ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)

Important safety notes

Observe the "Important safety notes" section .

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® monitors driving stability and traction.

Traction is the power transmission between the tires and the road surface.

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 any display messages that appear in the instrument cluster .

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. If necessary, 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.

If ESP® intervenes, the  
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.

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

If differential locks are switched on, ABS, BAS and ESP® switch themselves off automatically

4ETS (Electronic Traction System)

Traction control remains active if you deactivate ESP®.

► If appropriate for the driving conditions, engage the LOW RANGE off-road gear .

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 if you deactivate ESP®.

At speeds above approximately 37 mph (60 km/h), traction control is no longer active.

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.

Deactivating/activating ESP®

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.

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

You could otherwise damage the drivetrain.

► To deactivate: press button 1 until the warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.

► To activate: press button 1 until the warning lamp goes out in the
instrument cluster.

ESP® is activated automatically when the engine is started.

Vehicles with the ECO start/stop function:

the ECO start/stop function automatically switches the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop. The engine starts automatically when the driver wants to pull away again. ESP® remains in its previously selected status. Example: if ESP® was deactivated before the engine was switched off, ESP® remains deactivated when the engine is switched on again.

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

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.

• traction control is still activated.

• ESP® still provides support when you brake.

• and are driving at above 37 mph (60 km/h), ESP® still intervenes when one wheel reaches its grip limit even though it is switched off.

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.

If ESP® is deactivated, it is automatically reactivated when you drive faster than 37 mph (60 km/h) or if a predefined lateral acceleration threshold has been exceeded.

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.

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

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).