E61 - loads of false tyre pressure warnings
Discussion
Our 2007 lci 525 touring has started throwing up false tyre pressure warnings. A few weeks ago I had a rear tyre replaced due to a nail. Tyre was a like for like replacement for the near new cross climate 2 that was on there before.
Since then I’m getting a tyre pressure warning about once per week. When I check pressures there is usually nothing amiss. At most, one tyre has been about 0.1 bar down. I reset the pressures on idrive but a couple of hundred miles later it will be back. I’m concerned it’s turning into the boy who cried wolf.
Anyone any ideas on likely cause?
Since then I’m getting a tyre pressure warning about once per week. When I check pressures there is usually nothing amiss. At most, one tyre has been about 0.1 bar down. I reset the pressures on idrive but a couple of hundred miles later it will be back. I’m concerned it’s turning into the boy who cried wolf.
Anyone any ideas on likely cause?
About a month ago I was 100 miles into a 200 mile trip with my 2005 E90 330i when the puncture warning lit up.
Stopped at the next services and checked all the pressures - no issue there.
But when I left it would not reset. Tried three times before I rejoined the Motorway but no joy.
I was away for a few days so checked all the pressures before I drove home and they were all OK, but it still wouldn't reset.
I suspected something like a duff wheel speed sensor but booked it in with my Indy. Turned out to be a dying battery which often throws up random warning lights on BMWs of this era.
So it might be worth starting with the battery then reading fault codes!
Stopped at the next services and checked all the pressures - no issue there.
But when I left it would not reset. Tried three times before I rejoined the Motorway but no joy.
I was away for a few days so checked all the pressures before I drove home and they were all OK, but it still wouldn't reset.
I suspected something like a duff wheel speed sensor but booked it in with my Indy. Turned out to be a dying battery which often throws up random warning lights on BMWs of this era.
So it might be worth starting with the battery then reading fault codes!
Gad-Westy said:
Our 2007 lci 525 touring has started throwing up false tyre pressure warnings. A few weeks ago I had a rear tyre replaced due to a nail. Tyre was a like for like replacement for the near new cross climate 2 that was on there before.
At most, one tyre has been about 0.1 bar down. I reset the pressures on idrive but a couple of hundred miles later it will be back. I’m concerned it’s turning into the boy who cried wolf.
Anyone any ideas on likely cause?
A few things (on top of the above suggestion) that may help.At most, one tyre has been about 0.1 bar down. I reset the pressures on idrive but a couple of hundred miles later it will be back. I’m concerned it’s turning into the boy who cried wolf.
Anyone any ideas on likely cause?
0.1 bar doesn't sound like much, but that is 1.5 psi, which sounds like enough to trigger the TPMS.
If you have a new tyre on one corner & 3 half worn ones on the others they will react differently from a heat viewpoint, which will change the pressure.
If I were you I would try to match tread depth on the axles, which is a good idea anyway, set the pressure with a digital pump/gauge using PSI to within 0.3 PSI and see how you get on.
Cheers both.
I'd read a few bits on the internet about people being unable to reset the warning but mine does reset fine. Just doesn't last all that long after.
The point about the mismatched depths is maybe worth exploring though the new tyre replaced one that was only about 2000 miles old so I'd hope that it can cope with that but I will maybe try a better tyre pressure gauge and see if I have a tiny leak. Gut feeling is not but struggling to come up with a better idea so it's worth digging into.
I'd read a few bits on the internet about people being unable to reset the warning but mine does reset fine. Just doesn't last all that long after.
The point about the mismatched depths is maybe worth exploring though the new tyre replaced one that was only about 2000 miles old so I'd hope that it can cope with that but I will maybe try a better tyre pressure gauge and see if I have a tiny leak. Gut feeling is not but struggling to come up with a better idea so it's worth digging into.
I'm not sure different tread depths would trigger the warning light as when you reset it the system just memorises the existing situation and warns you of any significant deviation from that.
My first Z4 had very different tread depths on the rear because a PO got a puncture and just changed that one but I never had any TPMS issues with it.
Good luck finding a solution.
My first Z4 had very different tread depths on the rear because a PO got a puncture and just changed that one but I never had any TPMS issues with it.
Good luck finding a solution.
That's an interesting point actually. I don't think the my car has actual pressure sensors on the valves/wheels so I assume it uses ABS sensors. But I can reset it when stationery so how would it be able to account for mismatched tyre wear? Maybe it just calibrates itself once it next moves?
Gad-Westy said:
That's an interesting point actually. I don't think the my car has actual pressure sensors on the valves/wheels so I assume it uses ABS sensors. But I can reset it when stationery so how would it be able to account for mismatched tyre wear? Maybe it just calibrates itself once it next moves?
I think that is what it does. I don't think sensors on the wheels came along until about 2010. It could be a dodgy wheel speed sensor, but you probably need to read the fault codes to know for sure.
Mr Tidy said:
Gad-Westy said:
That's an interesting point actually. I don't think the my car has actual pressure sensors on the valves/wheels so I assume it uses ABS sensors. But I can reset it when stationery so how would it be able to account for mismatched tyre wear? Maybe it just calibrates itself once it next moves?
I think that is what it does. I don't think sensors on the wheels came along until about 2010. The other you have missed is that a tyre with more tread will allow the tread blocks to "move around" more, which generates heat, which increases pressure, and can then trigger an alarm.
With tread depths matched across the axle it reduces this effect.
I see the OP says there is only 2k difference, so depth is unlikely to be the issue, which goes back to accurately setting all with a digital reference in PSI & resetting, then see how you get on.
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