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[2012_135i]

...and the car is only a week old.

Just took delivery of my 2012 135i and have only 100 miles on it. This morning I started it up and the low tire pressure warning came on - for all four tires! I figure this is either a glitch in the warning system or it wasn't calibrated right. Anyone have any idea what could be wrong? Today is New Years day and I think tomorrow the dealership is closed as well. It may be nothing, but I'm what you might call annoyed at the moment.

[RnmEvo9]

How cold was it that morning?

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by RnmEvo9

How cold was it that morning?

About 74 f. We don't get much in the way of cold here in Honolulu.

[RnmEvo9]

Well I had that happen to me once, but I'm thinking it was due to the cold weather in the morning. The light eventually went away and I even checked the tire pressure to make sure it was fine, and it was.

[Tom K.]

When you measured the tire pressures, what were they?

With the tires cold, inflate them to the pressures indicated on the door placard. Then reset the TPMS system - see your owners manual for instructions. After driving the car for a few miles, the system should be properly set for the recommended pressures and there should only be a warning light if one or more tires drops by about 8 psi.

If you correctly do the above and the warning is still lit or comes on again, measure the tires again. If they are within a few pounds of the pressures at reset, then you have a warranty issue and should take the car in.

Tom

[BBBluey]

I had a loose sensor that had me thinking it was a puncture. Do the reset, check the air and if that doesn't fix it take the car in. It would be hard to believe you got a puncture in each tire...4 loose sensors is more possible. They shouldn't charge you for it if it's the sensors.

[Sylon]

First off, congrats on the new car.


As for the tires, that is pretty odd, but not unheard of. I doubt its something faulty. Just reset them for now, take it into the dealership if the problem persists or for better peace of mind.

[BMW-NC]

Cold air compresses -> Air pressure sinks -> warning goes off.
Solution: Warm up tires or even better increase pressure during the winter month. Even if it is just 78 "cold".
I had that a guestimated 50 times over the last years selling BMWs....

[MikeinAlexandria]

I have had several low pressure warnings in the last year, but most were on days with big temperature gradients. I would suggest that at least once a month, you add a little pressure to each tire and verify that front and rear pairs have the same pressure (i.e. 32f 38r for example) and then reset the TPMS. I have been doing this and have not had any more warnings lately.

[2012_135i]

Thanks, Tom K and others for the guidance. I checked the tire pressures but got wildly different readings from the only pressure gauge I have on hand which is quite old. However, the readings I did get indicate the pressure is really low in all four tires, as low as 26 lbs in the right rear. Makes me wonder if the dealership missed making sure the tire pressures were at spec when they prepped the car. I've only had it a week and have driven very little. Anywho, I'm going out to get a new tire pressure gauge and follow the guidance and steps given here. Thanks everyone for your input.

Aloha,
2012_135i

[sharpkw1]

this happened to me with our first cold snap in October - all four tires were down about 4 psi evenly

[szcyxzh]

i set 40psi f/r all around.

[chili555]

On a recent trip to what passes for mountains in North Carolina, in 24 degree F temperatures, I experienced this. I had checked the tires before I started the trip and they were inflated to the exact pressure on the sticker on the door pillar. When I got home, I carefully set all tires to the exact recommended cold pressure plus two pounds. I did the reset procedure and have had no more issues.

[DAC17]

Originally Posted by sharpkw1

this happened to me with our first cold snap in October - all four tires were down about 4 psi evenly

Same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago on the first day the car was out in 20-degree weather. A little top-off of air, reset TPMS, and we're good to go.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by 2012_135i

Thanks, Tom K and others for the guidance. I checked the tire pressures but got wildly different readings from the only pressure gauge I have on hand which is quite old. However, the readings I did get indicate the pressure is really low in all four tires, as low as 26 lbs in the right rear. Makes me wonder if the dealership missed making sure the tire pressures were at spec when they prepped the car. I've only had it a week and have driven very little. Anywho, I'm going out to get a new tire pressure gauge and follow the guidance and steps given here. Thanks everyone for your input.

Aloha,
2012_135i

Get this one
http://www.amazon.com/Michelin-MN-12...5558455&sr=8-1

You're welcome.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by sharpkw1

this happened to me with our first cold snap in October - all four tires were down about 4 psi evenly

Happened to me as well, put some air in and get them right.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by MPBK

Get this one
http://www.amazon.com/Michelin-MN-12...5558455&sr=8-1

You're welcome.

Thanks, MPBK, for the link. I'd already gone out a picked up a dial gauge that works pretty darn good, but may get this one as well.

Update:

I rechecked the pressures with my new gauge and the pressure in all tires really were quite low, especially the rear tires. I put in air to factory spec front and rear, then reset the pressure warning system and drove a bit. Everything seems normal now and I could really feel a difference in the ride. My guess is the dealership was sloppy when they prepped the car. We'll see how things go.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by 2012_135i

I rechecked the pressures with my new gauge and the pressure in all tires really were quite low, especially the rear tires. I put in air to factory spec front and rear, then reset the pressure warning system and drove a bit. Everything seems normal now and I could really feel a difference in the ride. My guess is the dealership was sloppy when they prepped the car. We'll see how things go.

Sounds like that should take care of it. But I'd check the pressures every few days for awhile and monthly thereafter. That way, you can avoid any nasty surprises from temp changes or a slow leak (it generally takes about a 20 to 25% drop from the preset pressures to trigger the dash warning).

Tom

[JimD]

If you put this in your trunk you can just fix it if you get the warning:

http://www.amazon.com/Viair-00073-He...5621497&sr=1-2

This is a very nice, quiet, and powerful 12V compressor. I carry one in my bimmer, partially because I have no spare. All my flats have been a slow leak. With a compressor, I will have a way home.

This is the tire guage I keep in the compressor bag:

http://www.amazon.com/Accutire-MS-40...5621606&sr=1-1

I read a test somewhere that said Accutire guages were a little better.

If you get the viair, do yourself a favor and also get this:

http://www.amazon.com/Roadpro-Batter...xgy_auto_img_b

The accessory outlet in my bimmer will power the Viair but only for awhile. I don't like starting the car to air up the tires. Much easier to just clip this to the battery and take care of the air pressure. With these tools, you can adjust your air pressure in all 4 tires in 5-10 minutes. Not much excuse to let them get low. And you have a chance of taking care of a flat.

Jim

[VMRWheels]

Good thing you checked the pressure. It's not always faulty hardware when you get warning lights! Haha.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by JimD

If you put this in your trunk you can just fix it if you get the warning:

Jim

Thanks for the suggestions, JimD. I don't usually like to carry things around in my trunk but this could be very useful, especially since we no longer live in an age of friendly service stations abounding with free air and water for the taking. And I've never driven around without a spare tire before.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

Good thing you checked the pressure. It's not always faulty hardware when you get warning lights! Haha.

Well of course you're right but when you take delivery of a new car and a week later with less than a hundred miles on the OD the warning lights for all four tires simultaneously go on it's rather surprising. I assumed the dealership had properly prepped the car which meant that shouldn't be happening. I have rechecked the pressures and there have been no problems since so it wasn't anything I ran over. Conclusion is the dealership screwed up and I shouldn't have assumed anything.