Trouble with Flat Tire Monitor (FTM)

rgoel · 09-01-2007, 08:18 PM

I drove my e92 coupe (5K miles) last night and parked it in my garage - no suspected issues.

This morning, I turned it on and was greeted by the Flat Tire Monitor / Tire Pressure Monitor warning. I had both the small yellow light with the tire and exclamation point and the large red light. Per my manual, this could mean either a flat tire or substantial loss of tire pressure.

I drove down to the gas station and checked my tire pressures. All four tires were exactly where they should be.

No problem, I thought all i need to do is reset the system. I crack open the manual and it appears there are two resets that are needed:
1) Reset Tire Press Monitor (TPM) by toggling through the menu to RESET and then selecting reset.
2) Reset Flat Tire Monitor (FTM) by toggling through the menu to INIT and then selecting reset.

I successfully did #1. However, I wasn't able to do #2. The INIT listing does not appear in my menu. There doesn't appear to be any way to reset the FTM.

Anybody else have this problem? Any thoughts on what I should do to fix this? As far as I can tell my tire pressures are all fine but the warning message won't go away. At this point, i've done the TPM (RESET) reset a couple of times now but without success. Any why is the INIT option not in my menu? Perhaps I don't have the FTM system, though I did get the 335 coupe with premium and sports packages, so I think it's in one of those two.

Thanks.

halB · 09-01-2007, 08:27 PM

You have either TPM or FTM, not both. Since you have TPM and have already reset it, there is nothing left to be done. Just keep an eye on it.

P.S. You should always keep a digital tire pressure gauge in the car especially with runflats. You cannot tell whether your are just low in air or actually have a flat by just looking at the tires.

MestUpKid · 09-01-2007, 08:29 PM

When you hit the reset button did you hold it until it says "Resetting" and then drive the car?

rgoel · 09-01-2007, 09:04 PM

One time I pressed the Reset button for one second. Then the box next to Reset showed a check mark in it.

The second time I pressed the Reset button for five seconds (manual states five seconds). Again the box next to Reset then showed a check mark on it.

I did not know that it's either/or with TPM/FTM. I guess in that case it's a sensor malfunction of some sort? I suppose it will need to go to the dealer for checking?

MestUpKid · 09-01-2007, 09:13 PM

After the check mark comes up drive the car and it the warning should go away. It needs to see wheel speed to intialize the FTM.

rgoel · 09-02-2007, 01:17 AM

yah so for the wheel speed hasn't worked. i've driven it 10 miles or so after reseting and the warning message has not gone away. turned the car on/off a couple of times as well.

maybe a trip to the dealer is required.

AwLegacyGT · 09-02-2007, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halB

You have either TPM or FTM, not both. Since you have TPM and have already reset it, there is nothing left to be done. Just keep an eye on it.

P.S. You should always keep a digital tire pressure gauge in the car especially with runflats. You cannot tell whether your are just low in air or actually have a flat by just looking at the tires.

Just wondering why you suggest a digital tire pressure. Is the manual ones with the slider bar not adequate?

Not being an a$$ just wondering.

rgoel · 09-03-2007, 01:02 AM

Well, I found the source of the problem and it is me, not the BMW!!

I was using the air pressure gauge on my local gas station's are refilling hose. Apparently, that gauge is not very accurate. My dad brought over his $8 gauge (analog not digital) and it showed that the gas station gauge is about 5 PSIs under normal. 35 at the gas station showed as 30 on my father's. I inflated based on my father's gauge, reset the TPM system, and now the warning has been turned off.

lesson learned - get a decent air pressure gauge as the previous poster had suggested.

533ogetnom · 09-03-2007, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgoel

Well, I found the source of the problem and it is me, not the BMW!!

I was using the air pressure gauge on my local gas station's are refilling hose. Apparently, that gauge is not very accurate. My dad brought over his $8 gauge (analog not digital) and it showed that the gas station gauge is about 5 PSIs under normal. 35 at the gas station showed as 30 on my father's. I inflated based on my father's gauge, reset the TPM system, and now the warning has been turned off.

lesson learned - get a decent air pressure gauge as the previous poster had suggested.

i thought this was common knowledge, no offense, least you know now

myn · 09-10-2007, 06:15 PM

My FTM came on this morning as well.

I stopped by the dealer and they verified my tire pressure. He also stated there was a recal for the tire pressure monitors and that I could schedule a service if I wanted to.

Can anyone else confirm this recall?

