2008 Mercedes S-Class Owner's Manual - Page 74

Safety and Security Driving safety systems Switching off the ESP® (except S 63 AMG) Warning! Warning! G G The ESP® should not be switched off during normal driving other than in the circumstances described below. Disabling of the system will reduce vehicle stability in standard driving maneuvers. 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. i When the ESP® is switched off and one or more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP® warning lamp v in the instrument cluster flashes. However, the ESP® will then not stabilize the vehicle. When you switch off the ESP® the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle To improve the vehicle's traction, turn off the ESP® in driving situations where it would be advantageous to have the drive wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip such as: when driving with snow chains in deep snow in sand or gravel the engine output is not limited, which allows the drive wheels to spin and thus cut into surfaces for better grip the electronic traction system will still apply the brakes to a spinning wheel the ESP continues to operate when you are braking you cannot activate the cruise control or the DISTRONIC Plus* ® 1 ESP® off/on Press ESP® switch 1 until the ESP® warning lamp v in the instrument cluster comes on. The ESP® is switched off. 73