Savannahian

First post here. I have the above car. Does anyone know if it comes with TPMS or if I can add an after market or OEM? I've googled and can't find answers.

I bought vehicle used but can't find if it has one and just needs sensors or if I need to find one.

It's hard to believe ths awesome vehicle doesn't have it.

Thanks in advance for the help!

lazlion99

Pretty sure all 550s come with TPMS. Turn ignition key two clicks without starting and you should see a yellow tire icon on your dash.

Yidney

I'm sure it does. It is one of the menus in the center of your speedometer. Use the lower left side buttons on your steering wheel to go from folder to folder, and the up down arrows within each folder. You'll get to one that says "TMPS active" or similar words. You can reset it to whatever pressure you are running.

If you let some air out of a tire you'll see the red warning message in your center cluster.

lazlion99

Hmm.. you mean I can change the setting so the "low pressure" beeps sound at 29 psi if I wish? I didn't know that.

Louie D

Thats thats strange mine does not.. POS lol

Yidney

Yours does not what? Reset? Look in your manual for calibrate TPMS. It's not number-specific - e.g., 29lbs. You just relciabrate it so "normal" is whatever is in the tires when you recalibrate it, so then it reads from there. Takes about 5 seconds to do in the instrument cluster menu.

Louie D

There nothing in the menu about TPMS.

Yidney

That surpises me. So yours does not have the system at all? What do your valve stems look like? Are they all metal or are they a normal black rubber stem? I do not see TPMS as an option on '08s anyway, so thought it was standard on all 550s.

Yidney

I'll be darned. If you google "Standard equipment 2007 CLK550" and do the same for 2008, and go the Yahoo autos site, TPMS is listed as standard for 08 but not 07 under "Instrumentation."

Louie D

Yup just black rubber like a normal tire.

Savannahian

I don't think it has one! argh! Here's a pic.

Is there anything I can do? Aftermarket, that's reliable?

And thanks for the help! I greatly appreciate it!

Louie D

Be honest with you I am glad I don't have it more a cost to have them when buying tires, more BS to worry about. Just do it the old fashion way buy a tire gauge

Rudeney

Yep, TPMS was an "option" until MY2008. And I agree, Louie - I'm glad I don't have it. Every car I've had with it requires some recalibration when temps change dramatically, and then replacing tires adds another $20 each to deal with the special handling of the sensors and their o-ring kits.

Klinh

Mercedes start installed TPMS only starting in 2009 models. I persoanlly don't like it. It cost me $250 extra for the 4 sensors when I bought 19" wheel for my Slk55.

Yidney

2008, not 2009.

Klinh

Some cars build date in 08" but it an 09" models.

lazlion99

At least 5 hours after getting back from the dealer for a oil change, I started the engine and TPMS light came on as I was ready to pull out. Got out, checked all tires, 36 psi all around. Thought it was weird, so I followed the instructions posted here. found the "TPMS active" menu which read "menu: R button". Next screen, it said something like" to restart - Yes or No. I chose Yes and the warning went away. There was no other options.
My point is - I don't think there is way I can change the preset value. At least I don't see how I can do it.

Yidney

I don't think it's matter of changing a preset value. I don't think it reads actual pressure, but a differential in pressure from some starting point. So if you reset it when all tires are at 30, it will think 30 is normal, and only warn you if you drop to 25 or whatever. But if you reset it when all tires are 45, it will think 45 is normal, and warn you if you drop to 40 or so. At least that's my understanding.

Fatz

The general trigger point for an indirect TPMS is 25% less than the reset value. The indirect system uses tire rotations and speed, sometimes in conjuntion with the ABS, to calculate if a tire is within or outside the 25% range.

Mercedes uses a direct TPMS which is capable of measuring the pressure within each tire. I don't know if MB makes the info available per tire. May do some testing this weekend.

TPMS became a requirement on 2008 vehicles forward.

Yidney

What sort of "testing" are you planning on doing?

Fatz

I'm going to inflate all tires to 45psi, reset tpms, drive a few hundred feet, lower the pressure in one tire in 10% increments and drive. Will repeat deflating and driving till i get a warning.

Will read owners manual and extract as much info as i can; is tire identified; is pressure given.

Yidney

It won't identify pressure or the tire. The center of your cluster turns red and tells you to check your tire pressures. I've seen mine go off several a times.

boomerburt

I have a 2007 CLK350 and was quite surprised to find today that it has no TPMS. My '04 Mazda RX8 (built in '03) had it with never a malfunction and I assumed with all the other whiz-bang electronics on this M-B that it would be there. I learned it didn't when my wife drove home from an all-day trip with a rear tire very low...almost flat. No blow out, but the side-wall is deeply grooved from driving with low pressure.

The tire is almost new. The replacement will cost nearly as much as the TPMS system would have. My '04 Ford Expedition has TPMS. I am now embarrassed to drive around for fear that people will notice the rubber valve-stems and think me backwards or cheap.

I'm getting to like this car less and less. The head-unit design is a pain in the *** to operate the nav system. Now I find I have a wheel system from the previous century. Major bummer!

Rudeney

Actually, I hate TPMS. Most of them don't actually check the pressure, but instead alert to relative pressure changes. My BMW would let me know each time there was a greater then 20 degree change in ambient temperature from evening to morning by squealing about TPMS. It adds anywhere from $10 to $50 per tire when you replace them because they have to buy a dealer-supplied TPMS rebuild kit. Yes, a low tire can be a safety hazard and can damage a rim, but I can count on one hand how many flat tires I've had (yes, one last month in the CLK).

boomerburt

I feel you, Rodney. I hate when things do not perform as advertised and designed. But all the anti-TPMS comments remind me of the arguments against seat belt laws forty years ago. I am sure there are individuals in cemeteries that could count on one finger the number of times they had a flat tire...if they could still count.

TPMS has worked well for me on the two vehicles I have owned which were so-equipped. I am sure that years down the line the technology will improve (as seat belt function has) and people would not consider driving without them in place. In my lifetime people have embraced seat belts and largely quit smoking. I have every expectation that TPMS will follow seat belt acceptance.
Burt