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Does Sentry Driver work with older Model S and Model X?

Pre-2021 Model S and Model X have different requirements depending on hardware.

Sentry Driver uses Tesla’s Fleet Telemetry API, which has specific hardware requirements:

Pre-2021 Model S/X with MCU2:

  • Supported with firmware 2025.20 or newer
  • Does not require key pairing - instead, enable “Allow Third-Party App Data Streaming” in your vehicle’s Settings > Safety menu
  • Full real-time telemetry features available once firmware requirement is met

Pre-2021 Model S/X with MCU1:

  • Not supported - hardware limitation that cannot be resolved through software updates
  • MCU1 vehicles (typically manufactured before March 2018) lack the necessary hardware capabilities
  • No workaround available

How to know which MCU you have:

  • MCU1: Slower touchscreen, manufactured before ~March 2018
  • MCU2: Faster, more responsive touchscreen, or MCU2 retrofit installed
  • If your vehicle can receive firmware 2025.20+, you likely have MCU2

MCU2 Upgrade:

Tesla offers an MCU2 retrofit for some older vehicles. If your vehicle has MCU1, contact Tesla Service to see if you’re eligible for the upgrade. This would enable Fleet Telemetry support.