My 92 300e is so darn slow off the line! I think something must be wrong. Should it be able to peel out (even just a little) if I floor it, making the kickdown switch? Does this car have a 1st gear start? Also, it starts rough, it has to crank 4-5 times....Need a new starter? How much is that going to cost? AND if I got from reverse to drive it sometimes shuts off, this just happened today. Whats worng?!?!?! Do I just need a good tune up? It has 126 k miles. I am pretty sure I need a new starter...mabey even an ignition system.....help would be appreicated.


Thanks in Advance,
JayGH

Because of gearing, your Mercedes is not made to be fast off the line. If you floor it into kickdown from a stop, it will engage first gear, but there's no way you're gonna peel out! In my 1995 C280, I've never peeled out by flooring it in a straight line. Neither in a 99 E430 with ESP/ASR off!
So it's normal.
Also, for your starting problem, does the engine turn? Does it usually happen when the engine is warm? Very likely the OVP, do a search on OVP, it has been discussed 3 and a half billion times. ONly a $65 dollar part.

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

This is quite the characteristics of this particular model. The 260E is no exception. The start kicks off at 2nd gear and thus we lose the torque at low revs. You'd notice a surge of power when it changes from 3rd at 4,000 revs on.

Engine kick starts usually at the 1st crank, but commonly at 2 or 3. 5 would require more patience and perhaps a check on your ignition motor, clutch and plugs. I think.

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

John,
What do you mean? Are you saying you can spin your tires!?

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

That's interesting... even when I had those **** "Nitto" tires on my car that were bald as all hell, I still couldn't get them loose when tracking in a straight line... And that's with 200 lbs/ft of torque! Of course if I was turning I could pull a gnarly burn-out...
Weird...

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)