more fun to drive.

 

[msq]

This is EXACTLY how Mercedes meant for the car to be driven. Many people who complain about the slow/lazy/crappy automatic in the W124 are expecting it to read your mind. It doesn't. It expects you to grab that shift lever and wrestle it into your desired gear ratio! Once you figure this out, the cars become a lot more fun to drive.

Can not believe I missed this. I have not put a lot of miles on my car since getting it (I think <1000 or maybe around that) so I hadn't played around with anything. I have owed some '95 E320's for years and never used that function on those cars. Transforms the driving experience. Instead of waiting for instantaneous "electronic kick down" like modern transmissions - the same thing is at your fingertips under your control. I just took it out and there was a steep grade coming up and dropped it to 3rd and its completely different than waiting for car to recognize it and trying to force with pedal. I also now understand why they may the drop down to 3rd a simple push back and why they want a "kick sideways to the right" for 2nd.

 

[TimL]

It stands for „Berg“ - German for mountain. The gear is intended as an engine brake.

 

[Sam SL]

This is another one of those 'I learned something new moments', much like when I realized I have had a rear fog lamp all those decades.

 

[TimL]

Yeah, add to that the window and sun roof auto close when keeping the key turned longer- pretty cool for such an old car

 

[northNH]

For no 124 version is this manual downshift more pertinent than with E420/400E.
Around here it’s mostly driven like a 3spd + OD, a gentle beast...

 

[msq]

This is another one of those 'I learned something new moments', much like when I realized I have had a rear fog lamp all those decades.

Yeah, add to that the window and sun roof auto close when keeping the key turned longer- pretty cool for such an old car

Ha, me too - in addition to this, I looked at the dashboard yesterday and saw a switch I didn't recognize and pressed it - it was a rear sunshade switch. I laughed "how did I not know that or see that before" (I just took my car out of winter storage and last summer was first one with the car and I didn't get to use it much).

I think I'll wait until tomorrow to see if there's a rear fog lamp - don't want all my Christmases at once.

 

[Eno]

If I am not mistaken “B” engages a small motor in the rear right of the transmission, the small round part that bulges out.
Natural braking.
It is used when going downhill.

 

[gsxr]

Eno, the item circled in yellow in your photo is the secondary ATF pump. This allows tow-starting the car. The secondary pump was deleted as a cost-reduction item somewhere around 1992, as MB decided almost nobody tow-started their car. Another example of over-engineering. I think only very early 500E's have this.

The "B" switch triggers the kickdown solenoid just below/behind the secondary pump, the black box (coil) with a single wire plugged in. This changes the fluid path within the transmission, adjusting the shift RPM when engaged.

 

[msq]

Eno, the item circled in yellow in your photo is the secondary ATF pump. This allows tow-starting the car. The secondary pump was deleted as a cost-reduction item somewhere around 1992, as MB decided almost nobody tow-started their car. Another example of over-engineering. I think only very early 500E's have this.

The "B" switch triggers the kickdown solenoid just below/behind the secondary pump, the black box (coil) with a single wire plugged in. This changes the fluid path within the transmission, adjusting the shift RPM when engaged.

Doesn't putting into "B" position, while at a full stop, and then back to "D" (without coming off the brake and moving the car) also put it into 1st gear so you can do first gear start from standstill?

 

[gsxr]

Doesn't putting into "B" position, while at a full stop, and then back to "D" (without coming off the brake and moving the car) also put it into 1st gear so you can do first gear start from standstill?

Yes! And with the level in "D", upshift RPM will vary based on throttle position, how far the Bowden cable is pulled out.

If you leave it in "B", it will stay in 1st gear to the rev limiter.

 

[JC220]

This is EXACTLY how Mercedes meant for the car to be driven. Many people who complain about the slow/lazy/crappy automatic in the W124 are expecting it to read your mind. It doesn't. It expects you to grab that shift lever and wrestle it into your desired gear ratio! Once you figure this out, the cars become a lot more fun to drive.

