The BMW Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) system checks the inflation pressure in the four installed tires. The system notifies you if there is a significant loss of pressure in one or more tires. The system must be reset at the correct inflation pressure to provide a reliable warning.
Resetting the TPM System
Each time a tire inflation pressure has been corrected or a wheel or tire has been changed, reset the system.
Step |
Instruction |
Display |
| 1 | Start the engine, but do not start driving. | |
| 2 | Lightly push button 1 in the turn indicator lever up or down repeatedly until the corresponding symbol appears in the display accompanied by the word RESET. |  |
| 3 | Press button 2 to confirm your choice of the Tire Pressure Monitor. |  |
| 4 | Press button 2 for about 5 seconds, until the reading shown at right is displayed. |  |
| 5 | Start driving. After several minutes of driving time, the adjusted inflation pressures will be adopted as nominal values. The indicator lamp goes out when the system reset is completed. |
Flat Tire Monitor
The Tire Pressure Monitor should not be confused with a Flat Tire Monitor (FTM). An FTM system does not measure the actual inflation pressure in the tires.
The FTM uses the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Antilock Braking System (ABS) sensors to detect a tire pressure loss due to speed comparisons among the individual wheels as you drive. In the event of pressure loss, the rolling circumference changes and, thus, the rotating speed of the affected wheel. The system detects this and reports it as a flat tire.
The FTM is a less accurate monitoring system and is no longer implemented in cars destined for North America. Also, TPM systems require that a sensor (integrated with the valve stem) be installed on each wheel. FTM systems do not use wheel sensors.
Important
The Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) system DOES NOT make sure your tires are adequately inflated. As noted on the Wheels and Tires page, TPM isn’t required to issue a warning until pressure is 25% below the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation. That’s well below the pressure required for safe driving and barely adequate to carry the vehicle’s maximum load. The TPM system is intended as a last-minute warning before imminent tire failure, not as a monitor to make sure your tires are properly inflated.
Details
- 2011 BMW Coupe: Tire Pressure Monitor