07-11-2011, 04:43 PM | #1 |
Captain
149
Rep 666
Posts |
What does my TPMS warning actually mean?
How can you tell the difference between a TPMS warning that you get because your tire is low and one that you get because your tire is actually flat?
I've gotten a TPMS warning twice: front passenger side on my X5 about 6 months or so ago and rear driver side on my X6 this weekend. Both happened in my parent's driveway. They didn't appear 'flat', so I just topped 'em off and went on my way. No further problems. I've never seen a RFT that's 'flat'; will I be able to tell that the tire in question is 'flat' and that more is required than just more air? |
07-12-2011, 09:39 AM | #2 | |
Captain
173
Rep 901
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-12-2011, 11:09 AM | #3 |
New Member
5
Rep 21
Posts |
Tire Repair
I had a warning a few weeks ago. Stopped car and found tire was low. Drove to station and put in air to spec. One hour later it was low again as per the warning. Took it to BMW dealer who pulled out a piece of metal, plugged tire and refilled it. No charge.
I was told that tire will never look completely flat unless a piece is torn out. Run flat tire was great as I was able to drive to a dealer and not be stuck on the street. |
Appreciate
0
|
07-12-2011, 09:04 PM | #4 |
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep 214
Posts |
There is no way to tell if a RFT is flat or not. Just carry a tire pressure gauge in the car to check. A small price to pay for having RFT and not being stuck on the road. I remember the manual saying that the TPM will come on after there is a descrepency of a certain number of PSIs. Can't remember what it is but you can look it up. Side rant: Don't know why BMW can't have a real time tire pressure monitor which shows actual PSIs in the tire like Mercdedes can
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-13-2011, 07:32 AM | #5 |
First Lieutenant
17
Rep 375
Posts |
The warning will be yellow for a low tire. For a completeley flat tire the warning will go red.
__________________
2008 Black Sapphire/Terra 335xi e90 -- Premium / Sport / Cold Weather Package / Steptronic / Comfort Access / Navigation / Sirius / iPod
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-13-2011, 02:17 PM | #6 |
New Member
5
Rep 21
Posts |
Mecedes system?
I had a Mercedes with the PSI reading tire monitor. It was a real pain in the butt. Every time the temperature would drop down the monitor would say the tires were low. I was always setting it and resetting it. Who needs to know the precise pressure anyway? Just let me know when there is a real problem.
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-13-2011, 10:52 PM | #7 |
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep 214
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-13-2011, 11:02 PM | #8 | |
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep 214
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-13-2011, 11:36 PM | #9 |
Captain
149
Rep 666
Posts |
Well -- I'm getting a TPMS warning every 24 hours or so. When I check it, its down to 15lbs. I took it in this morning (yes, too lazy to take it in, but not too lazy to keep filling it up with air), and they found that there is a screw in the sidewall so it can't be repaired.
Both Discount Tire and my dealer don't have the tire in stock, so I guess I'll be filling the tire with air for a few more days. The good things are 1) Since I'm in my routine, I'm only driving about 5 miles per day, 2) there's an Exxon station on my way home from work that I can get free air, and 3) I'm getting 24 hours out of a fill-up, so, although a pain, not THAT much of one. And I guess I don't have to worry about ruining the tire anymore... |
Appreciate
0
|
07-14-2011, 09:12 AM | #10 | |
Captain
173
Rep 901
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-19-2011, 12:28 AM | #11 | |
Captain
149
Rep 666
Posts |
Quote:
Although not happy about my unexpected $400 tire outing, I was certainly happy about their efforts to get me on the road again. Go DT! |
|
Appreciate
0
|
07-19-2011, 03:12 AM | #12 |
-
11809
Rep 23,186
Posts |
this will show in the idrive not on the instrument panel. the location that shows all the tires and their color is green when normal yellow when low and red when flat. when they are low 5psi turns yellow.
__________________
02 Tiag e46 M3|6MT|GC plates|MCS c.o.|GC bars|GC race control arms|GC bushings|BW eng. & tran. mounts|subframe kit|BW race shifter|BW Jaffster|Euro header|BW exhaust|K&N c.a.i.|Epic race tune|Rouge pulleys|Seibon CF hood|CSL bumper|apr gt 250 & splitter|ST-40|XR-2|SS lines|half cage|Recaro profi|Profi 2 harness|BMWpedals|BW studs| |
Appreciate
0
|
07-19-2011, 04:25 AM | #13 |
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep 214
Posts |
Ok, I got my lazy butt off the couch and looked it up in the manual. It shows that for my year vehicle that the "Yellow" tire is an indicator for both low and flat tire. It will not go "Red". This in the iDrive screen. Oh well......
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|