Tyre Pressure Monitoring - F30 series

[Hector's Dad]

I've just put some winter wheels on (Alpina 19") which admittedly were sold as not having the pressure monitoring devices fitted, and I preformed the normal Reset procedure. The progress stayed at 0% which tends to confirm their absence. Unless there's a different procedure for linking the new wheels to the car?

Failing that, would the car also have the "old" system working on the ABS which whilst not giving me the pressures would inform me of a loss of pressure? If not, has anyone fitted a set of monitors? I know we used to manage without such technology but you get used to it!

[Charles]

I thought the pressure monitoring worked on a rolling radius basis and not from a set of pressure gauges mounted within each wheel - but it sounds like I am wrong.

If it is as you describe, then either you need to fit a set of gauges in the winter wheels or disable the system when on winters.

[Hector's Dad]

I do actually get (with the summer tyres as supplied with the car) an on-screen display of the individual pressures which changes as the tyres get warm from driving so I'm assuming there must be a monitor in each wheel.

Of course I check my pressures manually so it's not an issue if it's not done by the car but it's reassuring to know that I'd get warning of loss of pressure - hopefully before it got so low that I'd notice it from the car's handling. These devices are reasonably expensive so I was hoping that the car would also have the system described by Charles.

[Charles]

A bit of digging suggests that the rotation method is no longer used by BMW because a runflat tyre will retain the same radius even if there is no air in it, so there is now a monitor in each wheel to provide a direct measure of pressure.

[Hector's Dad]

Thanks Charles.

[Paulb]

The sensor has both pressure and temperature

Here’s a pic of mine from the Alpina Drive Day at Bilster Berg

[Hector's Dad]

Mine only displays pressure - I guess that's a setting I've missed somewhere.

Monitors now ordered for winter tyres.

[SeanD3]

Do you have a link to the monitors you fitted?

[Hector's Dad]

Sorry, I don't. As I needed someone to remove then refit the tyres, I left it to my dealer (Dick Lovett, Hungerford) to source them. I think they contacted Alpina They weren't cheap!