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[boostm3]

I just installed my winter tire/wheel pkg from Tirerack which included 4 installed tpms sensors.

I followed the instructions verbatim in the owner's manual, and just finished driving about 18 miles, and the little amber tpms sensor light is still showing in the display.. no warnings, no bells or gongs, no red lights.. Just the same amber small lamp with the exclamation mark in the center of it which turns on as soon as you start the init process.. Have I not driven far enough to synch all 4 wheels?

I read that if the sensors were not present, or there was a fault, there'd be blinking yellow and solid red.. I dont have any of that.

Any ideas whats going on? thanks.

[Gary@TireRack]

A shot in the dark...have you checked the tire pressure?

[Dackelone]

First check your tires for the proper tire pressure.

THEN... with the car stopped, hold and reset the TPMS via the turn signal stalk. Then drive off. It should only take a few hundred meters(if that!) of driving before the yellow light goes out.

IF you try resetting the TPMS while driving it will not reset. Ask me how I know that! lol

Good Luck,
Dackel

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by Gill@Tirerack.com

A shot in the dark...have you checked the tire pressure?

Sure..theyve got 35lbs all around which is almost identical to what the stock tires were reading when I did the swap.

>>THEN... with the car stopped, hold and reset the TPMS via the turn signal stalk. Then drive off. It should only take a few hundred meters(if that!) of driving before the yellow light goes out. <<

Yea, did all that.. .light wont go out.. Called srvc dept at my dealership and was told it can take longer than the 20 miles Ive driven for the reset! At least Im not getting a solid red, or gongs.. The symbol Im getting is apparently what we see during reset, and if its still on, its not reset and must drive further. Either that, or else the reinit system is broken. I wonder if my Tom Tom or Valentine could be interfering with the reset process via signal interference?

I just dont know

[Gary@TireRack]

The plot thickens!

We've just been informed by BMW that they changed sensors mid year on the 2011 models. Build dates before 9/2010 use the same sensors as the '08-'10 vehicles. Cars built during or after 9/2010 use a new sensor ($45.) Both use the same valve.

This is what's causing the OP's problem here.

We'll have the sensors updated in our system today or tomorrow.

[Thaddy]

Crap, looks like the cost of my TPMS sensors just doubled. My car was built a few weeks ago

[Dackelone]

IF the new sensor costs $45 each that is close to what the old sensor cost - plus the valve stem. It is just that BMW changed the frequency of the new sensor - I guess!?


Dackel

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by Gill@Tirerack.com

The plot thickens!

We've just been informed by BMW that they changed sensors mid year on the 2011 models. Build dates before 9/2010 use the same sensors as the '08-'10 vehicles. Cars built during or after 9/2010 use a new sensor ($45.) Both use the same valve.

This is what's causing the OP's problem here.

We'll have the sensors updated in our system today or tomorrow.

Ok.. some information for you all. Just got back from the dealer who confirmed 9/10 is the date of the change.. My car was built ifrom 9/22 - 9/30 '10 and thats the most likely cause for the reset issues.. The sensor is till a 433 mhz sensor, however, they told me the antennas were also updated as of that date..Plus, they told me its not just the mhz; its the way they communicate with the car module, which has also changed, that is effected. I have the parts sheet, and here is the new info:

new tpms sensor: 36 10 6 790 054
screw in valve (antenna): 36 14 6 192 829

Im working with tirerack off line, who seems more than willing to make good on the sensors, and also the install. I wonder if any rebalancing is also required from the new sensors..

[IDBMW]

I just ordered my winter tire, wheels and TPMS from Tire Rack Monday. My 135i build was May 2008 so I should be good to go. Delivery next Monday.

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by IDBMW

I just ordered my winter tire, wheels and TPMS from Tire Rack Monday. My 135i build was May 2008 so I should be good to go. Delivery next Monday.

What pkg did you buy? Im waiting for the new sensors to show up and will take them to the dealer to install them. Looking forward to get rid of that amber light on the dash!

[new128]

This is almost too hard to believe! I would have thought that Tire Rack would be updated with this information. Does this mean that anyone who purchased a tire/wheel combo recently, with TPMS, from Tire Rack and hasn't had their car delivered yet is going to have this problem? And we are going to have to go through the inconvenience of the time and cost of someone replacing the valve/sensors?
I just recently received a winter tire/wheel combo, with TPMS, from Tire Rack and am waiting for my car to arrive the week after next, so I can install the winter tires. Sounds like I will have the problem.