I believe the 2nd and 3rd downshift positions are intended to gear the car down for example if driving down a steep grade and the brakes might overheat. Use the engine to keep the speed in check.

Conversely dropping the gears for fun is potentially bad for a couple of reasons. If the road is wet be very careful. The drop in gear by using the lever to downshift can momentarily cause the rear wheels to lock or feel like they lock. This causes a skid on the back axle and if you arent aware if this it might catch you off guard. I never downshift in the wet because I learned before and won't do it again.

Second- remember that if you intend to regularly drive in a spirited fashion and use the lever alot consider that you are putting additional forces and wear into the transmission frictions. That inertia you feel when down shifting is the transmission frictions biting in to the lower gear you forced it into.

It is my opinion MB did not intend the gear selector for regular downshifting and acceleration. That's what the kick down button is for which I put to use quite often too! Infact I quite enjoy the analogue feel of the 036 and the slight delay before armageddon

 

[Mish_Mish]

Pardon my ignorance, but I have never driven a E500E, nor owned one in person yet. So the car takes off with in second gear and moves up to 4th? Does the first gear engage at all, perhaps a downshift from second at VOT? What if I put shifter in the "B" position?

 

[LWB250]

Pardon my ignorance, but I have never driven a E500E, nor owned one in person yet. So the car takes off with in second gear and moves up to 4th? Does the first gear engage at all, perhaps a downshift from second at VOT? What if I put shifter in the "B" position?

That is correct.

Mercedes did this on a number of their cars, not just the 500E.

 

[gsxr]

Search the forum, there is more information on the "B" position, and how to use it when driving, for example to get on-demand, one-time FGS.

 

[Mish_Mish]

Search the forum, there is more information on the "B" position, and how to use it when driving, for example to get on-demand, one-time FGS.

I assume it is simple, shift to B, take off and then move the shifter up to D, right?

 

[szvook]

Shift to B, take off and then move the shifter up to D, right?

No. You shift/click to B, then shift back to D and then take off, in 1st gear. This is why many pursued the FGS mod, to have the 1st gear avaliable without manually shifting each time you want to take off in 1st.

 

[Mish_Mish]

No. You shift/click to B, then shift back to D and then take off, in 1st gear. This is why many pursued the FGS mod, to have the 1st gear avaliable without manually shifting each time you want to take off in 1st.

Can you give me the route you took to get it done? Valve body swap?

 

[gerryvz]

No. You shift/click to B, then shift back to D and then take off, in 1st gear. This is why many pursued the FGS mod, to have the 1st gear avaliable without manually shifting each time you want to take off in 1st.

Can you give me the route you took to get it done? Valve body swap?

First Gear Start Install help | Transmission and Driveline

Is there a DIY for first gear start install on the forum? I have looked but no luck. Also, the one that I have aquired did not come with bolts, are the stock ones interchangeable? Finally......I am sure that I have seen a list of parts (filter, seal etc.) that are necessary to do the swap, any...

www.500eboard.co

 

[szvook]

Can you give me the route you took to get it done? Valve body swap?

Yep, installed a valve body from a 1995 E420, part number is 124-270-6915. And since Gerry was kind enough to already provide the link, all you need to know about the valve body is there.

 

[maw1124]

Now I’m seeing the need for that “read this first” ”terms of service” document when registering...

maw

 

[gerryvz]

Now I’m seeing the need for that “read this first” ”terms of service” document when registering...

maw

Yep.

Now all members have to read a new set of rules, as well. Yet even since @xfadmin mandated that, people STILL continue to do what they used to do.

 

[Mish_Mish]

My apologies for asking I suppose same old questions however, now that I am up to speed, I will be a useful member of the board.
Just wait until I get my hands on my first E500E and start posting pictures, move over my four Citroens!

 

[Jlaa]

My apologies for asking I suppose same old questions however, now that I am up to speed, I will be a useful member of the board.
Just wait until I get my hands on my first E500E and start posting pictures, move over my four Citroens!

I heard that.