Originally Posted by woody

I think you are correct about it being a manual transmission protection feature that is not necessary on the auto. I think I have this problem licked now though with an electronic widget that simulates Golfdude's front wheel spinning shenanigans. I will be back at the dyno to test it for real when time permits. ...As an aside, I just watched tonight's Fifth Gear and Tiff was at the MB test track testing an AMG ML 'something or other'. On the skid pan he was fighting the ESP so an engineer cam out and 'entered a secret code' and completely disabled it - it was sideways all the way after that!