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by new128

This is almost too hard to believe! I would have thought that Tire Rack would be updated with this information. Does this mean that anyone who purchased a tire/wheel combo recently, with TPMS, from Tire Rack and hasn't had their car delivered yet is going to have this problem? And we are going to have to go through the inconvenience of the time and cost of someone replacing the valve/sensors?
I just recently received a winter tire/wheel combo, with TPMS, from Tire Rack and am waiting for my car to arrive the week after next, so I can install the winter tires. Sounds like I will have the problem.

It all depends on when you ordered your wheels. My case seemed to be the first in the 1 series that they became aware of that required the new sensors as a result of my case... Any 135 (dont know if this applies to the 128, but I assume it does) built after early September, '10 will likely require the new sensors. I placed my tirerack order on 11/02, and as of the handling of that order, they had not been made aware, by bmw, of the fact that 1 series built in 9/10 and later require the new sensors. I advised them about the problem on or about 11/22/10, so after that date, they said they made the change in system. Still, because its not ALL 2011 1 series cars that are affected, its going to be a little tricky for them to implement. It almost makes it incumbent on them to inquire of the owners what the build date of their cars is, and on the owner to know the answer!

Seems to me it might have been simpler for all had BMW decided to wait for the building of the 2012s before changing this part. Mid year parts upgrades that render the former parts useless always cause problems.

[Ninja Monkey]

Crap. I'm putting my tires on Monday. I have a 2011 135i. Am I going to have the wrong sensors then? Grrrrr.

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by Ninja Monkey

Crap. I'm putting my tires on Monday. I have a 2011 135i. Am I going to have the wrong sensors then? Grrrrr.

Youve got to find your build date.. before september '10, the 'old' sensors work; after Sept 1, you likely have the new ones. If its a few days either side of sept 1, punt! That, apparently, is what it boils down to.

[new128]

Ordered my tire/wheels on 11/10 and received on 11/18. My 128 wasn't ordered till 11/1, so looks like I will have the problem. Already sent an Email to Gill, so will see what happens. But, however it turns out, it will certainly be an inconvenience to load the tires in my present car and take them somewhere to get the sensors changed, before my 128 arrives.

[boostm3]

Originally Posted by new128

Ordered my tire/wheels on 11/10 and received on 11/18. My 128 wasn't ordered till 11/1, so looks like I will have the problem. Already sent an Email to Gill, so will see what happens. But, however it turns out, it will certainly be an inconvenience to load the tires in my present car and take them somewhere to get the sensors changed, before my 128 arrives.

Gil is whom Ive dealt with on this matter. He is very aware of the issue, and has been supportive in its correction. I really blame BMW more than I do Tirerack. Changing sensors in the middle of the model year is bound to cause problems and create confusion, especially considering that the change occurred in cars being built for delivery leading into the US winter season where so many people are dealing with tire and wheel issues! And, they were apparently slow in getting the information out relative to the switch. Apparently, other models than the 1 series had already changed over to the new sensors for model 10 cars, before we were hit.

Oh well.. it is what it is. Its a pain, but it shouldnt wind up costing you any extra money at least.

[Thaddy]

Boy I'm glad I decided not to order the TPMS sensors with my winter setup. I'm just going to enjoy the extra dash lighting in the darker winter months thanks to the tire pressure light being constantly illuminated.

boostm3, was Gil able to confirm if the newer sensors would be more expensive or will they still cost ~$200?

[Ninja Monkey]

Well everything works for me. My build date was in August.

[Gary@TireRack]

Originally Posted by Gill@Tirerack.com

... Cars built during or after 9/2010 use a new sensor ($45.) Both use the same valve.

Originally Posted by Thaddy

boostm3, was Gil able to confirm if the newer sensors would be more expensive or will they still cost ~$200?

Everything is changed in our system now. The build date of the car identifies the correct sensor needed.

[new128]

I also had this problem. Worked with Gil and Customer Service. They sent new sensors and valve stems. Took the tires/wheels to one of Tirerack's local installers, had them replaced. No charge for the new sensors and they pick up the cost of having them replaced. The installer replaced them while I waited.
Tirerack handled this like the pros they are - couldn't have asked for anything more.

[ecpratt]

Boostm3,

Did you get the TPMS inactive warning when the car starts up? I just picked up my 2011 128i in early November and got my tires with TPMS around the same time from tirerack.