TPMS and new wheels

[CSLchappie]

I have a 66 plate 340i, I've just bought a set of new winter wheels (non BMW) that have been fitted with OEM BMW TPMS sensors (supplier was given registration of the car so that the correct sensors were fitted)

I've switched the wheels over this weekend, at first the TPMS system would start re-calibrating but gets to 49% and then throws this error up on the iDrive screen -

"Tyre Pressure Monitor (RDC) failure

OK

Unable to detect any loss of tyre pressure.
Check tyre pressures manually.
Possible to continue journey.
Have the problem checked by your BMW Service Partner."

And then lights up the TPMS yellow light on the dash. It did this around 3 or 4 times on subsequent trips. Now, when starting the car or manually re-progamming the TPMS from the iDrive, progress stays at 0% and eventually times out to the same message as described above.

I'll be on the phone to the supplier in the morning but in the mean time was wondering if there was anything obvious I'd missed as the handbook indicates that the system will re-calibrate itself after swapping either wheels or tyres.

[anonymous-user]

I understand there are different options available. Some valves programme themselves as you say. Some need a code inputting.

With the latter, if you find someone with the right equipment, they can scan your current valves, with the tyres on, and then input the code into the new valve.

I had to do that a few years ago with my 911, though I am fairly sure the auto programming valves are much more the norm now.

I'd be interested to hear how it goes, I'll be buying a set of winters soon. Where did you get yours?

[Monty Python]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[CSLchappie]

REALIST123 said:

I understand there are different options available. Some valves programme themselves as you say. Some need a code inputting.

With the latter, if you find someone with the right equipment, they can scan your current valves, with the tyres on, and then input the code into the new valve.

I had to do that a few years ago with my 911, though I am fairly sure the auto programming valves are much more the norm now.

I'd be interested to hear how it goes, I'll be buying a set of winters soon. Where did you get yours?

Thanks, from what was advertised these should be BMW OEM sensors that 'just work' after re-programming, the suppliers response has not been that great so far, they 'suspect' that the tyres had been over inflated prior to shipping (they fitted the sensors to the wheels, then mounted and balanced the tyres) - I've had the pressures checked (and subsequently reduced) but this hasn't resolved the issue.

I guess next port of call is hand in pocket and a visit to my local dealer to see if they can shed any light on why the wheels aren't being registered.

[anonymous-user]

CSLchappie said:

REALIST123 said:

I understand there are different options available. Some valves programme themselves as you say. Some need a code inputting.

With the latter, if you find someone with the right equipment, they can scan your current valves, with the tyres on, and then input the code into the new valve.

I had to do that a few years ago with my 911, though I am fairly sure the auto programming valves are much more the norm now.

I'd be interested to hear how it goes, I'll be buying a set of winters soon. Where did you get yours?

Thanks, from what was advertised these should be BMW OEM sensors that 'just work' after re-programming, the suppliers response has not been that great so far, they 'suspect' that the tyres had been over inflated prior to shipping (they fitted the sensors to the wheels, then mounted and balanced the tyres) - I've had the pressures checked (and subsequently reduced) but this hasn't resolved the issue.

I guess next port of call is hand in pocket and a visit to my local dealer to see if they can shed any light on why the wheels aren't being registered.

That's not good. It's hard to see how the valves could be damaged by the tyre being overinflated, unless that was to a ridiculous amount, which isn't likely. Do you know what the pressures were when you first tried to initiate the TPMS?

It might be worth putting the other wheels back on and making sure the system recognises them. Then replace with the new wheels, correctly inflated. Might tell you something.

At least, if the system didn't work with the OE tyres on you could take it to the dealer under warranty and get back to square one.

I would be interested in where you got the new wheels; I have a XF arriving this week to replace my 530 and would like a set of winters, and suspect I'll have the same issues.

I have a set for the 530 but that has an ABS based system so they've always been fine.

[CSLchappie]

The supplier said that they were likely shipped at 50 psi, apparently this has happened to other customers too (by their own admission)

I've done a bit more digging and looking through the error codes stored in the hidden dash menu I've found this;



I could be barking up the wrong tree but as its the last error stored, 0430 looks like it could either be -

P0430 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold

or...

U0430 Invalid Data Received From Tire Pressure Monitor Module

If its the latter then I'm not sure if its the sensor in the tyre sending invalid data, or the actual module that collects the values from the sensor passing invalid data further up the chain - either way, a trip to BMW seems unavoidable.

[anonymous-user]

CSLchappie said:

The supplier said that they were likely shipped at 50 psi, apparently this has happened to other customers too (by their own admission)

I've done a bit more digging and looking through the error codes stored in the hidden dash menu I've found this;



I could be barking up the wrong tree but as its the last error stored, 0430 looks like it could either be -

P0430 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold

or...

U0430 Invalid Data Received From Tire Pressure Monitor Module

If its the latter then I'm not sure if its the sensor in the tyre sending invalid data, or the actual module that collects the values from the sensor passing invalid data further up the chain - either way, a trip to BMW seems unavoidable.

So you first tried them at 50psi? I guess that could be invalid data. Perhaps my idea of putting back the OE, getting the car sorted, then trying again is worth considering?

Thanks for the info!

[CSLchappie]

Problem solved, initial suspicion was that because the wheels had been shipped out to me over-pressure, that the sensors for some reason had gone into a form of hibernation mode, however, it turns out that the newer VDO sensors (latest BMW OEM model I believe) actually have a 'sleep mode' to save battery life.

I took the car into my local Kwik-fit, they quickly scanned each wheel sensor to get the pressure reading, that 'woke' the sensors fully and the TPMS righted itself at first attempt.

The most frustrating issue in all of this was the sheer lack of understanding of how the current BMW system worked, I tried to get several garages to scan the wheels to double check that the sensors weren't faulty and all gave a different opinion of why that wouldn't work, worryingly, BMW themselves were the most clueless - even if they did want to charge £90 for doing so...

As for the tyres, I went with Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Gen 1, I specifically wanted a non-run flat to compare against the RFT's that have been on the car so far, ride and composure is a little better but these particular tyres are now where near as performant as the Continental winter's I had on my M5.