Parking sensor retrofit - $6000 ??

[neroden]

This falls in the category of things which are trivial to do, but tedious. Just disassemble the car and put it back together, no problem... Audio aftermarket shops do this often. Just huge labor costs.

 

[tdiggity]

Do you know what's involved in that? Routing wires might be a pain, but third party shops do that sort of thing all the time. I suppose there's more to it than routing the wires, but what?

Easy stuff:
1. Get all required things: sensors, brains, etc.
2. Wire them in. Easier if you have a friend's car to reference.

Unknown stuff:
* Can you get the service center to enable parking sensors in the admin screen (press and hold the tesla T), or do you need some special variant of the software that we don't know about yet

We just need someone brave enough to try. Tapping into the CANbus system has been done on other car manufacturers (audi, bmw, porsche, mb), so there's nothing magical about that. But, getting the sensors activated and responding correctly is a big unknown. If BMWs can retrofit new nav systems into old cars, it can be done on Teslas, just a matter of time and getting someone to experiment with it. seems like this info is becoming more available, so i would be surprised if it took more than a year for someone to try.

 

[artsci]

Easy stuff:
1. Get all required things: sensors, brains, etc.
2. Wire them in. Easier if you have a friend's car to reference.

Unknown stuff:
* Can you get the service center to enable parking sensors in the admin screen (press and hold the tesla T), or do you need some special variant of the software that we don't know about yet

We just need someone brave enough to try. Tapping into the CANbus system has been done on other car manufacturers (audi, bmw, porsche, mb), so there's nothing magical about that. But, getting the sensors activated and responding correctly is a big unknown. If BMWs can retrofit new nav systems into old cars, it can be done on Teslas, just a matter of time and getting someone to experiment with it. seems like this info is becoming more available, so i would be surprised if it took more than a year for someone to try.

I think the Tesla electronics, particularly those regarding the touch screen and instrument panel, are a lot more complicated that the usual auto stuff. WhiteP85 can attest to that from his efforts to develop a switch for the front camera idea. Nothing conventional worked. Of course a separate bumper sensor system is a piece of cake. But something integrated into the Tesla electronics is another story altogether.

 

[tdiggity]

I think the Tesla electronics, particularly those regarding the touch screen and instrument panel, are a lot more complicated that the usual auto stuff. WhiteP85 can attest to that from his efforts to develop a switch for the front camera idea. Nothing conventional worked. Of course a separate bumper sensor system is a piece of cake. But something integrated into the Tesla electronics is another story altogether.

But if the sensors are hooked into the car correctly, the software should just take over. If you bought all the oem sensors and associated boxes, hooked them together as if they came from the factory, then I assume that the firmware would take over as if it were installed from the factory. The looming question in my mind is can you flip a switch in the software (in the admin menu that I previously mentioned, it's been documented to be there) and have it just work, or is there some special sauce you need the service center to do (and will they do it).

Edit: I thought parking sensors was a 'thing' in the hidden admin menu, but it's not (according to this video): Tesla Model S Hidden Menus - YouTube. Still, I would think someone somewhere at tesla could flip the parking sensor switch to get that going.

Of course, this is all speculation.

 

[markb1]

Easy stuff:
1. Get all required things: sensors, brains, etc.
2. Wire them in. Easier if you have a friend's car to reference.

Unknown stuff:
* Can you get the service center to enable parking sensors in the admin screen (press and hold the tesla T), or do you need some special variant of the software that we don't know about yet

We just need someone brave enough to try. Tapping into the CANbus system has been done on other car manufacturers (audi, bmw, porsche, mb), so there's nothing magical about that. But, getting the sensors activated and responding correctly is a big unknown. If BMWs can retrofit new nav systems into old cars, it can be done on Teslas, just a matter of time and getting someone to experiment with it. seems like this info is becoming more available, so i would be surprised if it took more than a year for someone to try.

I might be willing to try, if I can get much better technical information about how to do it. (And assuming Tesla doesn't charge an arm and a leg for parts. I'm thinking $500 or less for parts, since that's what the option costs.)

- - - Updated - - -

Edit: I thought parking sensors was a 'thing' in the hidden admin menu, but it's not (according to this video): Tesla Model S Hidden Menus - YouTube.

