The invention relates to a sensor system for distance measuring for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one ultrasonic sensor with a sensor housing and at least one membrane with a membrane diameter that is capable of being electrically stimulated into vibrations and a control unit for controlling the at least one membrane as well as for detecting vibrations of the at least one membrane, wherein the control unit is configured to stimulate in a measuring mode the at least one membrane into vibrations with a measuring frequency and a measuring amplitude. The control unit is configured to stimulate the at least one membrane in a cleaning mode into such vibrations that the sensor housing is set into vibrations with a housing amplitude that amounts to at least 1% of the membrane diameter. Further, the invention relates to a motor vehicle and a method for cleaning an ultrasonic sensor.