My LCI manual describes both a Flat Tire Monitor system and a Tire Pressure Monitor system. Do these cars have both, or do they have one or the other? Is it a RFT vs non-RFT thing? Is there really any differnce between the two systems?

 

I think...
FTM : Flat tire monitor detects 'flat tire' when the tire is damaged or flat from damage
TPM : tire pressure monitor detects 'tire pressure' when the tire is inflated-good in shape / not damaged

 

A little more detail. The FTM came on older models and was a fairly simple tool. By using sensors in car for the anti-lock braking system, the computer would monitor the rate of spin of each of the four wheels. When a tire looses pressure, the diameter of the wheel gets smaller causing the wheel to spin faster. The sensor picks this up and warns of a flat tire.

In the TPM system, there are sensors on each tire that actually monitors each tires pressure. This system will also display on the iDrive which tire is low/flat, something not done in the older FTM system. In the FTM system you simply get a warning that you have a flat tire without the system telling you which tire.

 

Thanks - that all makes sense. I think that I must have had the FTM on my 04 E60 because when I did get a warning, it was not specific about which tire. I'm presuming/hoping that my LCI E60 has the more advanced TPM.

 

It should, the E60 has been getting the TPM instead of the FTM for a while now, but I don't know the cut off date.

 

my 06 has ftm, while my friend's 07 has tpm

 

Not 100% sure but the production date of 3/2006 rings a bell with me as to when they changed from FTM to TPMS...