C230KM and Snow

[YiLi]

Had my first experience driving the C230 Kompressor, Manual in the ice/slush/snow mix. No mishaps but the vehicle's performance was all new to me. Whenever easing out of full stop in first gear - exclamation point appeared on the dash but after a sensation of lugging we got going. (I'm assuming traction was up to the vehicle's expectation) At first I thought the lug was more like a wheel lock but said naaah-. Later when the snow deepened and I had to pull into an inclined driveway (an L-right turn from a narrow street into the drive on a dead end) when I reached the drive's incline mid-point- exclamation point stayed steady lit and this time the wheels did lock, there was no going forward at all- I shifted back to neutral and rolled down the incline to startover. Second time I had a little more acceleration before the incline, it paused at the same spot, felt like the wheels were locked and the car would stall but creeped over the lock point and into the drive.

So obviously I need some driving advice. This is my first experience with what to me is advanced vehicle technology. In the old days, on that incline after stopping, I would have overridden the point even if it meant a lack of stability until the vehicle regained traction. If first gear didn't do it, I would have used second. Can I do the same thing with the C230? Did I hesitate at the new sensation and should have gotten off the clutch and accelerated over the 'lock' or shifted in second(that used to work on the old Corrado), or waited for the vehicle to do some kind of readjustment on its own and then would have gone up the drive, etc.?

Right now I am trying to determine if this is the worst ice/snow vehicle I've ever had or possibly the best (and safest) and I just don't know how to drive it.

thanks for any input.

[RG5384]

you could always just try to give it more gas and see what happens, you could try shifting into second as well, if the computer doesn't like it then it simply won't let you do it. Could always try it out at an unplowed parking lot or something...
just a suggestion.

Ryan

P.S. On my dad's 528i with DSC, it won't let the wheels spin, it will transfer enough power to the wheels that the wheels can actually use. E.g it won't let them spin, maybe your car is the same way. On the BMW there is a switch to turn it off, however

[OhioMercedesBoy]

This is why they put the switch to turn the ASR off. Sometimes, traction control systems hinder movement more than they help it. I am a lot tech at a Saturn dealer. When we go to move cars to plow out their spots, usually there is a large ridge of snow plowed in front of them already about half to 3/ 4 bumper height. All you can do is start it up, turn the TCS off, nail the throttle, and plow through the ridge.
~D.J.~

[YiLi]

OK DJ that would be my kind of solution- thanks and I do think tkamiya has a point, the vehicle was sold with what was promo'd as high performance tires- but since I travel a lot between 'snow country' and the south I'm not sure I want to change tires yet- but I plan to go on over a read the Farmer's Almanac- but will also try Ryan's suggestion once we're dug out; now that I feel more comfortable that I will not do some irretrievable damage, perhaps I was too cautious- after all it is a Mercedes, worked hard for -