Has BMW had different TPM systems?

ScotchAndCigar · 03-24-2011, 04:16 PM

This is my 2nd BMW with RFTs and a tire pressure monitor system. However, it's the 1st time my non-TPM-sensor-equipped winter tires/wheels cause the TPM system to display "inactive" when I start the car.

I have the feeling that my last BMW ('06 Z4) had a TPM system which did not use sensors in the wheels, but rather it used the stability control system's wheel speed monitor to measure rotational diameter. Is this the case, or am I misinformed? One thing's for sure - I never got any warning lights or gongs from my Z4, and I used the same set of winter wheels.

Gary@TireRack · 03-24-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotchAndCigar

I have the feeling that my last BMW ('06 Z4) had a TPM system which did not use sensors in the wheels, but rather it used the stability control system's wheel speed monitor to measure rotational diameter. Is this the case, or am I misinformed?

Absolutely correct.

ScotchAndCigar · 03-24-2011, 07:44 PM

So why would they abandon the old system, which worked with any wheels and didn't require expensive in-wheel sensors?

tritonx · 03-24-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScotchAndCigar

So why would they abandon the old system, which worked with any wheels and didn't require expensive in-wheel sensors?

Regulation, muhahahaha.
It's for your own safety..., as always.

ZIPNBYE · 03-25-2011, 09:56 PM

US-mandate. They still use the Traction Control / ABS system in other countries...such as up here.

Walt White Coupe · 03-25-2011, 10:49 PM

The TPM sensor also changed in 2009 or there abouts. So their is an early version and a later version and the two are incompatable with each other.

Dackelone · 03-26-2011, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt White Coupe

The TPM sensor also changed in 2009 or there abouts. So their is an early version and a later version and the two are incompatable with each other.

There are two TPMS that use TPMS sensors. Sept/2010 builds is when they changed.

As stated above... BMW HAD to use this TPMS bc of a mandate from Congress. You can thank Ford and their ExplodeR/Firestone tires for that. So we have a USA TPMS and a ROW one. Canada gets the ROW one.

Dackel

jkp1187 · 03-26-2011, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

As stated above... BMW HAD to use this TPMS bc of a mandate from Congress. You can thank Ford and their ExplodeR/Firestone tires for that....

As well as their idiot customers, who apparently don't know how to periodically use a $1.00 tire pressure gauge.

BrokenVert · 03-26-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt White Coupe

The TPM sensor also changed in 2009 or there abouts. So their is an early version and a later version and the two are incompatable with each other.

They aren't incompatible. When my wheels cracked I needed a temp solution inorder to keep my life going so I borrowed my friends stock wheels and factory tpms. I have an 08 and he has a 10 my car reads his sensors perfectly

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkp1187

As well as their idiot customers, who apparently don't know how to periodically use a $1.00 tire pressure gauge.

Hey I was one of the first people to be part of that debacle. I can tell you that it had nothing to do with tire pressure. I check mine every two weeks.

I was driving on the highway at ~60-65 in my 00 302 Merc Mountaineer and I had a blowout in the rear. The tire completely stripped itself from the wheel. I controlled the car and brought it to a stop. After I got towed I demanded that the shop examine the rest of my tires. So they pulled them of. All three had sidewall and interior cracks like no tomorrow.

They were just a poorly designed tire compound that failed catastrophically. I do think that the amount of rollovers caused by the tire where pure human stupidity and the fact that nobody ever trains the vast majority of people in blowout control, ie don't hit the gas or break just ride it out.

Walt White Coupe · 03-26-2011, 02:28 PM

They aren't incompatible. When my wheels cracked I needed a temp solution inorder to keep my life going so I borrowed my friends stock wheels and factory tpms. I have an 08 and he has a 10 my car reads his sensors perfectly

Like I said I'm not sure about the year of the change but there are two models of sensors and you have to have the right ones for the system to recognize them. I know because I bought a new set of wheels from tire rack with tires and sensors installed for my 2011 and they installed the "older" sensor and I had to replace them with the newer sensors for the system to work.

Maybe our Tire Rack guru can chime in here.

ZIPNBYE · 03-26-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

They were just a poorly designed tire compound that failed catastrophically. I do think that the amount of rollovers caused by the tire where pure human stupidity and the fact that nobody ever trains the vast majority of people in blowout control, ie don't hit the gas or break just ride it out.

Actually, the tires were fine, it was Ford's insistance that the pressures be lower than designed to fix a handling deficiency of the Exploder / Mountaineer suspension that caused a tippy vehicle with the tires properly inflated, thus they affixed a door-jam sticker which listed a lower pressure. Driving on the tires with lower than optimum pressure is what caused all of the internal degredation and blow-outs. Ford blamed Firestone for a while, but in the end fessed up to the issue behind the issue.