09-01-2007, 08:18 PM	#1
rgoel New Member 2 Rep 20 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Menlo Park, CA iTrader: (0)	Trouble with Flat Tire Monitor (FTM) - help needed I drove my e92 coupe (5K miles) last night and parked it in my garage - no suspected issues. This morning, I turned it on and was greeted by the Flat Tire Monitor / Tire Pressure Monitor warning. I had both the small yellow light with the tire and exclamation point and the large red light. Per my manual, this could mean either a flat tire or substantial loss of tire pressure. I drove down to the gas station and checked my tire pressures. All four tires were exactly where they should be. No problem, I thought all i need to do is reset the system. I crack open the manual and it appears there are two resets that are needed: 1) Reset Tire Press Monitor (TPM) by toggling through the menu to RESET and then selecting reset. 2) Reset Flat Tire Monitor (FTM) by toggling through the menu to INIT and then selecting reset. I successfully did #1. However, I wasn't able to do #2. The INIT listing does not appear in my menu. There doesn't appear to be any way to reset the FTM. Anybody else have this problem? Any thoughts on what I should do to fix this? As far as I can tell my tire pressures are all fine but the warning message won't go away. At this point, i've done the TPM (RESET) reset a couple of times now but without success. Any why is the INIT option not in my menu? Perhaps I don't have the FTM system, though I did get the 335 coupe with premium and sports packages, so I think it's in one of those two. Thanks.
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09-01-2007, 08:27 PM	#2
halB Colonel 53 Rep 2,384 Posts Drives: W211 E350 4M MkV GTI 987.2 S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Just north of Toronto iTrader: (0)	You have either TPM or FTM, not both. Since you have TPM and have already reset it, there is nothing left to be done. Just keep an eye on it. P.S. You should always keep a digital tire pressure gauge in the car especially with runflats. You cannot tell whether your are just low in air or actually have a flat by just looking at the tires. __________________ 07 E93 335i - Returned at lease end 09 W211 E350 4Matic Avant Garde - Blk/Blk, AMG pkg w/18". Sport Susp. F1 Asym. Debadged. 09 MkV GTI w/Leather & 18" Huffs. F1 Asym 10 987.2 S w/Leather sport seat, Sport Chrono, 19" Carrera S II wheels
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09-01-2007, 08:29 PM	#3
MestUpKid Enlisted Member 0 Rep 48 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i Sedan [0.00]	When you hit the reset button did you hold it until it says "Resetting" and then drive the car? __________________ E90 335i SG/Black Leather with Brushed Aluminium Trim, Manual, Sport, Premium, Sirius, Blacklines, OEM Spoiler and 28% Tint.
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09-01-2007, 09:04 PM	#4
rgoel New Member 2 Rep 20 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Menlo Park, CA iTrader: (0)	One time I pressed the Reset button for one second. Then the box next to Reset showed a check mark in it. The second time I pressed the Reset button for five seconds (manual states five seconds). Again the box next to Reset then showed a check mark on it. I did not know that it's either/or with TPM/FTM. I guess in that case it's a sensor malfunction of some sort? I suppose it will need to go to the dealer for checking?
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09-01-2007, 09:13 PM	#5
MestUpKid Enlisted Member 0 Rep 48 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i Sedan [0.00]	After the check mark comes up drive the car and it the warning should go away. It needs to see wheel speed to intialize the FTM. __________________ E90 335i SG/Black Leather with Brushed Aluminium Trim, Manual, Sport, Premium, Sirius, Blacklines, OEM Spoiler and 28% Tint.
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09-02-2007, 01:17 AM	#6
rgoel New Member 2 Rep 20 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Menlo Park, CA iTrader: (0)	yah so for the wheel speed hasn't worked. i've driven it 10 miles or so after reseting and the warning message has not gone away. turned the car on/off a couple of times as well. maybe a trip to the dealer is required.
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09-03-2007, 01:02 AM	#8
rgoel New Member 2 Rep 20 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Menlo Park, CA iTrader: (0)	Well, I found the source of the problem and it is me, not the BMW!! I was using the air pressure gauge on my local gas station's are refilling hose. Apparently, that gauge is not very accurate. My dad brought over his $8 gauge (analog not digital) and it showed that the gas station gauge is about 5 PSIs under normal. 35 at the gas station showed as 30 on my father's. I inflated based on my father's gauge, reset the TPM system, and now the warning has been turned off. lesson learned - get a decent air pressure gauge as the previous poster had suggested.
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09-10-2007, 06:15 PM	#10
myn New Member 4 Rep 20 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (0)	My FTM came on this morning as well. I stopped by the dealer and they verified my tire pressure. He also stated there was a recal for the tire pressure monitors and that I could schedule a service if I wanted to. Can anyone else confirm this recall?
	Appreciate 0 Quote