The below article is from Car& Driver on how to turn the ESP off completely. Has anyone tried this? The car must rock with the ESP off.

Turn It Off—All the Way Off!

For years we've complained about the butt-in behavior of the electronic stability programs in Mercedes-Benzes, which automatically intervene to shut down power and braking when they think your driving needs help. A dashboard switch suggests the program can be turned off, but it can't—it just kicks in at what it sees as a more intemperate level of driving on your part. We were convinced it simply could not be shut off.

Well, Benz lovers, we found a way.

Here's how. To start, turn the ignition key to the first accessory position, making sure the dash display shows the odometer. The SRS airbag light should be on. Press the trip odometer reset button three times rapidly before it goes off. If you do this right, a screen will appear showing a voltmeter. Then press the "up" arrow on the left side of the wheel twice to take you to the "ESP dynamometer test" screen. Using the plus (+) button on the right side of the wheel, select "on." And then start the car. Warnings will appear informing you that the ESP, ABS, and BAS (brake assist) aids are now turned off and you're on your own.

If you did it right, you've put the car in a mode intended for diagnostic testing on a rolling dynamometer—all electronic supervision is unplugged. Unhindered by techno-aids, the SLK's grip on the skidpad improved by 0.03 g compared with simply hitting the ESP switch on the dash. To return all the safety technology, scroll back to the dyno test screen and select "w/t. 15 off" with the minus (-) button. Shutting off all the electronic aids isn't easy, and that should tell you something. Owners are not generally privy to the dynamometer mode; therefore, we will continue to publish test numbers attained with the dashboard ESP switch turned off. We just thought you'd want to know.

 

This method works on my 2003 CL55 as described. This is what I did when I Dyno'ed my car.

 

I *wonder* if they copied the instuctions from this site. I snipped those instuctions to save to my hard drive OVER A YEAR AGO and they read almost word-for-word

 

That's how 'journalism' works.

 

Sounds like Car And Driver...

In other words, other then dyno'ing your car, why else would you want to turn traction control off?

There have been one too many cases in which I wish my LS has trac.control

 

We told you not to Amorall those seats. :v

 

Hahahahahha.

Tires man, tires.
Even the thread.

 

Thank you for the GREAT info....................
Has there been any further results released
as mentioned that they would keep informing?

 

Thanks! I was afraid to turn off just the ESP button, but doing so seems like barely doing anything at all. Can't wait to finally test the button off, then maybe someday, when I'm a better driver, I'll drive solo - THANKS!!!

 

I tried this method a couple of times but never with any success so on my 02 c230 coupe I would say this method does not work. i would be intrested if any one knew how to turn it all on on my car though. i am also curious what else in in the menu that is brought up by this method.

 

Its nice to know that you can turn the ESP off completely BUT very worrying that it also disables ABS!

 

Why? Cars still stop without ABS. It's only useful in bad weather and emergencies anyway, and ESP should be on in both of those types of situations. A lot of people who track their cars find a way to disable the ABS if the car doesn't give an option for it because it gives them more control.

 

Not having ABS on track is fine but not so great on the road if you suddenly find you need it.

 

The same is true of ESP. I think it's more true, actually. I'm more confident in my ability to do threshold braking than to recover from a spin.

I don't think that you should ever take the ESP completely off on the street unless you want to do some doughnuts in a parking lot. Why risk it?