Almost Lost It
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Almost Lost It
I was turning left out of the parking lot of my work with a co-worker when I turned off the ESP and hit the gas for fun. I wanted to swing the back out just a bit, but it went out way too much and the next thing I knew it, the back whipped back the other way and then back the other way. We started to head for the curb on the other side of the street when I hit the brakes pretty hard. The car stopped just in time. We only travelled about 100-200 feet with nobody around. Pretty scary, but thankful that the brakes worked awsome. Who knows, ESP might have kicked in and saved my butt.
I think I will leave ESP on from now on except when I want to leave a trail of tire marks going STRAIGHT. I know I don't have enough experiece to drive with ESP off going around curves/corners.
amgB
I think I will leave ESP on from now on except when I want to leave a trail of tire marks going STRAIGHT. I know I don't have enough experiece to drive with ESP off going around curves/corners.
amgB
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Australia
E55, F550, S600 Ducati 999
Good to hear that the car and more importantly, you, came out of the incident unscathed.
It might be worth considering an advanced driving course so you learn how better to control the car when experiencing loss of traction, so you are not totally reliant on computers to control the car.
One of the true joys of the E55 IMO, is turning the traction control off and "burning rubber" A big problem if you are not experienced, is that you can get to serious speeds with both wheels still spinning and the car fishtailing down the road.
Now all of this is theoretical of course, because I would never drive in such an irresponsible manner.
It might be worth considering an advanced driving course so you learn how better to control the car when experiencing loss of traction, so you are not totally reliant on computers to control the car.
One of the true joys of the E55 IMO, is turning the traction control off and "burning rubber" A big problem if you are not experienced, is that you can get to serious speeds with both wheels still spinning and the car fishtailing down the road.
Now all of this is theoretical of course, because I would never drive in such an irresponsible manner.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 3
From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
rwd + fishtailing = practice. I think the best way to learn how to handle is 1) go to a driving school, like skip barber (sp?), my friend did that once and it was awsome. Teaches you techniques, handling skills, etc. 2) go into a big empty parking lot when it's wet (better for your tires, not so much rubber being burnt off) and just take it for a spin around with ESP off. That way, nothing to hit, nice wide open area to practice how to handle fishtailing and how to correct it.
when i started driving, it was winter and my c220 don't got no fancy ASR or ESP
So i practiced in parking lots and figured out how to handle fishtails, powerslide and control the car around curves, etc.
Also, parking lot method provides some fun too
when i started driving, it was winter and my c220 don't got no fancy ASR or ESP
So i practiced in parking lots and figured out how to handle fishtails, powerslide and control the car around curves, etc.Also, parking lot method provides some fun too
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 427
Likes: 29
From: BH, MI
C63S past: E90 M3 6M, w211 E55
i can totally agree w/ you that the rear end loves to come out fast!
i've gotten pretty used to sliding out the rear on the e. this car has way too much torque to stab the throttle during a turn. a quick moderate thrust is all you need to get the rear end out. it sounds like you let off the gas suddenly when you had too much oversteer. this will cause that hard snap. make sure you slowly roll off the throttle while consistently inputing countersteer w/ the steering wheel. start off by bringing the tail out slightly, and try to correct by having the rear slowly tucking back straight. the snap is very dangerous, especially w/ a 500 lb-ft monster.
the best way is by keeping it in manual mode w/ esp off. it seems that esp has the least intervention here, and you can control the throttle much easier. however, esp will not save you from a spinout in this mode. i've done 45+ degree slides across a couple of lanes and straightened out w/ no snap in this mode (will have video this summer - of course late at night w/ nobody around). i have tried it w/ sport mode and esp off, but the car does cut throttle if you have what they call a "ridiculous" amount of fun. this may have caused your rear end to snap.
perhaps the greatest practice i have is my suv in the snow. call me crazy, but i love going out on first snow fall! you can't help but have the rear end out and you are forced to learn how to smootly apply throttle and steering input.
i've gotten pretty used to sliding out the rear on the e. this car has way too much torque to stab the throttle during a turn. a quick moderate thrust is all you need to get the rear end out. it sounds like you let off the gas suddenly when you had too much oversteer. this will cause that hard snap. make sure you slowly roll off the throttle while consistently inputing countersteer w/ the steering wheel. start off by bringing the tail out slightly, and try to correct by having the rear slowly tucking back straight. the snap is very dangerous, especially w/ a 500 lb-ft monster.
the best way is by keeping it in manual mode w/ esp off. it seems that esp has the least intervention here, and you can control the throttle much easier. however, esp will not save you from a spinout in this mode. i've done 45+ degree slides across a couple of lanes and straightened out w/ no snap in this mode (will have video this summer - of course late at night w/ nobody around). i have tried it w/ sport mode and esp off, but the car does cut throttle if you have what they call a "ridiculous" amount of fun. this may have caused your rear end to snap.
perhaps the greatest practice i have is my suv in the snow. call me crazy, but i love going out on first snow fall! you can't help but have the rear end out and you are forced to learn how to smootly apply throttle and steering input.
