[RobUK]

When initially playing with iDrive I saw the 'Flat Tyre Monitor' screen showing a picture of a transparent car with four green tyres. I assumed the point of this was that it would tell you which tyre had a puncture, but I think that was a wrong assumption now.

So, I'm driving up the A24 this evening... bong! Some message appears about tyre pressure loss and the iDrive switches to the transparent car picture, now with all four tyres showing orange! Why have this fancy graphic showing each tyre coloured in individually if it's not going to tell you which tyre is stuffed?

Anyway, pulled into a lay-by, checked the tyres for anything unusual - offside front felt ever so slightly warmer than the others, otherwise nothing. When I got home had another look and can see what could be a small stone stuck in the centre of the offside front. Prodded it with a screwdriver and it wasn't going to budge so I left it.

On the downside, can't find my tyre pressure gauge to confirm. On the upside, took out tyre insurance so shall leave the car at the dealer tomorrow morning and ask them to sort it

[RobUK]

Two rears and n/side front all 2.2 bar, front o/side 1.8 bar - does that sound a bit high to be a puncture?

[MaestroAl]

Doesn't immediately make me think of puncture. Be a very slow one if it were

Get it back up to pressure and check it again after 24/48hrs I can't remember if you had tyres included with your package Rob?

[RobUK]

Yep, got the tyre package. Three punctures in two and a half years on my last car, so thought it wise.

[MaestroAl]

Originally Posted by RobUK

Yep, got the tyre package. Three punctures in two and a half years on my last car, so thought it wise.

Good man. Less of an issue then if you do have a puncture

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by MaestroAl

Doesn't immediately make me think of puncture. Be a very slow one if it were

Get it back up to pressure and check it again after 24/48hrs I can't remember if you had tyres included with your package Rob?

RE-SET the system after getting all tyre pressures correct, then you should be OK, the system thats on the car measures the "inflation difference" between the tyres.

[RobUK]

Re-inflated and re-set after which the front offside lost 0.2 bar so dealer sorting it under the insurance. Incidentally, they seemed to think that in certain circumstances(?) the iDrive Flat Tyre Monitor will indicate which tyre has the problem.

[NISFAN]

Aren't there two options of tyre monitor? Think the standard one works on the ABS wheel speed sensors, the other has pressure sensors in each wheel.

[RobUK]

Think I've seen on the US forum something about Flat Tyre Monitor (and tyres with rubber valve stems) vs. TPMS (and tyres with metal valve stems). Regards the F30/31 not sure if TPMS is a US-only thing or what?

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by RobUK

Think I've seen on the US forum something about Flat Tyre Monitor (and tyres with rubber valve stems) vs. TPMS (and tyres with metal valve stems). Regards the F30/31 not sure if TPMS is a US-only thing or what?

The full tyre pressure monitor system is mandatory in the US thanks to the Firestone/Ford Explorer rolling issue.

I am thinking we only get the ABS speed differential system in the UK as standard.....I may be wrong though.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by RobUK

Re-inflated and re-set after which the front offside lost 0.2 bar so dealer sorting it under the insurance. Incidentally, they seemed to think that in certain circumstances(?) the iDrive Flat Tyre Monitor will indicate which tyre has the problem.

THe flat tyre monitor should show which wheel is down!! I don't know what that guy was talking about. The only instance that it would not register correctly is if like my E90 M3, TWO wheels go down together, they fitted winter tyres to the M3 and left the Paper around the rim of the tyres at the rear, both tyres went down slowly over 40 miles NO indicators showed the fault, I was in the garage filling up and saw both tyres almost flat , I made them come out and sort it , they were well embarrassed.
I tested the system after and let some air out of a front wheel and it showed that wheel was at fault, so the TPM needs looking at.

[RobUK]

Damn, didn't see your post in time - already got the car back, complete with new front tyre (sharp stone had managed to pierce it).

I will try letting down one tyre over the weekend and see if the Flat Tyre Monitor picks up which one. The system definitely showed me four orange tyres on Wednesday night though.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by RobUK

Damn, didn't see your post in time - already got the car back, complete with new front tyre (sharp stone had managed to pierce it).

I will try letting down one tyre over the weekend and see if the Flat Tyre Monitor picks up which one. The system definitely showed me four orange tyres on Wednesday night though.

The way UK and I understand european TPM systems are monitored is by wheel/tyre diameter changes across axles, the US system runs TPM Valves which are a barstards to replace and are expensive.
The Yanks would like our system it's simpler and should in most cases show which wheel is at fault.

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

The full tyre pressure monitor system is mandatory in the US thanks to the Firestone/Ford Explorer rolling issue.

I am thinking we only get the ABS speed differential system in the UK as standard.....I may be wrong though.

Correct.

[HighlandPete]

The 'full fat' Tyre Pressure Monitor, which monitors the individual pressures and gives the read out, is an option in the 5-series. Option SO2VB, at £255

Can't see that option on the 3-series, so doesn't look as if anyopne can have a wheel specific readout.

Standard TPWS is only a puncture warning system, nothing more.

HighlandPete

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

The 'full fat' Tyre Pressure Monitor, which monitors the individual pressures and gives the read out, is an option in the 5-series. Option SO2VB, at £255

Can't see that option on the 3-series, so doesn't look as if anyopne can have a wheel specific readout.

Standard TPWS is only a puncture warning system, nothing more.

HighlandPete

Well after all my other BMW's I "assumed" the TPM systems would be the same, I got the Book out for this loaner after reading your post and it does NOT specify which, if any wheel/tyre would be shown
I would assume that it does just advise a puncture and you have to search for the culprit, cheap sh*t system I you ask me.

[andrew520d]

On my 520d which has the basic system it tells you which tyre.
Please don't tell me that the 3 series has an even more basic system.
would have thought they were the same the graphic is identical

[johnbmw6]

Originally Posted by andrew520d

On my 520d which has the basic system it tells you which tyre.
Please don't tell me that the 3 series has an even more basic system.
would have thought they were the same the graphic is identical

I am going to test the system sometime soon.

[johnbmw6]

Tested it today, needed to let 30% pressure out and it showed The correct wheel , so the picture comes up with the correct wheel that is the problem,

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Tested it today, needed to let 30% pressure out and it showed The correct wheel , so the picture comes up with the correct wheel that is the problem,

Nice work inspector Clueso

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Tested it today, needed to let 30% pressure out and it showed The correct wheel , so the picture comes up with the correct wheel that is the problem,

That makes a lot of sense, as it is the wheel speed sensor from the punctured wheel that is throwing up a different rotational speed.

Have been reading the 5-series manual and it does indicate the standard TPWS will show which wheel is at fault. If all wheels show the yellow/amber warning, TPWS is either not set, or there are issues with more than one wheel, possibly while resetting the system.

As I stated in the earlier post, there is the advanced TPM system for the 5-series, which does show the actual real time tyre pressures.

HighlandPete

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

That makes a lot of sense, as it is the wheel speed sensor from the punctured wheel that is throwing up a different rotational speed.

Have been reading the 5-series manual and it does indicate the standard TPWS will show which wheel is at fault. If all wheels show the yellow/amber warning, TPWS is either not set, or there are issues with more than one wheel, possibly while resetting the system.

As I stated in the ealier post, there is the advanced TPM system for the 5-series, which does show the actual real time tyre pressures.

HighlandPete

Yep the full pressure monitoring system is much better for the little scrotes that steal your BMW and drive over stingers. The standard system wouldn't pick up 4 simultaneous punctures