TPM / TPMS revisited

[Colin_E]

I know already from questions asked here previously that my 2015 20i MSport 'should' have TPMS but after an alert popped up today I still have doubts and wonder if my sensors could have been swapped for something earlier before I bought the car. My wheels have 2015 embossed on them so they at least are likely to be original. Why the doubts? Firstly an alert today asked me to check & initialise TPM (not TPMS). Secondly though there's no actual wheel by wheel pressure reading like there is on my Merc - which I always thought TPMS should provide? Turned out to be a false alarm with a less than 0.1 bar difference between the rears and none at all at the front but made me question nonetheless.

Oh and here's a pic - shot with my new drone whilst experimenting with it today. Not too bad for a drone IMHO.

 

[AnubisZed]

There are 2 systems, the earlier version is FTM and the later TPM (TPMS)
I've added screenshots of both just ignore the actual trye pressure readings on the screen as that's a special coding, not standard).

The way to tell is the tyre valve itself, if it's metal then its a TPMS valve, if it's rubber then it's a standard valve.

I'd say you've got TPM and it's as it should be.

 

[Colin_E]

Thanks for the response, Dave. That's useful. Yes it seems I have TPM with metal valve stems and a similar iDrive display to you though WITHOUT the actual pressure readings - see photo. What do I need to do to code these readings? That's actually what I thought I was missing (the handbook says "the current tyre inflation pressures are also displayed in the status control display" on page 101).

 

[B21]

Could be that somebody in the past put TPMS equipped wheels on a FTM car…

I did that …inadvertently..

 

[tonyg]

Thanks for the response, Dave. That's useful. Yes it seems I have TPM with metal valve stems and a similar iDrive display to you though WITHOUT the actual pressure readings - see photo. What do I need to do to code these readings? That's actually what I thought I was missing (the handbook says "the current tyre inflation pressures are also displayed in the status control display" on page 101).

IMG_1460.jpg (149.33 KiB) Viewed 88 times

I get the same green tyre display Colin and wondered how to get pressures themselves.

 

[Colin_E]

I get the same green tyre display Colin and wondered how to get pressures themselves.

Yeah, I think it's clear enough now that my TPM(S) is working as it should and I was mistaken in expecting actual pressure readings as standard. Nonetheless I'd value having them so I'm interested to know how big a deal it is to code them.
I have a 'Carly' device though my sub has lapsed.
INPA etc seems like a biggish learning curve.
Bimmergeeks Protool is something I'd probably consider if it would do this but nothing on their site tells you what it will or won't code.
So I'd truly welcome a bit of guidance on what is needed,

 

[Pondrew]

[/quote]

Yeah, I think it's clear enough now that my TPM(S) is working as it should and I was mistaken in expecting actual pressure readings as standard. Nonetheless I'd value having them so I'm interested to know how big a deal it is to code them.

Here you go. £5 but does take all the effort of unscrewing the caps! :roll:

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/masterpro-tyre-pressure-gauge-pencil-type-538773711

 

[B21]

I get the same green tyre display Colin and wondered how to get pressures themselves.

Yeah, I think it's clear enough now that my TPM(S) is working as it should and I was mistaken in expecting actual pressure readings as standard. Nonetheless I'd value having them so I'm interested to know how big a deal it is to code them.
I have a 'Carly' device though my sub has lapsed.
INPA etc seems like a biggish learning curve.
Bimmergeeks Protool is something I'd probably consider if it would do this but nothing on their site tells you what it will or won't code.
So I'd truly welcome a bit of guidance on what is needed,

Protool codes everything that can be coded…sometimes you require expert mode but tech support is great if you need to go there..

I have ISTA, had Carly but use Protool for 99% of what I need to do…

 

[AnubisZed]

Sorry guys, the display of tyre pressure is not possible on the CIC iDrive system, it's a NBT mod.

