Owners Manual

94
Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Switching off the ESP
®
Switching off the ESP
®
(except CLS 63 AMG)
To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch
off the ESP
®
in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:
앫 when driving with snow chains
앫 in deep snow
앫 in sand or gravel
When you switch off the ESP
®
앫 the ESP
®
does not stabilize the vehicle
앫 the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip
앫 the traction control will still apply the
brakes to a spinning wheel
앫 the ESP
®
continues to operate when
you are braking
앫 you cannot activate the cruise control
or the Distronic*
앫 the cruise control or Distronic* switch
off if currently activated
The switch is located on the center con-
sole.
1 ESP
®
switch
왘 With the engine running, press ESP
®
switch 1 until the ESP
®
warning
lamp v in the instrument cluster
comes on.
The ESP
®
is switched off.
Warning! G
The ESP
®
should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in driving
maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
®
when a spare
wheel is mounted.
Warning! G
Switch on the ESP
®
immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply any-
more. Otherwise the ESP
®
will not stabilize
the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a
wheel is spinning.
i
When the ESP
®
is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp v in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
®
will then not stabilize the ve-
hicle.