C-Class (W204) 2008 - 2014: C180K, C200K, C230, C280, C300, C350, C200CDI, C220CDI, C320CDI

The ESP system in the new mercedes c class

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Dec 20, 2009 | 02:57 PM
  #1  
geek84's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
mercedes c class
The ESP system in the new mercedes c class

I have just bought a used 2008 mercedes c class (new shape). I have read the manual but do not understand what the ESP system is for and how or when to use it. I tried to contact the salesman who sold the car to me to get further clarification, but he did not seem very helpful.

So could someone please explain what the ESP is and when/how to use it, or when not to use it?

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2009 | 03:49 PM
  #2  
MB300AMG's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 393
Likes: 29
From: Boston, Massachusetts
2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Sport
ESP stands for "Electronic Stability Program". Most manufacturers have some form of this system but it's usually called "Electronic Stability Control".

You don't actually have to do anything yourself really. What it does is have the computer in the car brake each wheel individually when you are in a slide to straighten you out again - mainly to help avoid/minimize the damage to you and the car in the event that you are headed for a crash.

Some people like to disable it to slide the car (and press that button on your dash), yet it does not fully disable it. It only limits it somewhat in comparison to other manufacturers' systems.

But yeah, you don't need to do anything with it. It's a safety aid in your car.


The other two programs are ABS (Anti-Lock Braking Systems), and ETS/TSC (Electronic Traction System). Those use the brakes to keep traction during braking and acceleration respectively.
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2009 | 08:05 PM
  #3  
joshg1001's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 85
From: San Francisco, CA
2017 E300
^^ what he said. The system measures yaw rate, steering angle, and speed to calculate whether you are going in the direction of where your steering wheel should lead you do go. If there is a difference, then it can brake each individual wheel (or more) to correct the difference.
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2009 | 01:26 AM
  #4  
Diesel Benz's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
And if you are wondering why the car then has this ESP button at all, you can read instructions from your manual (mainly useful to switch off ESP when trying to get off from thick snow of soft sand where the wheel initially needs to slip to gain better grip).
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2009 | 02:19 AM
  #5  
duboisi's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
w204 c230
A good video explaining what all the above are:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR1SSxpKitE
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2009 | 03:58 AM
  #6  
I_Love_MB's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
S204
Maybe off the topic (I hope not much as this is still ESP thread) but I tried Clicking that ESP button On/off (almost 30 cm of snow and I needed to take my car out of my parking lot) but the light remains there (No indication of On/off). Is it common to all or should I check my switch?
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2009 | 04:35 AM
  #7  
Wargen's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Stockholm
2009 C200 Estate
The indication that the ESP is off is that the orange triangle lights all the time. When ESP is on, the triangle only flashes when the ESP is working.
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2009 | 04:44 AM
  #8  
I_Love_MB's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
S204
Originally Posted by Wargen
The indication that the ESP is off is that the orange triangle lights all the time. When ESP is on, the triangle only flashes when the ESP is working.
Thanks Wargen for your quick reply. Yes, I do see that triangle flashing while driving but when I press that ESP button, it doesnt give me a clue whether it's ON or Off. I mean like other buttons for example : Parktronic - when you switch it off, the light on that button goes off but ESP light always remains on.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 21, 2009 | 07:34 AM
  #9  
I_Love_MB's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
S204
Hey Wargen, just checked again and can confirm it works as you mentioned. There's no red light on the button but when I make it On/Off, the yellow triangle goes on/off. Thanks.
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2009 | 10:59 AM
  #10  
Diesel Benz's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Originally Posted by duboisi
A good video explaining what all the above are:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR1SSxpKitE
I would have preferred a more technical presentation. But do others believe in the ASR part? Just like ASR would add friction between the tyre and the ice (road). To some extent ASR improves grip when wheel slip is avoided but it does not mean the car would move on for ever as long as the engine power is sufficient to keep it going. If the car was able to climb the road with ASR (ESP) on, it would have done it from a good initial speed and with smooth gas pedal operation.
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2009 | 11:10 AM
  #11  
Wargen's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Stockholm
2009 C200 Estate
Originally Posted by Diesel Benz
I would have preferred a more technical presentation. But do others believe in the ASR part? Just like ASR would add friction between the tyre and the ice (road). To some extent ASR improves grip when wheel slip is avoided but it does not mean the car would move on for ever as long as the engine power is sufficient to keep it going. If the car was able to climb the road with ASR (ESP) on, it would have done it from a good initial speed and with smooth gas pedal operation.
I believe it! I believe that computers can do things that are impossible for the humans to do. If Tiff doesnt have enough feeling in his throttle foot i guess you can say that ASR is better than any human.

ASR doesnt provide more friction but its better in finding the grip that any surface can provide, so with the same initial speed ASR would still do better. It wont climb forever because at some point there wont be enough friction but if the friction is there ASR will be better in finding it than your foot.
Reply
Old Dec 21, 2009 | 01:43 PM
  #12  
Diesel Benz's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Originally Posted by Wargen
I believe it! I believe that computers can do things that are impossible for the humans to do. If Tiff doesnt have enough feeling in his throttle foot i guess you can say that ASR is better than any human.

ASR doesnt provide more friction but its better in finding the grip that any surface can provide, so with the same initial speed ASR would still do better. It wont climb forever because at some point there wont be enough friction but if the friction is there ASR will be better in finding it than your foot.
Yes I certainly agree that the computer is better in finding the grip and making most of it but in this slope test in my opinion the friction should be constant throughout the slope and if there is enough friction to keep the car moving, no ASR action is needed.

Or do you think it is a combination of the kinetic energy the car initially has plus the available friction, where friction alone is not sufficient to keep the car climbing at steady speed? In this scenario ASR would be needed to gain the maximum effort out of the kinetic energy and limited friction.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 1 votes, 5.00 average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:36 PM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE