TPMS

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by MotoM

I have a 06 Z4M and just purchased new wheels and tires. I explained to discount tire about the sensors and I need them transferred. They informed me on my model I don't have sensors but more of a indirect system. I didn't believe them so when the tire came off I inspected it and they were right, no TPMS and my light never illuminated. I'm really happy with new wheels and tires with no mods or tuning.

Nice to see them being honest.

[wdb]

My TPMS light came on last night just as we were pulling out of the driveway. I thought 'oh crap here we go again' but it went out almost immediately. I guess one of the sensors lost touch for a short time, possibly due to sub-freezing temperatures.

[Steenos]

Yeah, mine is on constantly.

[seank]

Originally Posted by MotoM

I have a 06 Z4M and just purchased new wheels and tires. I explained to discount tire about the sensors and I need them transferred. They informed me on my model I don't have sensors but more of a indirect system. I didn't believe them so when the tire came off I inspected it and they were right, no TPMS and my light never illuminated. I'm really happy with new wheels and tires with no mods or tuning.

Huh.

It isnt stock. You should buy a lottery ticket.

[elerner61]

Yeah, the TPMS system is a little "wonky" on this car.

How can you convert to the 2006 "wheel speed" setup?

[Polarbert]

I thought this was a feature that wasn't installed on Z4Ms.

[Steenos]

Luckily my shop I use can test which one is gone. I'm not willing to replace all 4 at once.

[Twixboy]

Originally Posted by Polarbert

I thought this was a feature that wasn't installed on Z4Ms.

What feature, TPMS or the use of physical sensors in each tire? All Z4's have TPMS. The pre-facelift models (03-05) use ABS sensors that measure wheel rotational speed, whereas the newer ones have a tire sensor. I forget what year it was introduced.

[Shipkiller]

TPMS (not RDC (rotational)) was introduced mid-year 2006. This is technology that is mandated by the US (and other countries) if you do not have a spare tire installed.

The system works. There are very few who have any difficulties with the system.
Lets not create a mountain out of a mole hill.....

[Twixboy]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

TPMS (not RDS (rotational)) was introduced mid-year 2006. This is technology that is mandated by the US (and other countries) if you do not have a spare tire installed.

The system works. There are very few who have any difficulties with the system.
Lets not create a mountain out of a mole hill.....

Interesting, I always called the RDS technology TPMS too. It has the same light on the dash. Is that not the correct terminology? My wife's newer Audi doesn't have TPMS sensors - it uses the rotational ABS sensor just like my 2004 Z4. I'm pretty sure the official literature just says TPMS.

[Shipkiller]

Sorry, I mispoke.
BMW actually calls the pre-2006 system, the Tire Defect Indicator RPA. The RPA system monitoring is performed by the ABS and DSC MK60 module.
The RPA does not report actual tire pressure so it really is not a TPMS system.

The post/mid 2006 is called Tire Pressure Control RDC which also consists of the Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) and is not controlled by the DSC MK60E5 (newer module, modified from the E90 series) which has its own controller called the RDC module.


The TPM sensors do report actual tire pressure values to the RDC module. Those values are not displayed on the car. I can only assume that this is a packaging issue (where do you put it in the car) and cost saving issue.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

TPMS (not RDC (rotational)) was introduced mid-year 2006. This is technology that is mandated by the US (and other countries) if you do not have a spare tire installed.

TPMS was mandatory in the US as of 2008, spare tire or no. It may or may not work well but it's definitely a PITA for those of us who like to, say, have two sets of wheels for different seasons.

[Shipkiller]

I have three sets of wheels, each with a set of TPMS sensors installed. I have zero issues, and never have....

One set, in the summer, might get swapped on the car just for the weekend.

The system just works, as proven on over a million other BMW's that have the same system.

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

TPMS (not RDC (rotational)) was introduced mid-year 2006. This is technology that is mandated by the US (and other countries) if you do not have a spare tire installed.

One clarification - none of the MY2006 Z4M's have tire pressure sensors. My two M's have build dates of 06/06 and 09/06.

With TPMS, you have the hassle of making a trip to the tire shop every time a sensor has failed, and then pay labor to replace the sensor... or you can replace them all preemptively at $200+. If TPMS can be coded out in favor of RDC, I would go that route and never deal with the system again.

My only issue with RDC is false alarms, which happens about once a year. After checking pressures, pressing the reset button fixes the problem.

