Mercedes-Benz R-Class Owner's Manual page 63

Safety
Driving safety systems
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ESP (Electronic Stability Program)
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ESP monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between tyres and
the road surface.
®
If ESP detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified, if
necessary, to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
®
pery roads. ESP can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
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When ESP intervenes, the v
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.
G Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
®
R do not deactivate ESP under any cir-
cumstances.
only depress the accelerator pedal as far
R
as necessary when pulling away.
adapt your driving style to suit prevailing
R
road and weather conditions.
The vehicle could otherwise go into a skid.
60
®
ESP cannot reduce the risk of an accident
if you drive too fast. ESP
the laws of physics.
!
If you have the vehicle towed with the
front or rear axle raised, the ignition must
be switched off (key in position 0 or 1 in the
ignition lock). Intervention by ESP
otherwise destroy the braking system on
the front or rear axle.
®
assists
!
Vehicles with 4MATIC* may not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised.
!
Vehicles with 4MATIC*: operate the vehi-
warning
cle only briefly (for a maximum of ten sec-
onds) on a brake dynamometer. Turn the
key in the ignition lock to position 0 or 1.
You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system.
!
Vehicles with 4MATIC*: function or per-
formance tests may only be carried out on
a 2-axle dynamometer. If you wish to oper-
ate the vehicle on such a dynamometer,
please consult a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre in advance. You could otherwise
damage the drive train or the brake system.
i
Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP
®
cannot override
properly.
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ESP trailer stabilisation
If your trailer begins to lurch, you can only
stabilise the vehicle/trailer combination by
®
could
depressing the brake firmly.
In this situation, ESP
if the trailer begins to lurch. ESP
vehicle down by braking and limiting the
engine output so the vehicle/trailer combi-
nation can stabilise.
Trailer stabilisation is active from about
65 km/h.
G Risk of accident
If road and weather conditions are bad,
trailer stabilisation will not be able to pre-
vent the trailer from swerving and thereby
reduce the risk of accident. Trailers with a
high centre of gravity can tip over before
®
ESP can detect this.
Trailer stabilising does not work if ESP
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function.
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function
®
assists you and detects
® slows the
® is
* optional