Last edited by anerbe; Jan 29, 2004 at 08:53 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 3
From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Originally posted by anerbe
i can totally agree w/ you that the rear end loves to come out fast!
i've gotten pretty used to sliding out the rear on the e. this car has way too much torque to stab the throttle during a turn. a quick moderate thrust is all you need to get the rear end out. it sounds like you let off the gas suddenly when you had too much oversteer. this will cause that hard snap. make sure you slowly roll off the throttle while consistently inputing countersteer w/ the steering wheel. start off by bringing the tail out slightly, and try to correct by having the rear slowly tucking back straight. the snap is very dangerous, especially w/ a 500 lb-ft monster.
the best way is by keeping it in manual mode w/ esp off. it seems that esp has the least intervention here, and you can control the throttle much easier. however, esp will not save you from a spinout in this mode. i've done 45+ degree slides across a couple of lanes and straightened out w/ no snap in this mode (will have video this summer - of course late at night w/ nobody around). i have tried it w/ sport mode and esp off, but the car does cut throttle if you have what they call a "ridiculous" amount of fun. this may have caused your rear end to snap.
perhaps the greatest practice i have is my suv in the snow. call me crazy, but i love going out on first snow fall! you can't help but have the rear end out and you are forced to learn how to smootly apply throttle and steering input.
i can totally agree w/ you that the rear end loves to come out fast!
i've gotten pretty used to sliding out the rear on the e. this car has way too much torque to stab the throttle during a turn. a quick moderate thrust is all you need to get the rear end out. it sounds like you let off the gas suddenly when you had too much oversteer. this will cause that hard snap. make sure you slowly roll off the throttle while consistently inputing countersteer w/ the steering wheel. start off by bringing the tail out slightly, and try to correct by having the rear slowly tucking back straight. the snap is very dangerous, especially w/ a 500 lb-ft monster.
the best way is by keeping it in manual mode w/ esp off. it seems that esp has the least intervention here, and you can control the throttle much easier. however, esp will not save you from a spinout in this mode. i've done 45+ degree slides across a couple of lanes and straightened out w/ no snap in this mode (will have video this summer - of course late at night w/ nobody around). i have tried it w/ sport mode and esp off, but the car does cut throttle if you have what they call a "ridiculous" amount of fun. this may have caused your rear end to snap.
perhaps the greatest practice i have is my suv in the snow. call me crazy, but i love going out on first snow fall! you can't help but have the rear end out and you are forced to learn how to smootly apply throttle and steering input.
that thing is big to control, but it's fun once you get the hang of it.Yes, don't just let go of the gas, that will cause your rear end to snap the other way. Just ease off, or once you get practice, you can learn how to powerslide it out, lol. That one took me a while to practice to steer and give it gas to straighten it out.
I know how a big sedan feels when you have it fishtailing...for fun, I turned off ESP in the S and went to a parking lot. Damn that thing is heavy and it just much much harder to control :p
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,585
Likes: 212
From: Washington D.C.
2024 GLE63s / 2016 GLE63s (traded) / 2016 E63s / 2002 E55
I DID THE SAME IN W210!
One day I was showing off for a buddy. I just wanted to spin & squeal the tires which is hard to do with ESP and sticky Nitto tires. I was making a right hand turn and the tail end went across the yellow line into uncoming traffic. Whew! Very scary.
Even the 349HP E55 wants the driver to see his rear bumper!
Even the 349HP E55 wants the driver to see his rear bumper!
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the input. I wish I could go to driving school to learn to drive this car the professional way.
Thanks anerbe for the suggestion that pulled off the gas too fast that caused the snap. I have thrown the rear out when making a U-turn with control. I was wondering what happen to me this time. Was it the extra weight of my co-worker or the payment? But, now that you have pointed it out, I think you are right about the gas. It was when I pulled off the gas that I the car snapped back too quickly.
Thanks all.
Thanks anerbe for the suggestion that pulled off the gas too fast that caused the snap. I have thrown the rear out when making a U-turn with control. I was wondering what happen to me this time. Was it the extra weight of my co-worker or the payment? But, now that you have pointed it out, I think you are right about the gas. It was when I pulled off the gas that I the car snapped back too quickly.
Thanks all.
