Fall's here winters coming...

fotoguy335 · 10-13-2007, 08:49 PM

So, I wasnt too happy to have to stop by the dealership this am with only 1100 miles on my '07 335xi...
Everything was fine when I parked in the driveway last night. Left this am to go to work and as soon as I started the car the Tire pressure sensor warning came on. Havent had runflats on any of the other 3 3-series I have owned, I wasnt sure what to do. I immediately checked all the tires and everything seemed fine, took their pressure Front were at 28-29 and rear at 32.
So I went to the dealer, only to find out that I was the 4th person there today with the same "question" and it was only 9am!
Aparently the cold temps last night (40 deg F) compared to 60+ during the day caused enough air contraction to set off the sensor. The sensor would not reset (kept saying "tire low") until I added 4lbs of air.
I can understand the warning if there was a 10+lb drop in pressure....but 4lb ?!!?!?!?!?

Guess we need to have heated tires!

halB · 10-13-2007, 09:14 PM

Welcome to TPMS. The old FTM only checks for difference between tires, not so for the TPMS.

sinnet112 · 10-13-2007, 09:38 PM

You're definitely not the only one. The cold yesterday really messed around with a lot of people's TPMS'

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83634

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89419

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89192

I had to fill my tires with air as well!

FirstClass · 10-13-2007, 11:17 PM

Why are you complaining? Your tires were low and it told you so, be thankful. Always a good idea to check your tires when the temps change, I can't stand the feeling when they're a few pounds low.

karliejai · 10-14-2007, 02:41 AM

at least the TPMS is doing its job

Lassaxi · 10-14-2007, 06:32 AM

This has happened to me twice so far in the past 3 weeks. It always happens in the cool morning. I find it a bit annoying, but also sort of interesting to know how much the cold is affecting my tire pressure. With the RFTs being so sensitive to relatively small changes in air pressure, I am glad that the TPM has a fairly low activation point.

achien · 10-14-2007, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lassaxi

This has happened to me twice so far in the past 3 weeks. It always happens in the cool morning. I find it a bit annoying, but also sort of interesting to know how much the cold is affecting my tire pressure. With the RFTs being so sensitive to relatively small changes in air pressure, I am glad that the TPM has a fairly low activation point.

you should always pump your tires up to the specify level when the tires are "cold".

I always make sure the tires are 39 (front) and 45 (back) in the morning.

ENINTY · 10-14-2007, 08:33 AM

Not to point out the obvious, but the temperarue spec for tires is based on AMBIENT air temperature. So if the ambient air temp dropped to 40 deg. and it was 75 deg. the day before, it is going to trigger the system. That's the purpose of the system, to tell you the tires are low...

Every 10 deg. drop in ambient air temp drops tire pressure about 1 PSI.

John 070 · 10-14-2007, 08:37 AM

Sometimes the answer doesn't have to be so complicated. Nothing would fix it until the OP put air into the tires.

There are two other obvious solutions, garage the vehicle or use nitrogen. Heated tires would be what we refer to in business as throwing money at a problem. It does nothing to correct or indetify the root cause.

FirstClass · 10-14-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achien

I always make sure the tires are 39 (front) and 45 (back) in the morning.

scb · 10-15-2007, 07:02 AM

mine went off this morning

335Newbie · 10-15-2007, 07:25 AM

It will be getting cold soon here in western NY. I'm off to Auto-Zone to pick up a bag of Nitrogen.

montreal_bimmer · 10-15-2007, 09:03 AM

you could always get yourself some tire heaters like they use in F1....

fotoguy335 · 10-15-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achien

you should always pump your tires up to the specify level when the tires are "cold".

I always make sure the tires are 39 (front) and 45 (back) in the morning.

Ok so I am new to this sensor bit...
What happens when its 38 degress in the AM and add the right amount of air and then it turns out to be 74 and sunny on the way home?
Will this affect anything by being over the recommended pressure by roughly 9 psi assuming that I add 5psi in the am and if 10 degrees = 1psi??

Then of course it will be 44 later that night...
and it starts again......

Taittinger · 10-15-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotoguy335

Ok so I am new to this sensor bit...
What happens when its 38 degress in the AM and add the right amount of air and then it turns out to be 74 and sunny on the way home?
Will this affect anything by being over the recommended pressure by roughly 9 psi assuming that I add 5psi in the am and if 10 degrees = 1psi??

Then of course it will be 44 later that night...
and it starts again......

