2008 Mercedes SL-Class Owner's Manual - Page 94

Safety and Security Driving safety systems Electronic traction system The electronic traction system is a component of ESP®. The electronic traction system improves the vehicle's ability to utilize available traction, especially under slippery road conditions by applying the brakes to a spinning wheel. When you switch off the ESP®, the electronic traction system is still enabled. Warning! Switching off the ESP® Warning! Warning! G G 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. Do not switch off the ESP® when a spare wheel is mounted. 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® the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle 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* system the cruise control or the Distronic* system switch off if currently activated G If you are driving too fast, the electronic traction system cannot reduce the risk of an accident. The electronic traction system cannot prevent the natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle. To improve the vehicle's traction, switch 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 93