2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SL ROADSTER traction control

Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving conditions
may also cause Brake Assist to intervene.
If Adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full brake
boosting effect and BAS. Adaptive brake lights
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
50 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS or
Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist, the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way, traffic travelling
behind you is warned in an even more noticeable
manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more than
70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warning
lamps are activated automatically. If the brakes
are applied again, the brake lamps light up con- tinuously. The hazard warning lamps switch off
automatically if you travel faster than 10 km/h. You can also switch off the hazard warning
lamps using the hazard warning button
(Y page 115). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction, i.e.
power transmission between the tyres and the
road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating from
the direction desired by the driver, one or more wheels are braked to stabilise the vehicle. The
engine output is also modified to keep the vehi-cle on the desired course within physical limits.
ESP ®
assists the driver when pulling away on
wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise
the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62). ETS traction control is part of ESP
®
.
ETS brakes the drive wheels individually if they
spin. This enables you to pull away and acceler- ate on slippery surfaces, e.g. if the road surface
is slippery on one side. In addition, more drive
torque is transferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
ETS remains active when you deactivate ESP ®
.
i Mercedes-AMG vehicles:
your vehicle may
be equipped with 20-inch tyres on the rear
axle. If replaced with 19-inch tyres, ETS may
intervene noticeably sooner for the first few
kilometres. After approximately 10 km ETS
will function as usual again. Information on
the dimensions and types of wheels and tyres
for your vehicle can be found under "Wheel/
tyre combinations" (Y page 317).
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
When towing away your vehicle with the rear
axle raised, observe the notes on ESP ®
(Y page 300).
If the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp lights up
continuously, then ESP ®
is deactivated.
If the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp and the å
ESP ®
OFF warning lamp are lit continuously,
ESP ®
is not available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 246) and display messages which may
be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 217).
i Only use wheels with the recommended tyre
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Characteristics of ESP ® General notes
If the ÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active. Driving safety systems
67Safety Z

The influence of drive programs on ESP
®
The drive programs allow ESP ®
to adapt to different weather conditions, road conditions and the
desired driving style. The drive programs can be set using the DYNAMIC SELECT button
(Y page 139) or on AMG vehicles using the DYNAMIC SELECT controller (Y page 140).Drive program
ESP
®
mode Characteristics
C
Comfort
E Economy ESP
®
on This drive program offers an ideal compromise
between traction and stability.
Select drive program Eor Cin difficult road con-
ditions such as snow and ice or on wet roads. S
Sport ESP
®
on This drive program offers an ideal compromise
between traction and stability. S+
Sport Plus ESP
®
Sport The vehicle's own oversteering and understeer-
ing characteristics are emphasised. This enables
a more active driving style.
This drive program requires more interaction
from the driver.
Select this drive program only when road condi- tions are good, e.g. the roads are dry and the
route is clear. Always adapt your driving style and drive program to the prevailing road and weather conditions.
Additional information for drive programs (Y
page 145).
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its previ-
ously selected status, e.g. if ESP ®
was deacti-
vated before the engine was automatically
switched off.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®
(except
Mercedes‑AMG vehicles) Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
You can select between the following statuses
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident. Only deactivate ESP
®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the follow-
ing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action
which provides better grip.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin. Driving safety systems
69Safety Z

Deactivating/activating ESP
®X
To deactivate: press button:.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X To activate: press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability
R Engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin
R Traction control is still activated
R Active Brake Assist is not available and is not
activated even if you brake firmly with assis-
tance from ESP ®
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available, it is not
activated even if you brake firmly with assis-
tance from ESP ®
R Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist
is not available and is not activated even if you
brake firmly with assistance from ESP ®
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
you brake firmly Deactivating/activating ESP
®
(Mercedes ‑AMG vehicles) Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 62).
You can select between the following statuses
of ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
is activated
R SPORT handling mode is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated
ESP ®
is activated every time the engine is
switched on, regardless of whether ESP ®
was
deactivated before the engine was switched off. G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit- uations described in the following. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
In the following situations, it may be better to
activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on specially designated roads when the vehi-
cle's own oversteering and understeering
characteristics are desired
Spinning the wheels results in a cutting action
which provides better grip.
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and expe-
rienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle 70
Driving safety syste
msSafety