I have had no issues in that regard. It has been low 50s in the morning and rising to high 70s - 80s.

its ray den · 10-15-2007, 10:18 AM

it's fine to over-inflate your tires by a few psi. the only downside to over-inflating is that you will wear out the middle of your tires more than the sides. the severity would depend on how much you over-inflate them by.

the pressure change between morning cold and mid-day usage shouldn't be much of a concern if you're inflating to factory specs for the tire. i tend to inflate my tires around 2-4 psi's over spec and i don't have a problem with uneven tire wear, at least noticeable tire wear.

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE.

sflgator · 10-15-2007, 10:31 AM

I always have my tire psi set a bit higher than the recommended psi; so, I would put ~ 36psi in the rear and ~ 34psi in the front (cold psi of course)...your tires shouldn't wear unevenly or prematurely if done this way, and you and your TPMS system may appreciate it (unless you actually get a flat...hopefully not though

).

sflgator · 10-15-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by its ray den

it's fine to over-inflate your tires by a few psi. the only downside to over-inflating is that you will wear out the middle of your tires more than the sides. the severity would depend on how much you over-inflate them by.

the pressure change between morning cold and mid-day usage shouldn't be much of a concern if you're inflating to factory specs for the tire. i tend to inflate my tires around 2-4 psi's over spec and i don't have a problem with uneven tire wear, at least noticeable tire wear.

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE.

+1...well said.

Scarecrows25 · 10-15-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by its ray den

it's fine to over-inflate your tires by a few psi. the only downside to over-inflating is that you will wear out the middle of your tires more than the sides. the severity would depend on how much you over-inflate them by.

the pressure change between morning cold and mid-day usage shouldn't be much of a concern if you're inflating to factory specs for the tire. i tend to inflate my tires around 2-4 psi's over spec and i don't have a problem with uneven tire wear, at least noticeable tire wear.

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE.

Good advice -- I was in the same boat as the OP the other day... I think the difference was that I parked outside. I measured 29 psi at all 4 corners, so I was a little surprised to see the warning, but all the same, I'm glad TPMS is keeping an eye out for me

scb · 10-15-2007, 08:14 PM

checked my pressure after work and it was 24-25 all around.

wow, quite a drop

DrDomer · 10-15-2007, 08:28 PM

Just so you guys know, the TPMS is only as smart as where you last reset the TPMS. If your tire pressure is at factory spec and temp drops 30F, now tire pressure is low and your TPMS will go off. You can reset the TPMS at the new tire pressure (without putting air in) and the system will say everything is ok. It's a relative system, not absolute. Just FYI.