 

[AnubisZed]

Yeah, I think it's clear enough now that my TPM(S) is working as it should and I was mistaken in expecting actual pressure readings as standard. Nonetheless I'd value having them so I'm interested to know how big a deal it is to code them.

Here you go. £5 but does take all the effort of unscrewing the caps! :roll:

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/masterpro-tyre-pressure-gauge-pencil-type-538773711

:rofl:

 

[AnubisZed]

Whoops double post

 

[Marcoose]

Sorry guys, the display of tyre pressure is not possible on the CIC iDrive system, it's a NBT mod.

You’re a big teaser, you know?
:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Colin_E]

@AnubisZed - thats a pity but thanks for letting me know before I get too far down the rabbit hole.

@Pondrew - LOL, I carry one already as a matter of routine, but when you get the message on iDrive to check / reinitialise TPM just as you're entering the motorway it's a tough call whether to keep going and assume it won't be a big deal OR pull over immediately and check. On my Merc which does display pressures its an easy call to check the display first & then decide. So yeah - I think it would be worth having.

 

[enuff_zed]

@AnubisZed - thats a pity but thanks for letting me know before I get too far down the rabbit hole.

@Pondrew - LOL, I carry one already as a matter of routine, but when you get the message on iDrive to check / reinitialise TPM just as you're entering the motorway it's a tough call whether to keep going and assume it won't be a big deal OR pull over immediately and check. On my Merc which does display pressures its an easy call to check the display first & then decide. So yeah - I think it would be worth having.

And even if you do pull over and check you still won't know, as the pressures quoted are from cold.
You'd need to find out which one was low, then check the other side and pump the low one up to match it.

 

[AnubisZed]

Sorry guys for the confusion

As far as the pressure reading on the screen remember this, the iDrive CIC system first came out in 2008 and finished in most cars in 2013 with the introduction of NBT, it's only the E89 that had it up to end of production in August 2016. No updates have been available since 2012 and even then nothing major was added. We've got to remember that we have an old car with an even older entertainment system :driving:

 

[Pondrew]

We've got to remember that we have an old car with an even older entertainment system

Indeed. That's why my sat nav doesn't show motorway services, just farriers and coaching Inns.

 

[AnubisZed]

We've got to remember that we have an old car with an even older entertainment system

Indeed. That's why my sat nav doesn't show motorway services, just farriers and coaching Inns.

:rofl:

 

[tonyg]

Sorry guys for the confusion

As far as the pressure reading on the screen remember this, the iDrive CIC system first came out in 2008 and finished in most cars in 2013 with the introduction of NBT, it's only the E89 that had it up to end of production in August 2016. No updates have been available since 2012 and even then nothing major was added. We've got to remember that we have an old car with an even older entertainment system :driving:

"Old car, old entertainment system," that's why it's so fully tested and so reliable

 

[ThirdMLC]

Hi - I’ve got a related question on TPM / TPMS please:
Just got a 2010 Z4 sDrive 23i (without iDrive) which had some e46 (MV2) wheels fitted a few years ago. Despite having the correct tyre pressures all round and resetting the tyre setting on the dashboard display, it quickly reverts to a Red Tyre warning symbol after a few seconds. I’ve checked the user manual but it doesn’t explain what the red warning sign means:
Is it due to a lack of TPMS sensors in the older alloy wheels (assuming it’s a TPMS system) ?
or
A fault in the TPM (wheel rotation / ABS sensors etc) ?
Any help would be appreciated as I’m getting conflicting messages from local tyre fitters / alloy refurbishers.
Thanks in advance

PS. This is my first forum post, but will likely not be the last :wink:

 

[B21]

Assuming you are UK you have tyre flat monitor not TPMS ..so it doesn’t matter what you stick in your wheels..it could be either a faulty sensor on one wheel and or badly mismatched tyres…what size tyres are you running on what wheels?

As usual a decent fault code reader that is good for bmw is your friend..