if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®X
To activate SPORT handling mode: briefly
press button :.
The M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The SPORT
SPORT han‐
han‐
dling mode
dling mode message appears in the multi-
function display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button
:.
The M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out.
X To deactivate ESP ®
:press button :until
the å ESP®
OFF warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster.
The ÷ OFF
OFF message appears in the multi-
function display.
X To activate ESP ®
:briefly press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. The ÷ESP®
ON ON message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
Characteristics of activated SPORT han-
dling mode
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one or
more wheels start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warn-
ing lamp in the instrument cluster flashes. ESP ®
only stabilises the vehicle to a limited degree.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a limi-
ted degree
R Traction control is still activated
R Engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
you brake firmly Characteristics when ESP
®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes. In such situations,
ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability
R Engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin
R Traction control is still activated
R Active Brake Assist is no longer available and
is not activated even if you brake firmly with
assistance from ESP ®
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available, it is not
activated even if you brake firmly with assis-
tance from ESP ®
R Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Assist
is not available and is not activated even if you
brake firmly with assistance from ESP ®
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
you brake firmly EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General notes EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
on the rear wheels to improve driving stability
while braking.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Y page 62). G
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps (Y page 246) as well as display
messages (Y page 219). Driving safety systems
71Safety Z

Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
X Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up. Drive programs
All vehicles (except Mercedes-AMG
vehicles) Drive program C (Comfort)
Drive program Cis characterised by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears unless the accelerator
pedal is depressed fully.
R low fuel consumption resulting from the auto-
matic transmission shifting up sooner. The
vehicle is driven in the low engine speed range
and the wheels are less likely to spin.
R the suspension exhibits comfortable damping
settings.
R the steering exhibits a comfortable steering
curve.
R ESP ®
provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. Further infor-
mation on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
i Select this drive program for difficult road
conditions, e. g. snow and ice or wet road sur- faces.
Drive program S (Sport) Drive program Sis characterised by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle exhibits sporty driving character-
istics.
R the vehicle pulls away in first gear.
R the automatic transmission shifts up later. As
a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points, the fuel consumption may be
higher.
R the suspension exhibits firm damping set-
tings. R
the steering exhibits a sporty steering curve.
R ESP ®
provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. Further infor-
mation on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
Drive program S+ (Sport Plus)
Drive program S+is characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R the vehicle exhibits particularly sporty driving
characteristics.
R the vehicle pulls away in first gear.
R the automatic transmission shifts up later. As
a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points, the fuel consumption may be
higher.
R the suspension exhibits particularly firm
damping settings (vehicles with adaptive
adjustable damping).
R the suspension exhibits firm damping set-
tings (vehicles with Active Body Control).
R the steering exhibits a sporty steering curve.
R ESP ®
emphasises the vehicle's own over-
steering and understeering characteristics.
This enables a more active driving style. This
drive program requires more interaction from
the driver. Further information on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
i Only select this drive program if the road
conditions are good, e.g. the road is dry and
the route ahead is clearly visible.
Drive program I (Individual)
In drive program Ithe following properties of the
drive program can be selected:
R the drive (engine and transmission manage-
ment)
R the suspension
R the steering
R the control thresholds of ESP ®
Information on configuring drive program Iwith
the multimedia system can be found in the Dig-
ital Owner's Manual. Automatic trans
mission
145Driving an d parking Z

