TPMS Sensor... is it really neccessary?

wt1110 · 01-12-2009, 09:30 PM

I'm currently in the market for a set of wheels and snow tires for my E92.

Being that the TPMS sensor is usually an additional $200... does anyone know if it can permanently screw something up if I slap on a set of wheels w/o the sensor?

Thanks in advance.

willa1975 · 01-12-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wt1110

I'm currently in the market for a set of wheels and snow tires for my E92.

Being that the TPMS sensor is usually an additional $200... does anyone know if it can permanently screw something up if I slap on a set of wheels w/o the sensor?

Thanks in advance.

My understanding is that, without TPMS sensors your TPMS warning light will be permanently on.

wt1110 · 01-12-2009, 09:34 PM

So the light just stays on?

What about after I put on my stock rims with the TPMS? I assume the light will then turn off... correct?

Thanks

2kaccordocoupe · 01-12-2009, 09:38 PM

The canadian models do not use tpms. It uses the abs sensor or something along the lines of that to determine wheel rotation rate.

Maybe you can modify it to work this way. That way you can use snows, aftermarket rims etc... and still maintain the warning without having the sensors in the wheels.

I don't know why they made the setup different.

My previous car, G35 coupe required the sensor in the wheels. I just lived with the light on my dash all winter while I rode on the winter wheel / tire setup. No big deal.

Chong330i · 01-12-2009, 09:38 PM

it should go away but you will need to reset the warning light through your idrive

balance · 01-12-2009, 09:45 PM

i was going to ask this lol thanks

mach330 · 01-12-2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chong330i

it should go away but you will need to reset the warning light through your idrive

nope...i tried that myself. it'll say tpms malfunction.

mbmbm&w · 01-13-2009, 05:54 AM

I believe it's one of those US government mandated things. If you try to disable it, they come and take you away. It goes back to the exploding Explorers with the underinflated Firestones. The government decided that if we were too inept to check our tire pressure, they would just make TPM mandatory on everything. Just keeping us safe.

Kiemyster · 01-13-2009, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbmbm&w

I believe it's one of those US government mandated things. If you try to disable it, they come and take you away. It goes back to the exploding Explorers with the underinflated Firestones. The government decided that if we were too inept to check our tire pressure, they would just make TPM mandatory on everything. Just keeping us safe.

....i guess.... lol big brother for real.

branabolic · 01-13-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach330

nope...i tried that myself. it'll say tpms malfunction.

i think he means once he puts the wheels with the sensors back on. i have no tpms right now and it just has the warning light. no biggie.

chaz58 · 01-13-2009, 09:08 AM

Dang, your car looks identical to mine. And I thought we were so unique...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbmbm&w

I believe it's one of those US government mandated things. If you try to disable it, they come and take you away. It goes back to the exploding Explorers with the underinflated Firestones. The government decided that if we were too inept to check our tire pressure, they would just make TPM mandatory on everything. Just keeping us safe.

nomile · 01-13-2009, 11:08 AM

The problem in the US is that the mandate in the US specifies that you have to have a sensor in each wheel. The much more clever mechanism (used by BMW all over the rest of the world) that uses the ABS sensors to measure the rolling circumference of the wheels, is disqualified for use. So we're stuck with the damn sensors. I WISH that BMW had used the ABS-method as a "backup" so that if the sensors happened to "malfunction" it would go into that mode. Oh well, here's to wishing...

VMRWheels · 01-13-2009, 05:07 PM

I hear they take you to Guantanamo if you don't use TPMS sensors. Thats why I use them.

With that side, TPMS sensors do save tires. A tire with low pressure will eventually get destroyed. TPMS sensor gives ample warning, allowing you to slow down and fix the problem before the tires destroy themselves.

wt1110 · 01-15-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by branabolic

i think he means once he puts the wheels with the sensors back on. i have no tpms right now and it just has the warning light. no biggie.

So I'm getting mixed answers here. Some say that you can reset it through IDrive, and some say you can't.

What's the final verdict? Will there be an issue after I put my original wheels back on with the TPMS?

Also, can I purchase the TPMS sensor and install it on any wheel? The wheels that I'm about to buy are the OEM 161's.

Thanks,

mach330 · 01-16-2009, 12:52 AM

you can't reset it unless your wheels has the tpms sensors. you can buy them and have a wheel shop put them on. they are kind of pricey though.

wt1110 · 01-16-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach330

you can't reset it unless your wheels has the tpms sensors. you can buy them and have a wheel shop put them on. they are kind of pricey though.

So I can reset it after I put my OEM wheels with TPMS sensor on correct?

Has anyone done this before?

I really appreciate the help guys!

Thanks,

COR Photographer · 01-16-2009, 09:54 PM

I have had my TPMS sensor light on for about 10k miles(4months) as I left them in my stocks because I change wheels alot

I can put my stocks anytime and just reset thru the Nav screen

01-16-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomile

The problem in the US is that the mandate in the US specifies that you have to have a sensor in each wheel. The much more clever mechanism (used by BMW all over the rest of the world) that uses the ABS sensors to measure the rolling circumference of the wheels, is disqualified for use. So we're stuck with the damn sensors. I WISH that BMW had used the ABS-method as a "backup" so that if the sensors happened to "malfunction" it would go into that mode. Oh well, here's to wishing...

So thats why 2006 E90 330is use that ABS sensor rolling circumference, then in 2007 when the TPMS sensor in each wheel law went into effect they switched to that?

Houman21 · 01-21-2009, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiemyster

....i guess.... lol big brother for real.

Actually all tires have rfid chips in them by law, to track faulty tires down the supply chain - but that can also allow it to be used for other purposes.

Congress passed the TREAD act in 2004 I believe and the systems for implementation began going live the following year.

