ESP Nanny now more powerful?

[Toodeep]

I notice in the USA/Canada Owner Manual for the E-Class Coupe for 2011 that to turn off ESP (as far as Mercedes allow their ESP to be "off") it is now necessary to delve into the menus. The ESP OFF button that used to be below the hazard warning light switch is now the 'gurtbringer' seat belt presenter button and that button's former location on the centre console is now a blank.

I'm personally not that concerned about lairy antics being further away as I'm not that kind of driver and nor do I think the E is that kind of car. In fact the blank button will be more of an issue for me (I've always hated those). I can, however, see how this will annoy some people since many still bemoan the fact that ESP is never really off in most Mercedes.

It is entirely possible that this change only applies to North America in view of their tendency to sue the person who facilitated their own mistake. I just thought I would point it out as it could be a coming trend.

 

[markjay]

Try driving in 'suicide mode' (aka dyno mode)

just don't say you read this here!

 

[Toodeep]

Try driving in 'suicide mode' (aka dyno mode)

just don't say you read this here!

Tell me more. Is this some kind of technician's override?

<Smacks own wrist>

I must repeat:

"I'm not that kind of driver"
"I'm not that kind of driver"
"I'm not that kind of driver"

 

[markjay]

psst... search 'dyno mode' in youtube....


Who said that?

 

[markjay]

Seriously - don't try it at home... there were people here who tried it and suggested that you should not exceed 5mph in this mode, and even then drive only in an empty car park late at night with lots of free space around the car... as the vehicle will virtually be all over the place as soon as you even think of touching the brakes (EPS, ASR, ABS, and BAS are all disabled in dyno mode, hence the nickname suicide mode!)

 

[Toodeep]

psst... search 'dyno mode' in youtube....


Who said that?

I geddit. If you tell me you'll have to kill me. Put it this way, if you tell me you might not need to bother!

NIce one

 

[markjay]

However... apparently a more 'civilised' way of disabling ESP - completely, not what MB call 'disabling' - is by pulling out the relevant fuse.

But this also falls under the strictly 'don't try it at home' category, for very obvious safety reasons and also for insurance reasons - your insurer will not be happy if you do that and crash.

 

[Bellow]

This stuff is worth knowing about and has practical use also. I disable my ESP/ABS/etc by connecting 2 pins in OBD port. I use a made plug for the purpose, but a paper clip does the same. Why? In snow it is better. The ESP can detect wheelspin but not regained traction. Disabling the ESP allows the power to be held on and find traction that would be otherwise be missed while the ESP waits for wheel speed to reduce to a level comparable to that of the undriven wheels. Can make the difference between getting through a particularly bad stretch or getting stuck in it. Low speed only though, 1st and 2nd gear. Beyond that, ESP re-enabled for safety.

 

[Toodeep]

This stuff is worth knowing about and has practical use also. I disable my ESP/ABS/etc by connecting 2 pins in OBD port. I use a made plug for the purpose, but a paper clip does the same. Why? In snow it is better. The ESP can detect wheelspin but not regained traction. Disabling the ESP allows the power to be held on and find traction that would be otherwise be missed while the ESP waits for wheel speed to reduce to a level comparable to that of the undriven wheels. Can make the difference between getting through a particularly bad stretch or getting stuck in it. Low speed only though, 1st and 2nd gear. Beyond that, ESP re-enabled for safety.

That makes perfect sense, which is why it beggars belief that Mercedes, the doyen of safety and innovation, force you to resort to this. Surely it is not beyond their wit to introduce a 'snow' button that reproduces the desirable elements of your 'paperclip' method. It could be linked to a sensor on the undriven wheels forcing it to revert to normal once they turn at a speed that suggests traction has been re-established, say 5 mph, thus making it unattractive as a hooligan button.

 

[timskemp]

Winter mode with ESP on is fine on snow, on ice nothing will help you.

I couldn't possibly comment on dyno mode but I've killed a set of tyres in a day (and a subframe bush, and I think an engine or gearbox mount) in the past and there was some strange message on the dash about it.... Hilarious fun but bear in mind what others have said about the brakes - you're on your own.

One for the private test track just before you go in for new tyres...

 

[Rashman]

Seriously - don't try it at home... there were people here who tried it and suggested that you should not exceed 5mph in this mode, and even then drive only in an empty car park late at night with lots of free space around the car... as the vehicle will virtually be all over the place as soon as you even think of touching the brakes (EPS, ASR, ABS, and BAS are all disabled in dyno mode, hence the nickname suicide mode!)

.... I have experienced this madness....

 

[NISFAN]

Not sure if it works with MB's, but does on many other cars, is if you turn ignition off when car is rolling, and back on again, all the electronic driving aids don't work until you come to a standstill.

 

[Rashman]

Not sure if it works with MB's, but does on many other cars, is if you turn ignition off when car is rolling, and back on again, all the electronic driving aids don't work until you come to a standstill.

May do, but I doubt if any of the guys here would try it out though!

 

[MJH]

However... apparently a more 'civilised' way of disabling ESP - completely, not what MB call 'disabling' - is by pulling out the relevant fuse.

But this also falls under the strictly 'don't try it at home' category, for very obvious safety reasons and also for insurance reasons - your insurer will not be happy if you do that and crash.

If you were of a devious nature you could take a blown a fuse and stick it in it's place

 

[markjay]

If you were of a devious nature you could take a blown a fuse and stick it in it's place

...or remove the fuse and run a couple of long wires from the fusebox to a fused switch on the dash

 

[BlackC55]

Seriously - don't try it at home... there were people here who tried it and suggested that you should not exceed 5mph in this mode, and even then drive only in an empty car park late at night with lots of free space around the car... as the vehicle will virtually be all over the place as soon as you even think of touching the brakes (EPS, ASR, ABS, and BAS are all disabled in dyno mode, hence the nickname suicide mode!)

It won't be all over the place and you will probably not even notice any difference unless you have a V8 and loads of power and nail the throttle pedal.

 

[NISFAN]

It won't be all over the place and you will probably not even notice any difference unless you have a V8 and loads of power and nail the throttle pedal.

I agree provided you drive normally and in dry conditions, however, I have had my old weedy W203 C220CDi sideways with ESP off in the dry, and when it was icy over the winter, the same car wouldn't even pull off with ESP disabled. It is amazing how well it works. Wet road + FRD = need for ESP.

 

[NISFAN]

May do, but I doubt if any of the guys here would try it out though!

And why not?

 

[Rashman]

And why not?

"And why not?!?!"

lol!


Just seems abit unorthodox, that's all.

 

[MJH]

...or remove the fuse and run a couple of long wires from the fusebox to a fused switch on the dash

Ahh but that defeats the object ! Mr insurance investigator would find a missing fuse and wiring to a switch. A blown fuse is just that, no sign of tampering just a fault that caused an accident so no invalid claim issue. All hypothetically speaking of course