If ESP® is malfunctioning, ESP® cannot carry out vehicle stabilisation. In addition, other driving safety systems are switched off.
If you deactivate ESP®, ESP® cannot carry out vehicle stabilisation.
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 80 km/h.
One or more wheels are braked.
The engine output is adapted according to the situation.
Driving stability will no longer be improved.
Vehicles with trailer hitch: stabilisation of the vehicle/trailer combination is no longer active.
Crosswind Assist is no longer active.
The drive wheels could spin.
ETS/4ETS traction control is still active.
When ESP® is deactivated, you are still assisted by ESP® when braking.
Adapt your driving style to suit the current road and weather conditions.
Do not deactivate ESP®.
Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as is necessary.
When using snow chains.
In deep snow.
On sand or gravel.
Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action which provides better grip.
If the ESP® warning lamp lights up continuously, ESP® is not available due to a malfunction.
warning and indicator lamps More
display messages
ETS/4ETS traction control is part of ESP® and makes it possible to pull away and accelerate on a slippery carriageway.
If you select drive program or , a special ETS system specifically suited to off-road terrain is automatically activated.
The drive wheels are braked individually if they spin.
More drive torque is transferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
The drive programs enable ESP® to adapt to different weather and road conditions as well as the driver's preferred driving style. You can select the drive programs using the DYNAMIC SELECT switch More.
Drive program | ESP® mode | Characteristics |
---|---|---|
(Comfort) Vehicles with ACTIVE BODY CONTROL: (CURVE) (Economy) | ESP® Comfort | These drive programs provide the ideal balance between traction and stability. Drive program is the drive program recommended for all road conditions. Select drive program , or both in dry and particularly in difficult road conditions, such as snow or ice, or when the road is wet from rain. |
(Sport) | ESP® Sport | This drive program continues to offer stability but with a sporty setup which allows the enthusiastic driver a more active driving style. Select drive program in good road conditions, for example on dry roads and clear stretches of road. |
(Sport Plus) | ESP® Sport Plus | The vehicle's own understeering and oversteering characteristics are accentuated. This allows a more active driving style to be adopted. Select drive program in good road conditions, for example on dry roads and clear stretches of road. |
(Off-road) (Off-road Plus in vehicles with Off-road package) | Off-road ESP® | These drive programs assist you when driving off-road. Select drive program for easily negotiable off-road terrain, e.g. dirt tracks, gravel or sandy surfaces. Select drive program for rough terrain, e.g. for steep and/or uneven terrain or for driving on rocky terrain. |