ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)

General notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" section  .

ESP® monitors driving stability and traction, i.e. power transmission between the tires 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 stabilize the vehicle. The engine output is also modified to keep the vehicle on the desired course within physical limits. ESP® assists the driver when pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP® can also stabilize the vehicle during braking.

4ETS (Electronic Traction System)

4ETS 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. In addition, more drive torque is transferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.

Traction control remains active, even if you deactivate ESP®.

In appropriate driving situations, activate the off-road program:
■ Vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD package 
■ Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package 

Off-road 4ETS (Electronic Traction System)

A 4ETS system specifically suited to off-road terrain is activated automatically once the offroad program is activated on: • Vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD package  • Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package 

Important safety notes

WARNING

If ESP® is malfunctioning, ESP® is unable to stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driving safety systems are deactivated. This increases the risk of skidding and an accident.

Drive on carefully. Have ESP® checked at a qualified specialist workshop.

Only operate the vehicle for a maximum of ten seconds on a brake test dynamometer. Switch off the ignition.

Application of the brakes by ESP® may otherwise destroy the brake system.

A function or performance test should only be carried out on a two-axle dynamometer. Before you operate the vehicle on such a dynamometer, please consult a qualified workshop. You could otherwise damage the drive train or the brake system.

ESP® is deactivated if the
warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights up continuously when the engine is running.

If the warning lamp and the

warning lamp are lit continuously, ESP® is not available due to a malfunction.

Observe the information on warning lamps   and display messages which may be shown in the instrument cluster  .

Only use wheels with the recommended tire sizes. Only then will ESP® function properly.

Characteristics of ESP

General information

ESP® is activated automatically when the engine is started.

If ESP® intervenes, the ESP®
warning lamp flashes in the instrument cluster.

If ESP® intervenes:
■ Do not deactivate ESP® under any circumstances.

■ Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when pulling away.

■ Adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing road and weather conditions.

Deactivating/activating ESP

Important safety notes

You can select between the following states of ESP®:
• ESP® is activated.

• ESP® is deactivated.

WARNING

If you deactivate ESP®, ESP® no longer stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk of skidding and an accident.

Only deactivate ESP® in the situations described in the following.

It may be best to deactivate ESP® in the following situations:
• when using snow chains • in deep snow • on sand or gravel

Activate ESP® as soon as the situations described above no longer apply. ESP® will otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehicle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to spin.

Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an extended period with ESP® deactivated.

You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.

Deactivating/activating ESP®

■ To switch off: press button 1.

The ESP® OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.

■ To switch on: press button 1.

The ESP® OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.

Characteristics when ESP® is deactivated

If ESP® is deactivated and one or more wheels start to spin, the÷ESP® warning lamp in the instrument cluster flashes. In such situations, ESP® will not stabilize the vehicle.

If you deactivate ESP®:
• ESP® no longer improves driving stability.

• the engine's torque is no longer limited and the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of the wheels results in a cutting action, which provides better grip.

• 4ETS is still active.

• ESP® still provides support when you brake.

Off-road ESP®

An ESP® system specifically suited to off-road terrain is activated automatically once the offroad program is activated on: • Vehicles without the ON&OFFROAD package  • Vehicles with the ON&OFFROAD package  Off-road ESP® intervenes with a delay if there is oversteering or understeering, thus improving traction.

ESP® trailer stabilization

WARNING

If road and weather conditions are poor, trailer stabilization will not be able to prevent the vehicle/trailer combination from swerving. Trailers with a high center of gravity can tip over before ESP® can detect this.

There is a risk of an accident.

Always adapt your driving style to the prevailing road and weather conditions.

If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer combination) begins to lurch, you can only stabilize the vehicle/trailer combination by depressing the brake firmly.

In this situation, ESP® assists you and can detect if the vehicle/trailer combination begins to lurch. ESP® slows the vehicle down by braking and limiting the engine output until the vehicle/trailer combination has stabilized.

Trailer stabilization is active above speeds of about 37 mph (60 km/h).

Trailer stabilization does not work if ESP® is deactivated because of a malfunction.

Crosswind driving assistance

Strong crosswinds can cause your vehicle to deviate from a straight course. The crosswind driving assistance function integrated into ESP® significantly reduces these effects.

ESP® intervenes automatically according to the direction and intensity of the crosswinds affecting your vehicle.

When driving on straight roads or gentle bends, your vehicle is kept safely on course by a stabilizing brake intervention.

Crosswind driving assistance is active above a vehicle speed of 80 km/h.

Crosswind driving assistance does not work if ESP® is deactivated or disabled because of a malfunction.

EBD (electronic brake force distribution)

Observe the "Important safety notes" section  .

WARNING

If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can still lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the risk of skidding and an accident.

You should therefore adapt your driving style to the different handling characteristics. Have the brake system checked at a qualified specialist workshop.

Observe information regarding indicator and warning lamps   as well as display messages  .

EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure on the rear wheels to improve driving stability while braking.