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Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see the
“Practical hints” section (
୴ page 332).
Switching off the ESP
®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, turn off
the ESP
®
in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:
ț when driving with snow chains
ț in deep snow
ț in sand or gravel
When you switch off the ESP
®
ț the ESP
®
does not stabilize the vehicle
ț the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip
ț the traction control will still brake a
spinning wheel
ț the ESP
®
continues to operate when
you are braking
ț you cannot activate Distronic*
!
Because of the ESP
®
’s automatic oper-
ation, the engine must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position 0
or 1 or KEYLESS-GO* start/stop but-
ton in position 0 or 1) when
ț the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer
ț the vehicle is being towed with the
front/rear axle raised
Active braking action through the ESP
®
may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
The ESP
®
will only function properly if
you use wheels of the recommended
tire size (
୴ page 434).
Warning! G
ESP
®
should not be switched off during nor-
mal driving other than in the circumstances
described below. Disabling of the system
will reduce vehicle stability in standard driv-
ing maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP
®
when a spare
wheel is mounted.
!
Turn on the ESP
®
immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not
apply anymore.
i
When the ESP
®
is switched off and one
or more drive wheels are spinning, the
ABS/ESP
®
warning lamp v in the
speedometer flashes. However, the
ESP
®
will then not stabilize the vehicle.