Vehicles with adaptive adjustable damp-
ing: drive program E (Economy)
Drive program Eis characterised by the follow-
ing:
R the vehicle exhibits particularly economical
driving characteristics.
R the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears unless the accelerator
pedal is depressed fully.
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
The vehicle is driven in the low engine speed
range and the wheels are less likely to spin.
R the suspension exhibits comfortable damping
settings.
R the steering exhibits a comfortable steering
curve.
R during deceleration, the engine is disconnec-
ted from the drive train. The vehicle uses
kinetic energy and consumes less fuel (gliding
mode).
R ESP ®
provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. Further infor-
mation on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
Vehicles with Active Body Control: drive
program CURVE
Drive program CURVEis characterised by the
following:
R increased driving comfort on bends.
R the vehicle tilts actively into the bend. Further
information on the cornering function
(Y page 176).
R the vehicle exhibits particularly economical
driving characteristics.
R the vehicle pulls away more gently in forward
and reverse gears unless the accelerator
pedal is depressed fully.
R comfortable suspension setting.
R the steering exhibits a comfortable steering
curve.
R optimal fuel consumption resulting from the
automatic transmission shifting up sooner.
R the automatic transmission shifts up sooner.
This results in the vehicle being driven at
lower engine speeds and the wheels being
less likely to spin.
R during deceleration, the engine is disconnec-
ted from the drive train. The vehicle uses kinetic energy and consumes less fuel (gliding
mode).
R ESP ®
provides the optimum compromise
between traction and stability. Further infor-
mation on ESP ®
(Y page 67).
Mercedes-AMG vehicles Drive program RACE
Drive program RACEis characterised by the fol-
lowing:
R the vehicle exhibits driving characteristics
suitable for the racetrack.
R all vehicle systems are set for maximum
sportiness.
R the gearshift recommendation gives you
information for slowly warming up the drive
assemblies and for adopting a fuel-efficient
driving style (Y page 147). You can follow the
gearshift recommendations at all times and
change gear accordingly using the steering
wheel gearshift paddles. On the basis of the
gearshift recommendation, using the steering
wheel gearshift paddles, you can optimise the drive train and engine operating mode at any
time.
R if you have selected a gear manually, this will
be maintained until the vehicle speed signifi-
cantly increases or decreases.
R the vehicle pulls away in first gear.
R the automatic transmission shifts up later. As
a result of the later automatic transmission
shift points, the fuel consumption may be
higher.
R the suspension exhibits particularly firm
damping settings.
R gliding mode is not available.
R the ECO start/stop function is not available.
R ESP ®
switches to SPORT handling mode. The
M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The SPORT SPORThan‐
han‐
dling mode
dling mode message appears in the multi-
function display. Observe the important
safety notes for the SPORT handling mode
(Y page 70).
R ESP ®
only improves driving stability to a limi-
ted degree. The engine's torque is only
restricted to a limited degree and the drive
wheels can spin. Further information on ESP ®
(Y page 70). 146
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

Winter driving
G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
! Take care not to damage the sealing strip
and the moulding on the side of the rear win- dow when scraping ice off the rear window.
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
You should drive particularly carefully on slip-
pery road surfaces. Avoid sudden acceleration,
steering and braking manoeuvres. Do not use
cruise control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control by using
corrective steering.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in wooded areas or on bridges. The vehicle could
skid if you fail to adapt your driving style. Always adapt your driving style and drive at a speed to
suit the prevailing weather conditions.
You should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
Further information on driving with snow chains (Y page 307).
Further information on driving with summer
tyres (Y page 306).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" sec-
tion (Y page 306). Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. On long and steep
downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is
laden, you must select a lower gear in good time.
By doing so, you will make use of the braking
effect of the engine. This relieves the load on the brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can set any
road speed above 30 km/h.
Important safety notes If you fail to adapt your driving style, cruise con-
trol can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. Cruise control can-
not take road, weather and traffic conditions
into account. Cruise control is only an aid. You
are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time and for maintaining lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in road and traffic conditions which do not
allow you to maintain a constant speed, e.g.
heavy traffic or winding roads.
R on slippery roads. Braking or accelerating
may cause the drive wheels to lose traction
and the vehicle could then skid.
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow. Driving systems
159Driving and parking Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Check tyres
Check tyres The tyre pressure in one or more tyres has dropped significantly. The
wheel position is shown in the multifunction display.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
Underinflated tyres pose the following risks:
R the tyres may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase
R the tyres may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tyre traction
R the driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may be
greatly impaired
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 153).
X Check the tyres and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a flat
tyre (Y page 289).
X Check the tyre pressure (Y page 309).
X If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. Caution, tyre Caution, tyre
defect
defect The tyre pressure in one or more tyres has dropped suddenly. The
wheel position is shown in the multifunction display.
G WARNING
If you drive with a flat tyre, there is a risk of the following hazards: R a flat tyre affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle
R you could lose control of the vehicle
R continued driving with a flat tyre will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 153).
X Check the tyres and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a flat
tyre (Y page 289). Tyre Tyre
press.
press. monitor
monitor
currently unavaila‐
currently unavaila‐
ble ble No signals can be received from the tyre pressure sensors due to
strong RF interference. The tyre pressure monitor is temporarily mal-
functioning.
X Drive on.
The tyre pressure monitor restarts automatically as soon as the
cause has been rectified. 238
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays