Switching Off The ESP for Street
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 277
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From: Maryland
2008 E63AMGP30
Switching Off The ESP for Street
Hey Guys,
I do really notice under heavy acceleration how the traction control retards the spark. Got to do a few hard runs on a back road and really noticed it. So is driving with the ESP off for the street pretty stupid? I haven't tampered with it yet living here in DC. But out on the open back roads I wonder if it would really create more of a hazzard than fun.
Any opinions on this?
I do really notice under heavy acceleration how the traction control retards the spark. Got to do a few hard runs on a back road and really noticed it. So is driving with the ESP off for the street pretty stupid? I haven't tampered with it yet living here in DC. But out on the open back roads I wonder if it would really create more of a hazzard than fun.
Any opinions on this?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,173
Likes: 7
From: Puerto Rico
2005 E55 AMG
Hey Guys,
I do really notice under heavy acceleration how the traction control retards the spark. Got to do a few hard runs on a back road and really noticed it. So is driving with the ESP off for the street pretty stupid? I haven't tampered with it yet living here in DC. But out on the open back roads I wonder if it would really create more of a hazzard than fun.
Any opinions on this?
I do really notice under heavy acceleration how the traction control retards the spark. Got to do a few hard runs on a back road and really noticed it. So is driving with the ESP off for the street pretty stupid? I haven't tampered with it yet living here in DC. But out on the open back roads I wonder if it would really create more of a hazzard than fun.
Any opinions on this?
When you say, driving with the ESP off...do you mean in dyno mode? I tried this once but my car would barely brake for some reason ( felt like the SBC was in emergency mode ) so I turned dyno mode off again and everything went back to normal.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 277
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From: Maryland
2008 E63AMGP30
GT,
I wasn't sure if it was retarding the spark or not. Closing the throttle body to scale back air to fuel does sound logical. What I noticed on a few hard pulls from 0 to about 100 was that at the slightest wheel spin the system would pull back and go limp for a quarter of a second then shift one gear higher and then resume. It was almost impossible to break the back tires loose even in a turn (not that one really wants to do this).
In contrast I took out a 500 HP GT-500 and was breaking the **** out everywhere at all times. It was annoying. But...for having 507 HP on tap one would thing (with 265 series tires) that the MB would be spinning like mad. Right?
In the W211 E63 there is only one button in the car for TC/ESP...it's on the center consol...one can leave ESP on or turn it off...only choices.
I wasn't sure if it was retarding the spark or not. Closing the throttle body to scale back air to fuel does sound logical. What I noticed on a few hard pulls from 0 to about 100 was that at the slightest wheel spin the system would pull back and go limp for a quarter of a second then shift one gear higher and then resume. It was almost impossible to break the back tires loose even in a turn (not that one really wants to do this).
In contrast I took out a 500 HP GT-500 and was breaking the **** out everywhere at all times. It was annoying. But...for having 507 HP on tap one would thing (with 265 series tires) that the MB would be spinning like mad. Right?
In the W211 E63 there is only one button in the car for TC/ESP...it's on the center consol...one can leave ESP on or turn it off...only choices.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,173
Likes: 7
From: Puerto Rico
2005 E55 AMG
GT,
I wasn't sure if it was retarding the spark or not. Closing the throttle body to scale back air to fuel does sound logical. What I noticed on a few hard pulls from 0 to about 100 was that at the slightest wheel spin the system would pull back and go limp for a quarter of a second then shift one gear higher and then resume. It was almost impossible to break the back tires loose even in a turn (not that one really wants to do this).
In contrast I took out a 500 HP GT-500 and was breaking the **** out everywhere at all times. It was annoying. But...for having 507 HP on tap one would thing (with 265 series tires) that the MB would be spinning like mad. Right?
In the W211 E63 there is only one button in the car for TC/ESP...it's on the center consol...one can leave ESP on or turn it off...only choices.
I wasn't sure if it was retarding the spark or not. Closing the throttle body to scale back air to fuel does sound logical. What I noticed on a few hard pulls from 0 to about 100 was that at the slightest wheel spin the system would pull back and go limp for a quarter of a second then shift one gear higher and then resume. It was almost impossible to break the back tires loose even in a turn (not that one really wants to do this).
In contrast I took out a 500 HP GT-500 and was breaking the **** out everywhere at all times. It was annoying. But...for having 507 HP on tap one would thing (with 265 series tires) that the MB would be spinning like mad. Right?
In the W211 E63 there is only one button in the car for TC/ESP...it's on the center consol...one can leave ESP on or turn it off...only choices.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 353
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2004 E55
I never turn it off unless I plan on lighting the tires up. I consider myself a decent driver as I have done a good deal of racing over the years, but this car is way too expensive and way too much of a handful when it starts to go sideways. I'd rather let the "nanny" keep me from hitting a curb/tree/phone pole/hooker.
Plus I don't want to make a thread that says...
Turned off ESP. Hit a wall. Will this buff out?
Plus I don't want to make a thread that says...
Turned off ESP. Hit a wall. Will this buff out?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
2008 E63AMGP30
Good point, Outrun...
Like I said...I'm not too balsy with the car on the street. It's way too expensive to spin off the road and land in a ditch. It's easier for me just to ask the "hard questions" here in the forum:-)
I play in wide open spaces where nobody else is around...
Like I said...I'm not too balsy with the car on the street. It's way too expensive to spin off the road and land in a ditch. It's easier for me just to ask the "hard questions" here in the forum:-)
I play in wide open spaces where nobody else is around...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,109
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From: Las Vegas, NV
1000Hp Diesel Trucks, 2019 E63s
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Joined: Dec 2008
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shrimp boat
In dyno mode the traction control is totally off. I'm too yellow to ride in this mode. I did it once for about half an hour and my DR paid dearly for it. It was fun and scary at the same time.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 17
From: San Jose, CA
2007 E63 w/P30 and Eurotech CF Diffuser
I never turn it off unless I plan on lighting the tires up. I consider myself a decent driver as I have done a good deal of racing over the years, but this car is way too expensive and way too much of a handful when it starts to go sideways. I'd rather let the "nanny" keep me from hitting a curb/tree/phone pole/hooker.
Plus I don't want to make a thread that says...
Turned off ESP. Hit a wall. Will this buff out?
Plus I don't want to make a thread that says...
Turned off ESP. Hit a wall. Will this buff out?
As for turning it off on the track? Get stickier tires. Like someone said, it does not come on if you are doing it right.
However, once you get to a certain level, turning it off will reduce lap times.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 1
From: Dallas, TX
2007 E63, 2005 Dodge Ram Hemi
on track obviously...Dunno about 55's but on the 63 all TC and ESP are doing is modulating your brakes where it deems appropriate...On a road course it will feel solid, but you'll be chewing the hell out of your brakes...These cars aren't exactly balanced on knife edge...Turning it off doesn't mean it's going to wildly careen anywhere...Everything is almost slow motion and beyond predictable...
Last edited by citylightva; Jul 18, 2011 at 03:34 PM.
