Pit-Pony

If you change wheels (say for winter) I imagine you have to order another set of TPMs for the new set of wheels.

Is there a procedure for the car to learn the new tire pressure monitors?

In my other car you have to play around to set up the new TPMs, how do you do it for the C?

From what I read here it seems that US and Canadian spec cars may be different with the US using active while the Canadian is passive with no hardware in the wheels.

Can anyone confirm?

Thanks

..jack

angeloxnet

canadian cars dont have TPMS
I have aftermarket rims, and there is no TPMS in our cars
I'm in Toronto, Canada.

so winter rims wont matter

Pit-Pony

What about 2009 C Class models, I think they have TPMS in Canada?

michaeljdunn

When i got my rims installed they didnt think i had them but i told them i did. The put them on with out reinstalling the tpms.. And wut do u know i got error messages.. I had to show them my old wheels and show them the tpms. They took it back and reinstalled them.. Most of the time it will fit cause most of the valve stems are the same size. When i got them put on i still got error messeage but i asked the dealer and they said u had to drive the car for at least 15 miles before the message turns off... It finally turned off..

jrct9454

OK, one more time, altogether now.....

-USA models use an "active" TPMS system, in that each wheel has a pressure monitor as part of the valve. They operate at a fixed radio frequency, are expensive, and easy to damage. Without them, you will indeed get error messages.

-Canadian models use a "passive" TPMS, wherein underinflation is inferred by using the ABS system to measure the rate of rotation of each wheel. This is theoretically less precise, but a whole lot cheaper and vastly simpler.

Petje

I think we have the passive TPMS also here in Europe.

Egonvdv

correct

davily

Spoke to parts guys at MB Markham and for my 08 C230 they confirmed I do have TPMS and its a part of the value. I queried if he meant it checks using the ABS system to measure and he said "no, its in the actual value and I need to have this to avoid the error messages on the console" The device is about $100 each form MB.

I got it to admit this is all very confusing and partially driving me nuts as I try to ensure I am ordering the correct (and only necessary) parts. So based on this I am placing my order (with the TPMS) with Tirerack today and picking up my order at usaddressinc.com in Buffalo.

cdn_mb

My car definitely has TPMS. I've had a leaky rear tire and the warning (the screen in the speedometer turns red) kept coming on every few weeks until I had it repaired.

RLE

First of all, TPMS means Tire Pressure Monitoring System. The units in the wheels in US models are tire pressure sensors. Tire Rack gets about $170 US each for them and no dealer on the planet is going to sell them for $100.

I can't believe your Canadian model MB sold in Canada by a Canadian dealer (does that cover the bases?) has sensors in the wheels, despite what the genius behind the counter tells you.

Particularly since this subject has been beaten senseless here for nearly a year and every Canadian W204 owner posting here has said "no TP sensors in Canadian models."

Ted in Toronto

Another Canadian here, confirming we DO Not have pressure sensors in our wheels. The ABS system picks up the different rotational speed of an underinflated tire. US litigation (due to Ford Explorer rollovers because nobody bothers to check tire pressure) led to US legislation requiring this dubious and expensive technology. My TireRack winter tires and rims were ordered without the US-only sensors and there is no issue with the passive monitoring system used here. Try reading your Canadian manual and stop listening to the grade 12 scholar behind the parts counter!!!

Pit-Pony

Which wheels & tires did you order from Tirerack?

..jack

Waiting for mine in Nova Scotia

RLE

To quote the movie line, "Well, there it is."

GateKeeper

even easier way to tell

if it's a black rubbery vavle stem, you don't have TPMS

a TPMS valve stem is hard, and will not bend or move if wiggled

so I have been told

and my 09 C350 with the AMG 18" rims does not have TPMS in them, it's based off of the ABS....as I ordered a set of winter rims 16" and tires I might add, with no TPMS sensors required.

megawheelz dot com

shameless plug, just a place I found to be local and reasonably priced

cheers

Pit-Pony

Which 16" wheels will clear the C300 brakes and correct high offset on 14mm bolts?

..jack

GateKeeper

it's there MB knockoff, M115 T504 rim coming in at the end of the month, we will be test fitting to make sure but this rim was designed for our cars and the big brakes we have.

I will post, once I have them test fitted, and let you all know

Ted in Toronto

Here's my TireRack order from last fall:

17x7.5 Sport Edition F7 Silver Painted for 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport Sedan In Stock 4 $96.00 $384.00

225/45VR17 Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D for 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport Sedan In Stock 4 $141.00 $564.00

(The dealer had a great deal on winter tires/rims for about $2,400 - yea, right....)

Note: No Tire Pressure Monitors ordered................or needed.................

GateKeeper

plus tax and shipping

# Sub-Total$968.00
# Shipping$252.93
# Tax$252.19
# Total: $1,473.12

and this is in US funds, so add the 10-15 % for the exchange, it's starting to add up

the above is on the same setup as yours, but this years order if you were to do it,

my setup is $1350 tax's in with center caps, new bolts, balanced and mounted
and he might throw in some locking bolts as well...

Ted in Toronto

Actually, my order c/w shipping, duty, PST, GST, and McGard locks was $1,474.63; US and CDN $ were at par; and that was for 17", not the 16" you mentioned. Plus a year ago nobody in Toronto, except the dealers, had any winter wheel and tire packages - so I'm happy with my choice. The Dunlops are excellent tires, the C300 4matic is more capable in snow than my previous AWD XC70 with Gislaved snows.

GateKeeper

you then got yourself a great deal back then, too bad the same is not true this time around, with the weaker dollar, shipping costs and so on. I would be happy with your deal as well, how things change....

Now dealers have winter packages, starting at around 2400.00 and up to 4000.00 CDN, no thanks, well at least not for a leased vehicle....

For the money it cost me I cannot complain, I will only get two winters out of the car and it goes back, I then have rims/rubber that I cannot use, unless it's another MB, and who know's in 3 years, what I will be driving, hopefully I can sell them and get a few bucks back....

Cheers

Actually there was an option for a 17 inch setup, but I decided to go with the 16, I wanted more rubber than rim on my winter setup, and it was only 100 bucks or so more...

davily

Listen I was only stating what the guy behind the counter told me, obviously it was wrong and my apologies. I would expect MB to have the knowledge, but sadly they don't. Gives me a such a warm feeling knowing they have zero knowledge on such a simple question.

GateKeeper

Cool,,,,I just got my winter 16" rims and Yokohama 215/55/R16 97V winter tires put on today as well, and had the tint done last week 20% all the way around...., clear side markers already done....rear view camera next, and possibly X pipe...

And yes the 16" rims clear everything, no rubbing of any kind, offset is correct, bolt pattern matches perfectly, and hit 120 kmh already no vibrations or shiimy at all, I am a happy camper

they even threw in a set of lock nuts for me....wooohoo

I will try to post pics soon of the winter package..

jstaneff

Which rims did you get? Pics?

GateKeeper

from my earlier post, and got them from

megawheelz dot com

winter M115 T504 16" rims and Yokohama 215/55/R16 97V winter tires

no pics yet, maybe before the end of the weekend...

Pit-Pony

I know of a source for OEM Mercedes wheels from the US from a dealer ( has a lot of surplus wheels) at an absolutely incredible price if anyone is interested.