Tyre Pressure Sensor Help

[Raja_SMGII]

Hi Guys

Sourced a lovely new set of OEM M3 CSL wheels [at last!] from M-Style (who in turn buy them from CA Automotive).

I've had the wheels fit with new Michelin PS2 225/40/19 at the front and new Michelin PS2 255/35/19 at the rear. I asked the tyre fitters if that was cool what with the CSL wheel at the front being 8.5". They said no problem. I drove off a happy chappy, the handling and the grip is simply phenominal. The turns are so sharp and the cars stops and goes like a brand new car.

My only problem now is that the tyre pressure sensor turns RED after a little while. If I drive the car civilised, it's fine however the moment I drive the car like an M3(!) it triggers the bloody tyre pressure sensor, always RED and followed with an audio warning tone. I can reset it and it goes away, and I've also tried the inialising by pressing the button, letting it turn yellow then pressing it again to go away <This is the correct reset procedure I believe.

Is my sensor shot? I ran about with some 330ci MVII 18s for a week with no problem last time; while my OEM 19s were being refurbed, what gives now? :confused:

I really don't fancy a trip to the $tealers, hoping someone can give me some ideas - anything appreciated.

Cheers guys - Will post up some pics of the wheels soon once I give the car a clean and clay/polish/wax; I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the old 19s a little. The chrome finish suited the M3 so nicely, but then the new CSL wheels look ace and are significantly lighter and the car is very nible now, so a fair trade off I guess. Now I just need to sort out this annoying tyre pressure sensor problem... :(

Raj

[Chaos]

Mine's done exactly the same thing for a year now, I was only talking to Fas about it earlier today. It went into the dealer 6 times last year and they couldn't fix it, just kept telling me it was normal and maybe I needed to check my tyres, bunch of fcuking Einsteins they are in Sunningdale Sytner. Anyway it never does it in the winter, maybe only done it once this year about 2 seconds after I hit the Grand Canyon on the autobahn outside Aachen and blew my front out, but since last month it's been going off all the freaking time again. Did it for 35 miles all the way home last night, was fine this morning, then it went off twice tonight and reset both times worked for 15 minutes.

I don't think it's related to rims as last year I was on my OEM 19s, and I'm pretty sure it's not tyres as I was on OEM PS too last year and now I'm on PS2 and it seems no different. It only seems to go off when the tyres get proper hot - usually when it's warm out and I'm caning it along a motorway for any reasonable amount of time. The first time it went off it was evening and quite cool, but I'd been thrashing the shit outta the car on the M3, and last night and tonight it went off whilst I was cruising at illegal speeds on the M4 - it's the only common denominator I can think of.

Mine started doing it less than a day after I bought the car, although I'd done 12-14 mods by then including taking it off to put on a front splitter, so I can't rule out that my fitter didn't do it, but I think it's unlikely. I'm guessing it's a generic fault that some dealers know about and others don't. I guess I should get off my ass and find out the price of a replacement unit really, if it's cheap enough it may be just as easy to get it and see if that cures it.

[peppernick]

No worries there. It's the teach in process. Your TPS is so used to your old rims and tyres and any slightest change will trigger it. Then it'll take up to a few days of regular driving for it to relearn and store the new settings. Mine never recovered, kept beeping randomly but my wheels and tyres are way off manufacturer's dimensions anyway, so don't think the TPC will ever work accurately again.

TPC senses the rolling diameter of the tyres and wheel combo at all 4 corners.

[Chaos]

Nick, mine was always going off with oem rims and oem tyres at oem sizes. It only ever did it when it was or had been a hot day, and it's doing it again now it's hot again with my current rims which are oem sizes running oem tyres. Raj's may be ok, fingers crossed, but it isn't necessarily just a learning thing.

[Raja_SMGII]

Dan, Nick - Thanks for the advice. Good points all round. The fact that this is happening in Summer with increased temps, would suggest a fall of barometer and the tyre pressure sensor sensing loss of air?

I've also found that the car only senses rotation difference on the same axle between two tyres.

Apparently the correct procedure to reset is:

1) start the car
2) press the tire monitor button until red light goes off
3) press again untill orange light comes back on
4)_ drive off.. Orange light should go off in few seconds and your system is reset. I dont think the users manual mentions step 3, and suggests that this is what you do to "disable" the system.

I will give it ago, failing that I'll have to see my friend at BMW Coopers Cobham to take a look at it.

Cheers,
Raj

[phat///M3]

Never had a problem with mine and believe me it gets hot here, and they way I drive doenst help either, I know its not much of a help, but just thought I would say that I dont have a problem and Im in Spain where the tarmac is boiling right now...

[Chaos]

Any info is good info Steve. ;) I've found it more to be with hot weather after it's been colder and/or wet - not sure how quickly you go from one to the other out there. Thinking about it, Nick may have touched on something, as the TPS may be sensing a change that way, but I'm only guessing at it. For instance, it came on yesterday and the day before, but it was hot yesterday and warm overnight and sure enough this morning it didn't so much as blink at me. Could be coincidence I guess.