Just another thing to get paranoid about.

UdubBadger · 01-21-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COR Photographer

I have had my TPMS sensor light on for about 10k miles(4months) as I left them in my stocks because I change wheels alot

I can put my stocks anytime and just reset thru the Nav screen

me too. ran M6 reps all summer w/o tpms. the light wasn't THAT annoying but the drawback was that I was always walking around my car to check the tires after hitting potholes and shit cuz i was worried one would go flat and i wouldn't notice.

I then put my stockers that have TPMS and winter tires back on in October and went into the menu and reset the TPMS and the lights went off and its been fine ever since.

MusclezMarinara · 04-20-2010, 08:06 AM

mine hasnt gone away...and i dont think it will...ill have to add sensors cause that light will drive me CRAZY!

windowsM · 04-20-2010, 08:41 AM

It's annoying and illegal. You won't pass inspection. Just spend the $150-200.

01-12-2009, 09:30 PM	#1
wt1110 Major 30 Rep 1,451 Posts Drives: Alpine White E92 335I Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Illinois iTrader: (1)	TPMS Sensor... is it really neccessary? I'm currently in the market for a set of wheels and snow tires for my E92. Being that the TPMS sensor is usually an additional $200... does anyone know if it can permanently screw something up if I slap on a set of wheels w/o the sensor? Thanks in advance.
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01-12-2009, 09:34 PM	#3
wt1110 Major 30 Rep 1,451 Posts Drives: Alpine White E92 335I Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Illinois iTrader: (1)	So the light just stays on? What about after I put on my stock rims with the TPMS? I assume the light will then turn off... correct? Thanks
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01-12-2009, 09:38 PM	#4
2kaccordocoupe Brigadier General 1270 Rep 4,703 Posts Drives: Former ///M Driver Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The 6ix iTrader: (2)	The canadian models do not use tpms. It uses the abs sensor or something along the lines of that to determine wheel rotation rate. Maybe you can modify it to work this way. That way you can use snows, aftermarket rims etc... and still maintain the warning without having the sensors in the wheels. I don't know why they made the setup different. My previous car, G35 coupe required the sensor in the wheels. I just lived with the light on my dash all winter while I rode on the winter wheel / tire setup. No big deal.
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01-12-2009, 09:38 PM	#5
Chong330i BMW '06 330i Sport/Prem/Navi 0 Rep 32 Posts Drives: BMW 2006 330i E90 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	it should go away but you will need to reset the warning light through your idrive
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01-12-2009, 09:45 PM	#6
balance Colonel 122 Rep 2,090 Posts Drives: F32 435i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: OC iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 BMW [0.00]	i was going to ask this lol thanks __________________
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01-13-2009, 05:54 AM	#8
mbmbm&w 6407-5 3 Rep 145 Posts Drives: 2008 E91 Montego Blue & Terra Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cottage City, MD iTrader: (0)	I believe it's one of those US government mandated things. If you try to disable it, they come and take you away. It goes back to the exploding Explorers with the underinflated Firestones. The government decided that if we were too inept to check our tire pressure, they would just make TPM mandatory on everything. Just keeping us safe. __________________ My other car is a '64 Rambler American 440 Convertible.
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01-13-2009, 11:08 AM	#12
nomile Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 261 Posts Drives: 328xi; 318ti Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lyons, CO iTrader: (0)	The problem in the US is that the mandate in the US specifies that you have to have a sensor in each wheel. The much more clever mechanism (used by BMW all over the rest of the world) that uses the ABS sensors to measure the rolling circumference of the wheels, is disqualified for use. So we're stuck with the damn sensors. I WISH that BMW had used the ABS-method as a "backup" so that if the sensors happened to "malfunction" it would go into that mode. Oh well, here's to wishing...
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01-13-2009, 05:07 PM	#13
VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2038 Rep 25,989 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [10.00] 2015 BMW M4 [0.00] 2013 BMW F30 [0.00] 2014 BMW F22 [0.00] 2013 BMW F06 [0.00]	I hear they take you to Guantanamo if you don't use TPMS sensors. Thats why I use them. With that side, TPMS sensors do save tires. A tire with low pressure will eventually get destroyed. TPMS sensor gives ample warning, allowing you to slow down and fix the problem before the tires destroy themselves. __________________ VMR\|Wheels \| 714.442.7916 \| sales@velocitymotoring.com \| www.velocitymotoring.com \| facebook \| flickr \| Instagram
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01-16-2009, 12:52 AM	#15
mach330 You don't know JACK!!! 43 Rep 796 Posts Drives: 2011 X5 35i Join Date: May 2005 Location: The OC iTrader: (3)	you can't reset it unless your wheels has the tpms sensors. you can buy them and have a wheel shop put them on. they are kind of pricey though. __________________ Rated /// M
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01-16-2009, 09:54 PM	#17
COR Photographer Private First Class 24 Rep 187 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	I have had my TPMS sensor light on for about 10k miles(4months) as I left them in my stocks because I change wheels alot I can put my stocks anytime and just reset thru the Nav screen __________________ View the latest from Nitto Tires
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04-20-2010, 08:06 AM	#21
MusclezMarinara Banned 262 Rep 5,018 Posts Drives: VALNCYA Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jersey iTrader: (23) Garage List 2011 BMW 1M [9.22] 2009 335i Sedan xdrive [9.34]	mine hasnt gone away...and i dont think it will...ill have to add sensors cause that light will drive me CRAZY!
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04-20-2010, 08:41 AM	#22
windowsM Banned 22 Rep 177 Posts Drives: Black Car Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bawstin, NH iTrader: (0)	It's annoying and illegal. You won't pass inspection. Just spend the $150-200.
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