You don't have individual sensors on your 2004. The sensors were used starting around 3/2006 production...

 

Worldwide?

ABC

 

I'm not sure but I don't have any reason to believe otherwise...

EDIT: I double checked a bit and I did find a reference to US only cars being updated from the "1st generation" system (called 'RPA') to the "2nd generation" system (called 'RDC').

Are you confirming that EU cars (and others) don't have the new system?

 

I have no evidence of TPMS on MY e60 (but I can't extrapolate that.

I thought that introduction of TPMS in USA was in response to (yet some more) legislation.

ABC

 

I think you're right about the US laws but I assumed that BMW would allow the technology to trickle down to other markets to keep things simple, etc. I didn't realize you folks don't have the newer system...

 

Obviously there's something to be said about unifying manufacturing processes but there's also a balancing act regarding manufacturing costs especially pre-LCI when retail prices weren't changing.

Now that there's been a price hike with LCI, maybe sense has prevailed and a unified manufacturing proces now exists.

We wait to be advised by some knowledgeable person.

ABC

 

Just to add some good comments here.

The other day, my sensor light came on in my right rear wheel.

All other wheels were at 35psi. This right rear wheel was at 30psi. There was no leak. It was just a mistake made by the wheel installer.

Over time, that wheel would have worn strangly. Instead, I was notified that there was a problem, and the problem was fixed with one quick stop at a gas station.

Now, imagine that you have a slow leak (e.g., embedded nail). It may take quite a while to discover the problem (not with the TPMs), and it is much better to discover the problem at 30mph rather than 90mph.

Best to all.

 

Is this a vote of no confidence in the "reducing rolling radius"/"increasing wheel revs" ABS sensor method?

I wonder what the tolerances are in theis older technique?

ABC

 

Not taking any shots at the older technique. Just trying to help someone who was thinking about going with new wheels in a newer model without the new technology.

 

Since I, as confirmed above, have the older technology - "reducing rolling radius"/"increasing wheel revs" ABS sensor method, I am also interested in knowing how effective it is.

In my last car, a 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe, it has the newer technology - sensor in each of the wheels, and it was very effective. I had a embedded nail in one of my tires and it was detected right away. It was a slow leak too. I seems to recall the sensors on the Infiniti were setup to alert when pressure drops below a certain psi.