In theory, hot conditions make air expand, thereby increasing the pressure in a tyre. I'm not sure if the sensor goes off to warn of expansion aswell as contraction, I would imagine it does given the nature of how it works. That said, physics was never a strong point of mine, so I won't get too technical on that front. :)

Top info on the reset though Raj, I'll try that myself too and see if it makes a difference.

[Raja_SMGII]

Success!! Finally a solution that works after much farting about with the car:

1. Turn off car
2. Open glovebox and release fuse box
3. Pull fuse 12 and 42 which will reset the Tyre Pressure Sensor
4. I also pulled fuse 43 which resets the OBD II diagnosis <This will reset the whole car inc. Nav and Radio so make sure you have your code if need be>
5. Put back in fuse 43
6. Start Car - Tyre Pressure Sensor will trigger. Clear it, by holding down TPS Button until light goes away
7. Switch off car.
8. Put back in fuse 12 and 42.
9. Start car. The TPS error will not trigger - now, immediately hold down the TPS button for a good 10-12 seconds until the TPS yellow light appears
10. Leave the car idling for 1 minute - it will go out by itself.
11. Drive your car and hey presto - it's gone for good!

Good luck with yours Dan!

[Raja_SMGII]

*Warning*

-Pulling fuse 43 will reset the whole car inc. radio,nav,memory seats etc

[mattj]

i didnt have this problem when i fitted my csl's

[Chaos]

Superb work Raj, I'm gonna have a crack at mine and see if it does the trick. I may try it without pulling 43 first though, cos I'll drop a turd if I have to reprogramme my AVIC again, I've done it like 4 times in the last couple months already. :o Fingers crossed!

[Raj]

Forget all this nonsense of tyre pressure sensors, just get some pics of the car with the new rims on...... ;) :D :cool:

[Raja_SMGII]

After much graft - wash - clay session - paint stripper - paint cleanser - 2 coats of Zymol wax. She is starting to emerge back to her former glory:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/AnniGti/E46%20M3/DSC01487.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/AnniGti/E46%20M3/DSC01486.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/AnniGti/E46%20M3/DSC01485.jpg

Original 19s:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/AnniGti/E46%20M3/DSC01349.jpg

I am so pleased the Tyre Pressure Sensor error is gone, as I was beginning to regret getting the wheels if I had to live with it, but all is good.

Now I just need to source some AP 6pots. Once again, Raj, well done on sourcing them at a bargain price. Not sure how much it was but you are aware the front kits RRPs for £1900 which is an obscene amount of money :(

[444bhp Ray]

Raja the car looks the nuts mate love it. looks more csl now mate thats for sure,what make is your front bumper? and boot lid?

[Raj]

Nice one Raj. Car is looking so sweet. Good luck with the brakes search. I am sure you'll source something sooner or later. I'll tell you how much they were when I see you at Brunty(???)

If you get some tints and black kidneys, from the outside you will have a Digs CSL look a like.. :cool: :cool: :cool:

[Raja_SMGII]

Cheers Ray - The front bumper, bootlid and diffuser are OEM BMW Equipment. I sourced them almost 2 years ago from a parts broker: Joe @ Hyper Turismo. They really do go far in transforming the look of the car - but between you and me, it would have been more cost-effective to buy a CSL out-right. But then, as you know, when you mod your car bit by bit you don't take the whole picture into account. Nonetheless, I'm very pleased and I have SatNav, heated leather seats, cruise and all the associated creature comforts...

Raj - Cheers bro, I will try to make Bruntys. Your car is coming along so very nicely! Oh and I don't think Digs would take too kindly if I emulated his car [in fairness I had mine a while before he did :) ]

[Tin]

looking good mate! how about some projecter indicators?

[InvIs Inc]

Dan, Nick - Thanks for the advice. Good points all round. The fact that this is happening in Summer with increased temps, would suggest a fall of barometer and the tyre pressure sensor sensing loss of air?

I've also found that the car only senses rotation difference on the same axle between two tyres.

Apparently the correct procedure to reset is:

1) start the car
2) press the tire monitor button until red light goes off
3) press again untill orange light comes back on
4)_ drive off.. Orange light should go off in few seconds and your system is reset. I dont think the users manual mentions step 3, and suggests that this is what you do to "disable" the system.

I will give it ago, failing that I'll have to see my friend at BMW Coopers Cobham to take a look at it.

Cheers,
Raj

had the same problem when i changes my rear tyres a while ago phone my garage and they told me 2 do exactly that and havent had a warning since been a good few months now
:D

[h4pry]

Sorry to go back to topic but I am having trouble getting my head round this.

Like many my TPM is also a PITA.

However to turn it off I have to do it in the second ignition position (the one just before the start position).

I have been through raj's steps and the light goes out for a few miles then comes back on.

Am I missing something? Chaos, did you manage to get this to work? [hmm

[m3cslboy]

go check your tyre pressures and make sure they are even.

My CSL was pulling that stunt for 1 week but i kept checking the air and resetting the system ! !

Eventually the stupid thing went off.

Its not the kind of symbol you want to see on the dash when your on a country lane at top enders ! !

[Chaos]

Nope didn't work for mine, came on twice today on the way to the show, but not at all on the way back, stupid crap. Gonna try the reset again though and see if it's second time lucky. After that, dealer's getting an irate phone call.

[h4pry]

Tried again it still wont work for me. :mad: