Mercedes-Benz

Functions of ESP®

WARNING Risk of skidding if ESP® is malfunctioning

If ESP® is malfunctioning, ESP® cannot carry out vehicle stabilisation. In addition, other driving safety systems are switched off.

Drive on carefully.

Have ESP® checked at a qualified specialist workshop.

You can select between the following modes of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®):

ESP® ON
ESP® SPORT
ESP® OFF

Characteristics when ESP® is activated

ESP® monitors and improves driving stability and traction, particularly in the following situations:

When pulling away on wet or slippery carriageways.
When braking.
Vehicles with trailer hitch: in trailer operation from speeds of 65 km/h, if the vehicle/trailer combination begins to sway from side to side.
In strong side winds when you are driving faster than 75 km/h.

ESP® can stabilise the vehicle by intervening in the following ways:

One or more wheels are braked.
The engine output is adapted according to the situation.

ESP® is activated every time the engine is started regardless of whether ESP® was in ESP® SPORT or deactivated before the engine was switched off.

If the

ESP® warning lamp flashes in the instrument cluster, one or several wheels has reached its grip limit:

Adapt the driving style to suit the prevailing road and weather conditions.
Do not deactivate ESP® under any circumstances.
Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as is necessary.

Characteristics of ESP® SPORT

WARNING Risk of skidding if ESP® SPORT is used incorrectly

When you activate ESP® SPORT, there is an increased risk of skidding and having an accident.

Activate ESP® SPORT only in the circumstances described below.

When ESP® SPORT is activated, the and warning lamps light up continuously in the instrument cluster.

Select ESP® SPORT when the vehicle's own oversteering and understeering characteristics are desired, e.g. on cordoned off roads.

Driving with ESP® SPORT or with ESP® deactivated requires an extremely qualified and experienced driver.

If ESP® SPORT is activated and one or more wheels start to spin, the ESP® warning lamp on the instrument cluster flashes. ESP® then only stabilises the vehicle to a limited degree.

ESP® SPORT also has the following characteristics:

ESP® only improves driving stability to a limited degree.
ETS/4ETS traction control is still active.
The engine's torque is only restricted to a limited degree and the drive wheels can spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a cutting action for better traction on loose surfaces.
ESP® continues to provide assistance when the brakes are firmly applied.
Vehicles with trailer hitch: stabilisation of the vehicle/trailer combination is no longer active.
Crosswind Assist is no longer active.

Characteristics when ESP® is deactivated

WARNING Risk of skidding if ESP® is deactivated

If you deactivate ESP®, ESP® cannot carry out vehicle stabilisation.

ESP® should only be deactivated in the following situations.

When ESP® is deactivated, the and warning lamps light up continuously in the instrument cluster.

Deactivating ESP® has the following effects:

Driving stability will no longer be improved.
The drive wheels could spin.
ETS/4ETS traction control is still active.
Vehicles with trailer hitch: stabilisation of the vehicle/trailer combination is no longer active.
Crosswind Assist is no longer active.

Even when ESP® is deactivated, you are still assisted by ESP® when braking hard.

It may be best to activate ESP® SPORT or deactivate ESP® in the following situations:

When using snow chains.
In deep snow.
On sand or gravel.

Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action, which enhances traction.

Activate ESP® as soon as the situations described above no longer apply. ESP® will otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to spin.

If the ESP® warning lamp lights up continuously even when ESP® is activated, ESP® is not available due to a malfunction.

Observe any information which is displayed in the instrument cluster:

Indicator and warning lamps More
Display messages More

ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)

ETS/4ETS traction control is part of ESP®.

ETS/4ETS can improve the vehicle's traction by intervening in the following ways:

The drive wheels are braked individually if they spin.
More drive torque is transferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.