Here's a snip from page 100 of the November 'Car and Driver'...
"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 intermediate 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 skid pad 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."
...Let me know if it works on the 300 and/or Magnum!
"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 intermediate 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 skid pad 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."
...Let me know if it works on the 300 and/or Magnum!
