View Poll Results: Do you drive with ESP on or off?
I leave ESP on all the time
32
86.49%
Off! No electronic nanny for me, thank you very much
5
13.51%
Voters: 37. You may not vote on this poll
Poll: Do you drive with ESP on or off?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 957
Likes: 1
was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
Poll: Do you drive with ESP on or off?
I find ESP far too intrusive - I only use it in snow or ice.
It really cuts down on the "fun" factor of driving the car... I also think it can be almost dangerous because it is pretty aggressive in the way it either cuts power or applies the brakes.
It is kind of annoying having that yellow triangle lit up all the time though.
It really cuts down on the "fun" factor of driving the car... I also think it can be almost dangerous because it is pretty aggressive in the way it either cuts power or applies the brakes.
It is kind of annoying having that yellow triangle lit up all the time though.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 957
Likes: 1
was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
Originally posted by MPTLPTR
I rarely drive the E hard enough to trigger ESP... I have other cars when I want to have some real fun
So ESP is always on for me.
I rarely drive the E hard enough to trigger ESP... I have other cars when I want to have some real fun
So ESP is always on for me.
I hear you. But I put a lot of miles on the E so I try and make it as entertaining as possible. My fun car doesn't have traction control either.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Suburban Chicago
2013 GL550
I leave it on - even switched off it still kicks in if the car slides to side at all. Geared towards old MB drivers. I like my old S4 - if you switch it off - it's off. Into the weeds you go if you like! Oh well - I still like my E500.
Bruce
Bruce
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: San Clemente, CA
2003 E-500
I usually leave it on, but agree that performance is better if you turn it off. I sometimes will push and hold the ESP button to where it first turns off and then after a few seconds will turn back on and the yellow triangle will go out. This seems to give better throttle response for more agressive driving while also giving you the safety benefits of ESP.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 957
Likes: 1
was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
Good tip, DE.
I asked my tech about disabling the ESP completely since he turns off ESP as well - he said he didn't know of a way just yet...
I'll give it a whirl.
I asked my tech about disabling the ESP completely since he turns off ESP as well - he said he didn't know of a way just yet...
I'll give it a whirl.
Last edited by lig; Feb 4, 2004 at 12:08 PM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: So Cal
2010 RRS ; BMW K1200R; 14 E350 ; 14 RRS on order
ON Always
I gotta say that I would certainly be dead without it. I have no regard for how fast you are supposed to go around turns. I just keep my foot down and floor it and ESP does all the hard work.
If I am trying to gain some great speed on a streightaway though I will turn it on.
If I am trying to gain some great speed on a streightaway though I will turn it on.
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: new hartford, ny
My ESP has not been turned off yet, since the roads have been snow-covered since I picked up my car three weeks ago. It has come on several times in the snow and ice, and has been very helpful/reassuring so far, I've never turned it off in my clk yet, either, and that has never even been driven in the rain, only in dry, warm weather.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,445
Likes: 3
From: WOT somewhere in the Bay Area
1951 Caterpiller D6
Hey lig, you might want to run soe tests on your car to find out under what conditions ESP is coming on. It might be something easy to correct with tire pressure. If it is tire spin or oversteer, staggered tire setups can stop this because of the increased rear tire width.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 957
Likes: 1
was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
ESP kicks in all the time. I'm running 33 psi f/r 245/45/18 f/r
Maybe I should have gone 245f 275r but honestly - I don't think the car makes enough power to really make it necessary.
It's not a really serious issue - I'm just looking for a little entertainment with my daily driver. I would think that the car would understeer big time with the staggered setup since it pushes a fair bit now.
I'm running 33 psi f/r 245/45/18 f/rMaybe I should have gone 245f 275r but honestly - I don't think the car makes enough power to really make it necessary.
It's not a really serious issue - I'm just looking for a little entertainment with my daily driver. I would think that the car would understeer big time with the staggered setup since it pushes a fair bit now.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,445
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From: WOT somewhere in the Bay Area
1951 Caterpiller D6
Originally posted by lig
ESP kicks in all the time. I'm running 33 psi f/r 245/45/18 f/r
Maybe I should have gone 245f 275r but honestly - I don't think the car makes enough power to really make it necessary.
It's not a really serious issue - I'm just looking for a little entertainment with my daily driver. I would think that the car would understeer big time with the staggered setup since it pushes a fair bit now.
ESP kicks in all the time.
I'm running 33 psi f/r 245/45/18 f/rMaybe I should have gone 245f 275r but honestly - I don't think the car makes enough power to really make it necessary.
It's not a really serious issue - I'm just looking for a little entertainment with my daily driver. I would think that the car would understeer big time with the staggered setup since it pushes a fair bit now.
Going to larger rears won't change the understeer as much as it will reduce oversteer and possibly balance the car in higher speed corners.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 957
Likes: 1
was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
Originally posted by E55AMG99
Don't sell your 500 short!
Going to larger rears won't change the understeer as much as it will reduce oversteer and possibly balance the car in higher speed corners.
Don't sell your 500 short!
Going to larger rears won't change the understeer as much as it will reduce oversteer and possibly balance the car in higher speed corners.
I'm just a poor debadged E320 driver.
After some time with an '03 E55 - I think I need to get a job that pays better.
That's an entertaining car to drive!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,445
Likes: 3
From: WOT somewhere in the Bay Area
1951 Caterpiller D6
Originally posted by lig
I'm just a poor debadged E320 driver.
After some time with an '03 E55 - I think I need to get a job that pays better.
That's an entertaining car to drive!
I'm just a poor debadged E320 driver.
After some time with an '03 E55 - I think I need to get a job that pays better.
That's an entertaining car to drive!
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Banana Republic of Louisiana
2002 E55K RENNtech HP
Unless the roads are wet, I drive with ESP off to minimize wear on my breaks. Wet road, ESP on to minimize wear on nerves. Ice, almost never here, I won't even drive my Benz. That's what my Envoy is for, 4WD!
