2009 Mercedes SL-Class Owner's Manual - Page 70

Safety and security Driving safety systems Switching the ESP® off or on To improve the vehicle's traction, switch off the ESP® in driving situations in which it would be advantageous to have the drive wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip such as: Rwhen Rin Rin G Warning! The ESP® should not be switched off during normal driving. Disabling of the system will result in the following: Rno restriction to engine torque Rloss of system supported traction control 1 ESP® SPORT switch X driving with snow chains deep snow sand or gravel Switching on: With the engine running, press ESP® SPORT switch 1 briefly. The ABS/ESP® warning lamp v in the instrument cluster comes on. The message ESP-SPORT appears in the multifunction display. X Switching off: With the engine running, press ESP® SPORT switch 1 briefly. The ABS/ESP® warning lamp v in the instrument cluster goes out. The message ESP-ON appears in the multifunction display. "ESP® OFF" is designed for driving on closed tracks when the vehicle's natural oversteer and understeer characteristics are desired and requires a highly skilled and experienced driver able to handle these critical driving situations. You could lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident. Please be aware of these limits when you switch off the ESP®. Do not switch off the ESP® when a spare wheel is mounted. 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 switch off the ESP® Rthe Rthe ESP® will not stabilize the vehicle engine output is not limited, which allows the drive wheels to spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip ETS will still apply the brakes to a spinning wheel ESP® continues to operate when you are braking hard Rthe Rthe ESP® SPORT switches off automatically when you turn off the engine. When starting the engine, the ESP® is activated automatically. 68