10-13-2007, 08:49 PM	#1
fotoguy335 Private First Class 4 Rep 102 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Sparkling Graphite Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Fall's here winters coming... So, I wasnt too happy to have to stop by the dealership this am with only 1100 miles on my '07 335xi... Everything was fine when I parked in the driveway last night. Left this am to go to work and as soon as I started the car the Tire pressure sensor warning came on. Havent had runflats on any of the other 3 3-series I have owned, I wasnt sure what to do. I immediately checked all the tires and everything seemed fine, took their pressure Front were at 28-29 and rear at 32. So I went to the dealer, only to find out that I was the 4th person there today with the same "question" and it was only 9am! Aparently the cold temps last night (40 deg F) compared to 60+ during the day caused enough air contraction to set off the sensor. The sensor would not reset (kept saying "tire low") until I added 4lbs of air. I can understand the warning if there was a 10+lb drop in pressure....but 4lb ?!!?!?!?!? Guess we need to have heated tires! __________________ 2007 335xi \| Premium pkg \|Cold Weather pkg\| Comfort Acc \| Logic 7 w/ iPod & USB\| 1968 MG-B Roadster
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10-13-2007, 09:14 PM	#2
halB Colonel 53 Rep 2,384 Posts Drives: W211 E350 4M MkV GTI 987.2 S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Just north of Toronto iTrader: (0)	Welcome to TPMS. The old FTM only checks for difference between tires, not so for the TPMS. __________________ 07 E93 335i - Returned at lease end 09 W211 E350 4Matic Avant Garde - Blk/Blk, AMG pkg w/18". Sport Susp. F1 Asym. Debadged. 09 MkV GTI w/Leather & 18" Huffs. F1 Asym 10 987.2 S w/Leather sport seat, Sport Chrono, 19" Carrera S II wheels
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10-13-2007, 09:38 PM	#3
sinnet112 Major 30 Rep 1,118 Posts Drives: 2009 E89 Z4 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00] 2007 328xi Sedan [0.00]	You're definitely not the only one. The cold yesterday really messed around with a lot of people's TPMS' http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83634 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89419 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89192 I had to fill my tires with air as well! __________________ Z4 sdrive30i \| Deep Sea Blue \| Ivory White Nappa Extended Leather \| ZSP
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10-14-2007, 02:41 AM	#5
karliejai Da Kid 121 Rep 4,576 Posts Drives: JetBlack e90 335i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (4)	at least the TPMS is doing its job __________________ MODS: OEM Front Splitter \| ACS Roof Spoiler \| OEM Trunk Spoiler \| Matt Black Front Grill \| Black Shadowline Window Trim \| Painted Front Lower Rod \| Blacklines \| JDM Yellow Fogs \| Custom Silver CF Headlights with LUX 4.0 \| Eisenhaus Sports Exhaust
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10-14-2007, 06:32 AM	#6
Lassaxi Major 10 Rep 1,035 Posts Drives: April ED - E90 328xi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	This has happened to me twice so far in the past 3 weeks. It always happens in the cool morning. I find it a bit annoying, but also sort of interesting to know how much the cold is affecting my tire pressure. With the RFTs being so sensitive to relatively small changes in air pressure, I am glad that the TPM has a fairly low activation point. __________________ May 3, '07European Delivery, Redelivered on 6/11/07 - Monaco Blue/Beige, Steptronic, ZPP, ZCW, PDC, iDrive/Navi with RTTI, Logic 7, Xenons, HD Radio
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10-14-2007, 08:33 AM	#8
ENINTY Banned 173 Rep 3,415 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Not to point out the obvious, but the temperarue spec for tires is based on AMBIENT air temperature. So if the ambient air temp dropped to 40 deg. and it was 75 deg. the day before, it is going to trigger the system. That's the purpose of the system, to tell you the tires are low... Every 10 deg. drop in ambient air temp drops tire pressure about 1 PSI.
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10-14-2007, 08:37 AM	#9
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	Sometimes the answer doesn't have to be so complicated. Nothing would fix it until the OP put air into the tires. There are two other obvious solutions, garage the vehicle or use nitrogen. Heated tires would be what we refer to in business as throwing money at a problem. It does nothing to correct or indetify the root cause.
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10-15-2007, 07:02 AM	#11
scb Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2012 X5d Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	mine went off this morning
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10-15-2007, 07:25 AM	#12
335Newbie Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 218 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Montego Blue E92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rochester NY iTrader: (0)	It will be getting cold soon here in western NY. I'm off to Auto-Zone to pick up a bag of Nitrogen.
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10-15-2007, 09:03 AM	#13
montreal_bimmer OEMconcept 174 Rep 5,593 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada \| USA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2006 325i [10.00]	you could always get yourself some tire heaters like they use in F1....
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10-15-2007, 10:18 AM	#16
its ray den Second Lieutenant 4 Rep 205 Posts Drives: 2004 Mazda6s Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	it's fine to over-inflate your tires by a few psi. the only downside to over-inflating is that you will wear out the middle of your tires more than the sides. the severity would depend on how much you over-inflate them by. the pressure change between morning cold and mid-day usage shouldn't be much of a concern if you're inflating to factory specs for the tire. i tend to inflate my tires around 2-4 psi's over spec and i don't have a problem with uneven tire wear, at least noticeable tire wear. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE.
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10-15-2007, 10:31 AM	#17
sflgator Major General 148 Rep 5,389 Posts Drives: '09 MB C63 AMG & '08 MB GL450 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: U.S. iTrader: (1)	I always have my tire psi set a bit higher than the recommended psi; so, I would put ~ 36psi in the rear and ~ 34psi in the front (cold psi of course)...your tires shouldn't wear unevenly or prematurely if done this way, and you and your TPMS system may appreciate it (unless you actually get a flat...hopefully not though ). __________________ \|2009 RENNtech MB C63 AMG \| Black/Black Leather/Black Maple \| Premium II \| MultiMedia \| iPod \| \| TeleAid \| Charcoal Filter Delete \| BMC High-Flow Air Filters \| High-Flow Secondary Cats \| Clear Side Markers \|
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10-15-2007, 08:14 PM	#20
scb Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2012 X5d Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	checked my pressure after work and it was 24-25 all around. wow, quite a drop
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10-15-2007, 08:28 PM	#21
DrDomer Major 39 Rep 1,349 Posts Drives: 2004 330ci ZHP, 1999 Miata Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0)	Just so you guys know, the TPMS is only as smart as where you last reset the TPMS. If your tire pressure is at factory spec and temp drops 30F, now tire pressure is low and your TPMS will go off. You can reset the TPMS at the new tire pressure (without putting air in) and the system will say everything is ok. It's a relative system, not absolute. Just FYI. __________________ Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. ~Albert Einstein
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