Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2011 Operator's Manual page 72

Driving safety systems
70
! Vehicles with 4MATIC: switch off the
ignition when the electric parking brake is
being tested on a brake dynamometer.
Application of the brakes by ESP
otherwise destroy the brake system.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP
properly.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
G
Warning
Observe "Important safety notes"
Y
( page 66).
Traction control is part of ESP
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull away and accelerate on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side. On vehicles with 4MATIC, more
drive torque is also transferred to the wheel
or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you
®
deactivate ESP
Activating/deactivating ESP
G
Warning!
The ESP should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the
circumstances described below. Disabling
the system will reduce vehicle stability in
driving maneuvers.
Do not switch off the ESP when a spare wheel
is mounted.
G
Warning
S 63 AMG: ESP
during normal driving.
Deactivating the system results in the
following:
no restriction to the engine torque
R
loss of system-supported traction control
R
®
®
function
®
.
.
®
®
should not be deactivated
"ESP OFF" is designed for driving on closed
tracks when the vehicle's own oversteering
and understeering characteristics are desired
and requires an extremely qualified and
may
experienced driver who is able to handle
these critical driving situations.
You could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident.
Beware of these limits if you deactivate
®
ESP .
Do not deactivate ESP
or spare wheel is mounted.
®
ESP is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to deactivate ESP
following situations:
when using snow chains
R
in deep snow
R
on sand or gravel
R
G
Warning!
Switch on the ESP immediately if the
aforementioned circumstances do not apply
anymore. Otherwise the ESP will not stabilize
the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a
wheel is spinning.
When you deactivate ESP
®
ESP no longer improves driving stability.
R
the engine's torque is no longer limited and
R
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
traction control is still activated.
R
®
ESP still provides support when you
R
brake.
®
If ESP is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
®
ESP will not stabilize the vehicle.
X
To deactivate: (
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
®
when the emergency
®
in the
®
:
Y page 375).