[Westersund]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

One clarification - none of the MY2006 Z4M's have tire pressure sensors. My two M's have build dates of 06/06 and 09/06.

With TPMS, you have the hassle of making a trip to the tire shop every time a sensor has failed, and then pay labor to replace the sensor... or you can replace them all preemptively at $200+. If TPMS can be coded out in favor of RDC, I would go that route and never deal with the system again.

My only issue with RDC is false alarms, which happens about once a year. After checking pressures, pressing the reset button fixes the problem.

Mine is a 08/06 and it doesn't have TPMS either.

[Shipkiller]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

With TPMS, you have the hassle of making a trip to the tire shop every time a sensor has failed, and then pay labor to replace the sensor... or you can replace them all preemptively at $200+. If TPMS can be coded out in favor of RDC, I would go that route and never deal with the system again.

Ok,

How often, in reality, does a TPMS sensor go bad???
The answer is: Not very often.....

I have three sets of them and not one if them has failed. Especially on my track tires... where they really get abused...

Of course, when you spend all your time on BMW forums, you are going to see a lot of issues that are really not representative of the technology as a whole. This is a chicken little syndrome...

As Stonewall Jackson said: Don't take counsel of your fears..

I do not think the TPMS can be recoded to the older RPA system since the two systems have very different hardware..... hence the software will be different..... I just do not remember the values in the modules for the DSC and RDC modules. It has been a while since I had to change any of the software in the modules.

[Steenos]

I agree with Shipkiller. Just because mine went bad doesn't mean everyone has to freak out. I'm not going to replace them all at $76.27 a piece. I will get them tested and see which one/ones are bad.

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

I have three sets of them and not one if them has failed. Especially on my track tires... where they really get abused...

Yes, but that's $600 in sensors that you otherwise would not have had to buy... all which add weight and complexity for what purpose?

I know that TPMS can be coded out, as others have done it... but I don't know if the car can revert to the old setup.

[Steenos]

So I went to a tire place near work. All my sensors are working. I reset the monitors again inside the car. Guy there said I may have to go to the dealer and get them reset?

[doane2u]

My OEM tires are Bridgestone Potenza PolePosition directional All Season run flats 225 45 R17 (front and back) and the back ones are down to the wear bars. I never liked the ride or the cost of runflats on several cars I've had.

I decided to go with non run flats and yesterday ordered Potenza RE760 Summer tires in the same size. I have these same models on my Miata and I like them. They are not maximum performance tires, but they are excellent and the price is reasonable.

They are going to install them today on my '07 3.01 Z4 and I was a bit concerned whether there will be any problem with the TPMS setup with these since they will now be non run flats? Does it make any difference?

The rear tires wear so much quicker I plan to do tire rotations every time I change the oil...with the minimal mileage my wife drives that is usually about every 5k miles... good idea?

I also plan to carry a portable air pump, puncture repair kit and fix-a-flat can in the trunk and I can also call my insurance towing if I need to. But I can't even remember the last time I had a flat tire.

Thanks,

[dc_wright]

Originally Posted by doane2u

My OEM tires are Bridgestone Potenza PolePosition directional All Season run flats 225 45 R17 (front and back) and the back ones are down to the wear bars. I never liked the ride or the cost of runflats on several cars I've had.

I decided to go with non run flats and yesterday ordered Potenza RE760 Summer tires in the same size. I have these same models on my Miata and I like them. They are not maximum performance tires, but they are excellent and the price is reasonable.

They are going to install them today on my '07 3.01 Z4 and I was a bit concerned whether there will be any problem with the TPMS setup with these since they will now be non run flats? Does it make any difference?

The rear tires wear so much quicker I plan to do tire rotations every time I change the oil...with the minimal mileage my wife drives that is usually about every 5k miles... good idea?

I also plan to carry a portable air pump, puncture repair kit and fix-a-flat can in the trunk and I can also call my insurance towing if I need to. But I can't even remember the last time I had a flat tire.

Thanks,

If you've got the TPMS system with sensors inside the tires, all they care about is the pressure in the tires. They don't really care what tire they're in.

[doane2u]

OK, thanks Wright.. didn't know if there was going to have to be some re-calibration of the receiving unit, but it looks like it's a simple push of that TPM dash switch that I found in the manual. Still waiting on the tires, are supposed to arrive today.