you need a solution like this here ->
https://forum.WebsiteBaker.org/index.php/topic,26238.msg202469.html#msg202469the important part is the first definition of $open. for a better view and understanding, i split this code in lines
$open = '<li class="[if(class=menu-current||class=menu-parent){active}] [if(class==menu-expand){dropdown}]">
[if(class==menu-expand&&level==1)
{<a href="[url]" class="dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown">[menu_title] <b class="caret"></b></a>}
else
{<a href="[url]">[menu_title]</a>}
]';
purple: set the css-class "active" for the current and his parent menu-item (maybe important for a arrow-icon)
brown: set the css-class "dropdown", if this item has childs - needed in the example for bootstrap
red: condition for the A-links in level 1, here only, if class "menu-expand" and also level 1
green: build the link for this condition, thats the point to changed for you
blue: solution, if the condition (red) not work - means: in all other levels
i'm not sure, what you need, but if i understand your post correct, change the red condition nearly to
[if(level==1) or [if(level==0) - dont know, where your start level is
and the green line to the code, that you need for the items in level 1 or level 0, maybe a simple
<span>[menu_title</span>
thats the way