Possibly just old software. (Video is from May. I think that was before parking sensors.)

 

[artsci]

But if the sensors are hooked into the car correctly, the software should just take over. If you bought all the oem sensors and associated boxes, hooked them together as if they came from the factory, then I assume that the firmware would take over as if it were installed from the factory. The looming question in my mind is can you flip a switch in the software (in the admin menu that I previously mentioned, it's been documented to be there) and have it just work, or is there some special sauce you need the service center to do (and will they do it).

Edit: I thought parking sensors was a 'thing' in the hidden admin menu, but it's not (according to this video): Tesla Model S Hidden Menus - YouTube. Still, I would think someone somewhere at tesla could flip the parking sensor switch to get that going.

Of course, this is all speculation.

IMHO there's no way it would be that easy. Not.

 

[EarlyAdopter]

As soon as I can buy the sensors, wiring harness, and any additional stuff needed (control module?) from Tesla, I'll be happy to have a local aftermarket shop install them and be the guinnea pig for this. I'm sure with enough friendly pestering I can get my service center to flip the bit in the service menu.

Again, it's the integration with the dash display I want from this, so other after market options are uninteresting to me.

 

[Panacea]

As soon as I can buy the sensors, wiring harness, and any additional stuff needed (control module?) from Tesla, I'll be happy to have a local aftermarket shop install them and be the guinnea pig for this. I'm sure with enough friendly pestering I can get my service center to flip the bit in the service menu.

Again, it's the integration with the dash display I want from this, so other after market options are uninteresting to me.

^^^ + 1.

 

[ken830]

One thing that I haven't heard mentioned (and this would be the absolute best scenario) -- What if the newer firmware automatically enables the parking sensor display when the factory sensors are properly connected and detected?

 

[tdiggity]

One thing that I haven't heard mentioned (and this would be the absolute best scenario) -- What if the newer firmware automatically enables the parking sensor display when the factory sensors are properly connected and detected?

That's what I said above. It could happen, but worst case you need tesla to flip the bit to make the system aware. Most other canbus cars aren't programmed to auto sense equipment, they need to be activated at the dealer.

 

[AmpedRealtor]

One thing that I haven't heard mentioned (and this would be the absolute best scenario) -- What if the newer firmware automatically enables the parking sensor display when the factory sensors are properly connected and detected?

I highly doubt that those components would be "plug and play" at the assembly level.

 

[aaronw]

I was under the impression that parking sensors would not be all that expensive to add later. It was implied at Teslive that the wiring was in place and it was simply a matter of installing the sensors. I was disappointed to learn otherwise.

 

[mdh]

I have sent a few emails to TM ownership asking the to find a solution for the early owners over the last several months... I hope they don't forget about us.

 

[artsci]

I was under the impression that parking sensors would not be all that expensive to add later. It was implied at Teslive that the wiring was in place and it was simply a matter of installing the sensors. I was disappointed to learn otherwise.

Hate to dash any hopes but it's a certainty that wiring is not in place on the cars built prior June 2013.

 

[nastynate510]

was at the Fremont center getting my rotors replaced. there was a car getting a sensor retrofit done for $5800.

 

[brianstorms]

So if one's car was manufactured in August 2013, the wiring harness is prolly in place, right?
Would it cost me $5800 to get a retrofit?

 

[mdh]

was at the Fremont center getting my rotors replaced. there was a car getting a sensor retrofit done for $5800.

I have called TM a few times... they won't offer this to me... must be a special case.

 

[pgiralt]

mdh, did you talk to your local service center? I mentioned it in passing one time while I was at my local service center and the general consensus was they would just have to order all the parts and then charge for parts and labor. No way I'd pay that much to get it done, but I think if you're willing, they'll do it for you. Also, I imagine you'd be left with a front and rear bumper that you could go off and sell to recoup some of that money because part of the cost is complete replacement of both bumpers.

 

[Eggplant]

Maybe it's only offered in Fremont? That's where all the magical hole punching equipment is supposed to be.

 

[gaswalla]

Friend of mine owns a Signature.. received a quote for $5k (1k labor and 5k parts) for a retrofit. He's getting it installed anyday now in San Diego.