BrokenVert · 03-26-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZIPNBYE

Actually, the tires were fine, it was Ford's insistance that the pressures be lower than designed to fix a handling deficiency of the Exploder / Mountaineer suspension that caused a tippy vehicle with the tires properly inflated, thus they affixed a door-jam sticker which listed a lower pressure. Driving on the tires with lower than optimum pressure is what caused all of the internal degredation and blow-outs. Ford blamed Firestone for a while, but in the end fessed up to the issue behind the issue.

hmm didnt know that Ford artificially lowered the recommended tire pressure. I always ran them a few pounds high though, highway driving. So it wasnt a pressure issue for me.

Regardless I was fine and my dealer payed for the busted wheel and all new tires. I went with BFGs and I still run them on the car now. Never had another issue with blown tires.

Although I should say that my Merc has the SVT H/O package, so I never had suspension issues with it.

jkp1187 · 03-28-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZIPNBYE

Actually, the tires were fine, it was Ford's insistance that the pressures be lower than designed to fix a handling deficiency of the Exploder / Mountaineer suspension that caused a tippy vehicle with the tires properly inflated, thus they affixed a door-jam sticker which listed a lower pressure. Driving on the tires with lower than optimum pressure is what caused all of the internal degredation and blow-outs. Ford blamed Firestone for a while, but in the end fessed up to the issue behind the issue.

This. Keith Bradsher covers the story quite well in his book, The High and the Mighty. Also, if the problems caused by the lowered recommended inflation pressure weren't enough, plenty of people (probably the sort who buy SUV's because they're 'safer',) were both overloading the vehicle AND not checking tire pressure.

Not saying Firestone is blameless, either - there may have been issues there as well.

03-24-2011, 04:16 PM	#1
ScotchAndCigar Banned 19 Rep 817 Posts Drives: 2011 128i space gray vert Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (0)	Has BMW had different TPM systems? This is my 2nd BMW with RFTs and a tire pressure monitor system. However, it's the 1st time my non-TPM-sensor-equipped winter tires/wheels cause the TPM system to display "inactive" when I start the car. I have the feeling that my last BMW ('06 Z4) had a TPM system which did not use sensors in the wheels, but rather it used the stability control system's wheel speed monitor to measure rotational diameter. Is this the case, or am I misinformed? One thing's for sure - I never got any warning lights or gongs from my Z4, and I used the same set of winter wheels.
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03-24-2011, 07:44 PM	#3
ScotchAndCigar Banned 19 Rep 817 Posts Drives: 2011 128i space gray vert Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (0)	So why would they abandon the old system, which worked with any wheels and didn't require expensive in-wheel sensors?
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03-25-2011, 09:56 PM	#5
ZIPNBYE Let's save military ranks for those who earn it! 45 Rep 1,161 Posts Drives: ...on the Ragged Edge Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada iTrader: (6) Garage List 2013 BMW e92 M3 Cou ... [7.50] 2013 BMW e84 X1 xDr ... [7.00]	US-mandate. They still use the Traction Control / ABS system in other countries...such as up here. __________________ Richard 2013 BMW M3 Individual -- Fire Orange (sold) 2013 BMW X1 xDrive35i M-Sport -- Valencia Orange (sold) 2011 BMW 1-series M Coupe (#205/220) -- Valencia Orange (sold) 2009 BMW 135i M-Sport Coupe -- Space Grey (sold)
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03-25-2011, 10:49 PM	#6
Walt White Coupe Captain 223 Rep 738 Posts Drives: 2013 650ix Coupe, 23 C8 Vette Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Phila, PA iTrader: (0)	The TPM sensor also changed in 2009 or there abouts. So their is an early version and a later version and the two are incompatable with each other.
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03-26-2011, 02:28 PM	#10
Walt White Coupe Captain 223 Rep 738 Posts Drives: 2013 650ix Coupe, 23 C8 Vette Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Phila, PA iTrader: (0)	They aren't incompatible. When my wheels cracked I needed a temp solution inorder to keep my life going so I borrowed my friends stock wheels and factory tpms. I have an 08 and he has a 10 my car reads his sensors perfectly Like I said I'm not sure about the year of the change but there are two models of sensors and you have to have the right ones for the system to recognize them. I know because I bought a new set of wheels from tire rack with tires and sensors installed for my 2011 and they installed the "older" sensor and I had to replace them with the newer sensors for the system to work. Maybe our Tire Rack guru can chime in here.
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