TA Canada

Anyone know if it's possible to upgrade the Run Flat system to full TPMS on an ML350 BT? My previous Buick Enclaves had the system - active pressure readings in all 4 tires in both PSI & kpa settings.
This ML just has (as I'm told by the dealer) a rudimentary system that detects a flat or reduced pressure by the increased number of tire rotations as a tire that is lower in pressure, hence slightly smaller, will spin faster than the rest. The system doesn't even tell which tire, just that one (or more?) has a lower pressure/is flat.
I understand there is a full MB TPMS system available that reads individual pressures, etc. but that would have to be an upgrade to my current system. Can this be done after the fact?

TA Canada

Any feedback here, any ideas?

peter2772000

Evidently not, friend. It would seem that paying top dollar for "German engineering" does not ensure the latest in technology. My 2014 Grand Cherokee gave actual pressure read-outs as well, it was very practical.

TA Canada

Ain't that the truth! Just like them not having remote start. MB has some pretty ridiculous ideas on safety. Like adding a trailer hitch after as well. They want over $3,000 to install & wire one in.

Thanks for your reply.

Diabolis

Dude... why would you even consider "upgrading" to a TPMS system on an SUV? If you have a deflated tire and can't tell simply by the way the vehicle drives, you've got bigger problems and should probably consider surrendering your license.

termite

I confess that I would be hard pressed to tell if my tires were down five pounds, but I would not mind knowing at the push of a few buttons like on my Sierra 1500 Denali or my previous Ram 1500, Cayenne Turbo or Grand Cherokee...unlikely that I will surrender my license over that failing on my part. Sorry but it was a fairly respectable question from the original poster and it should not have merited a trollish response.

Diabolis

In that case allow me to introduce you to a valuable and much cheaper tool: the tire pressure gauge. You can buy one for well under $10 or use the free one available at most gas stations. Then there's the myriad of aftermarket TPMS systems that cost between $50 and $200 if you're too lazy to check your tire pressures once a month. Retrofitting a factory TPMS system on the other hand would probably cost about $3K in parts and another $10K in labour and is about as asinine of a question as they get.

termite

"Retrofitting a factory TPMS system on the other hand would probably cost about $3K in parts and another $10K in labour and is about as asinine of a question as they get."

Reminds me of the time that I wanted to install fog lights in my R500 Saks Edition. Dealer said that I need a new harness, quoted list for all of the parts and a significant charge for programming to make them work, coming to over $1k. After a bit of searching on the R class forum, I bought a used headlight switch with fog button and two lights on eBay, discovered that the harness was all there right up to the bumper, and had a local guy program the car to see that the car now had fogs. All in all it cost about $275 and while I did not need fog lights, I considered it a diverting project for an afternoon. The point is that you don't know until you search the various forums and ask questions. Certainly not up to me to decide whose wants are valid or what questions are "asinine," but what do I know about how to behave in public?

HAILERS2

It is a bit odd. I've a 2014 ML350 Bluetec that shows the pressure in all four tires. I wonder why the '15 you have does not have this feature. A Canadian 'thing'? As in those cars are built different?

TA Canada

Hailer you are correct. I know the "full" TPMS with pressure read-outs per tire is available for the W166 ML version. Why it's not on this "loaded" ML could be a Cdn build thing?

Diabolus, why should you give a crap what anyone wants to put on their vehicle? If answering a legitimate question responsibly is not in your realm of understanding then perhaps silence would serve us all better. To paraphrase your reply, "If you have a deflated brain and can't tell simply by the way you think, you've got bigger problems and should probably surrender your pen."

Diabolis

I did answer it responsibly. The responsible car operator should at the very least have some familiarity with how a vehicle drives and what basic checks they need to occasionally perform in order to ensure everyone's safety including their own. If they can't do that, they shouldn't be driving.

TA Canada

Gotcha!

jrsmith_68

Its really much easier than depicted. All you need is the TPMS module, A0009003704 (that is the module for my 2015 ML400, assume the same for yours) and 4 TPMS sensors. Maybe you need a harness, I could check for you if you give me your VIN. Used module on ebay $100, four sensors (A0009050030) $12.50 each on ebay. The real challenge comes in with coding the vehicle. These newer vehicles require SCN coding for all modules unless you have a way around it like Vediamo. I would think your dealer would not be too opposed to adding code 475 but you may want to check first. Or if you want to drive to Illinois I'll do it for some beer.

TA Canada

Now this is interesting. Thanks for the info, I'll check it out on my side and then the dealer. Much appreciated. Cheers

jrsmith_68

Diabolis

You would void the vehicle warranty the moment you start tinkering with the vehicle coding, and no authorized dealer / service center would go anywhere near it even of they could - which they can't. Yes, the module requires SCN coding and the only options available through DAS / Xentry are those that were factory installed for that particular VIN, and no dealership or service center has the ability to override this. If it doesn't show up on the vehicle VIN, you can't "legally" install it using any legitimate MB tool. Yet another reason not to even attempt this - but what do I know, I'm just being pragmatic which is apparently not the case with everyone here.

Sure, if you have the time, knowledge, tools (including Vediamo), parts and are willing to void your vehicle warranty in the process (and did I mention money to burn?), then yes, you may be able to retrofit it or pay someone else to do it for you, but for those of us that just need a reliable car to drive instead of a "project" or to simply satisfy a curiosity and /or a desire to learn, attempting to install a factory TPMS retrofit to a current model ML is still an asinine idea.

Diabolis

It WAS much easier than depicted because on your W203 you could code offline whatever you wanted. That is no longer the case.

kombifan

Diabolis

Can you please link some? I can't find a single one involving a retrofit of any description that involves SCN coding. The MB servers do not allow coding of modules that were not enabled for that particular VIN... so yeah, I'd love to see one that was done as a legitimate upgrade by a dealer / service center as opposed to simply being hacked by some indie shop.

kombifan

Diabolis

Er - no. I just went through that entire thread and couldn't find a post that shows or claims that someone actually had the coding done at a dealership or authorized Mercedes service center (but I found several where they specifically stated that they couldn't get it done at a dealership). Where did you see it please? Sorry to be a pain, but what you claim doesn't make any sense.

P.S. Allow me to reference a key post (#81 - five or so back from the latest one) by the OP in the thread you linked:

https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w...ml#post7490928

This only proves that even a "shady" dealer in Spain that is willing to tinker with a customer vehicle can't add SCN coding that wasn't present on that particular vehicle VIN. Again - please show me ONE post that shows anyone doing this successfully without hacking it with Vediamo (which would by definition void any manufacturer warranty).