Hi everyone,
I have a 2006 S500 Sport. What kind of tires monitoring system got installed in my car? Is this the belt-sensor type or the valve/stem sensor type? I have a message saying "tires monitoring not operational - drive to workshop", is this anything serious? I also will need to replace a tire (driver-rear), is there any precaution about this system that I need to tell the tire shop? Thanks again for your help!

It is a BERU 315MHZ valve stem sensor type. Nothing to be careful of on your car except buying another one of those expensive peices of crap form the dealer. Go to tirerack, for very good replacements at half the price.

Thanks myo6clk, that was a quick response. Are these sensors covered under the basic 4/50K warranty? My car is currently at 28K+ miles. I check them out & see that they cost around $280 a piece. Can the dealer refuse the warranty because the owner did not use "approved" tire shops?

I would think it's covered. It's also possible that the central monitor itself has failed. I would bring it to the dealer.

This is such a common problem with these cars... I have mixed feelings about the so-called "safety factor" of these things but since they are there, then, they are there so I deal with them. The sensors are just super sensitive and they just don't last long. Honestly, I'd be surprised if they are covered because they go out so fast.. and by my experience, many dealers don't really go past what their scanner says...I have been told I needed three when I only needed one, and one when I needed three. I just went outside and replaced them all and got rid of my problems all together.

You can get 4 sensors for about 380.00 versus 300 a peice at the dealer. The AM sensors are made by the same company without the MB logo etched on them and for some strange reason seem more reliable.

BTW. Most equipped cars only last 2 to 3 years before experiencing some type of problem.. Nice fund raiser for the dealers.

Unless a part is listed in the maintenance manual with a replacement schedule, MB cannot refuse to replace it on warranty unless it has been damaged by abuse. If the stem was curbed you're obviously on your own, but otherwise they'd be hard pressed to call TPMS sensors wear items.

I just got the car a few days ago. All the wheels & valve stems look excellent.

One of my tire pressure sensors just went dead (3.5 years old) and my dealer told me that it is not covered under warranty as it is the battery in these sensors that wears out and batteries are not covered by the 4 year/50,000 mile warranty. And apparently the battery itself cannot be replaced but rather the entire sensor needs to be replaced.

Can anyone confirm? I will probably have all four replaced at the same time, but not by my dealer.

Thanks.

Lithium batteries are good for 10 years. I'd have asked for the old part back, tested the battery and raised hell when it checked out ok.

Guys,
I get the same msg too...I just reset it when turning on the car...my sensors still show the tire pressure readings for each sensor (and they are accurate, I have checked them against the gas station).

So it is more of a nuisance. Yea you can pay $400 if you don't feel like pressing the reset key when you get in the car...or pay nothing and have full functionality. My $0.02...

You can't open these sensors once they are sealed. So nobody ever changes the batteries and they must not be lithium because they never last more than a few years...

I didn't think they were covered I just couldn't remember why...

Like I said..the best thing to do is get a new set ( NOT FROM THE DEALER ) , and move on.

These things are a royal pain once they start acting up so your choice is to fix it or ignore it and keep hitting the reset every time you start the car and looking at the little yellow light in the corner of your MFD.

Oh BtW

This will also happen if you use your spare tire because the spares on these cars can not have sensors mounted...

Here's another thread where TPMS sensors were replaced on warranty.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...-v-12-a-2.html

I guess there are better dealers and worse dealers. I'd still give it a try.