Tyre pressure sensors.

[Beemerman59]

I had the same problem puncture the other day, the sensor told me great got home in time, massive nail .......

Removed the nail and put a plug in it 10 mins later all done repaired

However the sensor did not alter and record the inflation so it still shows 1.2 psi..... the next day I ridden it to work with red triangle flashing (very annoying when you have no fault) stopped at the garage to check the pressure sure enough still 26 psi... So I took the valve out with the engine running and watched the sensor drop to 0. I re-inflated the tyre } the sensor did not record the exact pressure so still have a red triangle......

Anyone got any advice that I can try before heading down the BMW garage for them to reset it with machine???

26 psi is too low - the sensors will pick that up and display a low pressure warning anyway. Put the right pressures in and see what they then do.

 

[blueoffroader400]

What pressure shall i put in then,? Bmw put 28 in dont they......

 

[Pablo1]

solo 2.2bar front, 2.5 bar rear
loaded 2.5 front 2.9 rear

sure you can google the conversion from bar to psi.

 

[Beemerman59]

Follow the tyre manufacturers recommendations - typically 36/42 psi (front/rear).

 

[Wapping]

I had the same problem puncture the other day, the sensor told me great got home in time, massive nail .......

Removed the nail and put a plug in it 10 mins later all done repaired

However the sensor did not alter and record the inflation so it still shows 1.2 psi..... the next day I ridden it to work with red triangle flashing (very annoying when you have no fault) stopped at the garage to check the pressure sure enough still 26 psi... So I took the valve out with the engine running and watched the sensor drop to 0. I re-inflated the tyre } the sensor did not record the exact pressure so still have a red triangle......

Anyone got any advice that I can try before heading down the BMW garage for them to reset it with machine???

What pressure shall i put in then,? Bmw put 28 in dont they......

That is because the dealers are thieves and basteds who cut corners and rip off bikers, mate. They under inflate the tyres, the air saved is pure profit.

PS Your Owners Handbook has the details


PPS Handy converter If you haven't got your PC to hand, use the rough rule of thumb that 1 bar is 15 psi. 2.2 bar is therefore 30 psi plus 10% = 3 psi = 33 psi in total. If that is tricky to remember, use the simpler near enough reliable: 36 psi front - 42 psi rear, which will hold good for most road going motorcycles with road biased (great tyres, mate) rubber.

PPPS Why don't the Hun (and foreign people) use psi? Because they use the metric system and are not bright enough.

PPPPS Maybe we should have let you go to the dealer's to rant that your tyre pressure warning system was showing (correctly) that the tyre was under inflated.... but that would have been cruel, wouldn't it. That being said it's a mystery why, if the manual pressure gauge said 26 psi, the electronics was saying 1.2 psi, which is about 18 psi..... But Gawd only knows what you were really doing.

 

[JayC]

Fresh from a BMW dealership , if it's of any interest:-

"If you have a puncture and can't get your bike to a BMW dealer (who will have the special tools and knowledge to safely remove the tyre from the rim) please make sure that those who do remove the tyre are made aware that there is a pressure monitor on the back of the valve, otherwise the tyre lever or the lifting bead of the tyre can easily break the pressure sensor and can also distort the rim around the valve hole, requiring the purchase of a new wheel. We've had that happen in the past too".

 

[blueoffroader400]

Cheers guys, all sorted and using the correct Bar pressure rather than PSI works a treat

So not need to chunter at the BMW garage just sweeet talk them for a discount
Rallye 3 Jacket

 

[Beemerman59]

Cheers guys, all sorted and using the correct Bar pressure rather than PSI works a treat

So not need to chunter at the BMW garage just sweeet talk them for a discount
Rallye 3 Jacket

Well done, glad its sorted. Gotta ask though...did you really put 26 bar in them?

 

[blueoffroader400]

well ........ Initialy however and more important i ve learned if i inflate the tyre with the bikes engine runing it does take a few seconds once reached the correct Bar preesure for the computer to change

But good lesson to learn before road trip to Bosnia in May.....

Yes 26 psi shows as fault

 

[original_concept]

well ........ Initialy however and more important i ve learned if i inflate the tyre with the bikes engine runing it does take a few seconds once reached the correct Bar preesure for the computer to change

But good lesson to learn before road trip to Bosnia in May.....

Yes 26 psi shows as fault

You don't need to start the engine, just spin the wheels by hand fast enough to enable the TPS.

Tips:

Hook up a power socket direct to the battery.

Obtain one of the those small air compressors from Wilko etc; replace the cigar adapter with a Hella plug.

The air compressor has the perfect screw on end for attaching to the valve. IME angle adapters etc do not work well.

Turn on the ignition, spin the wheels to enable the TPS.

Inflate the tyre using the air compressor, watch the TPS output on the dash.

Done.

No sweating, no swearing, no stress.

 

[Wapping]

26 psi is a fault, in the sense that the electronics reports a low pressure warning 'fault' with the bike's tyres, blueoffroader400.

Anyway, you now the correct pressures and how to pump the tyres up..... Next stop the former Yugoslavia. Have fun.

 

[Pukmeister]

Your local BMW Motorrad agent can set the TPS display to show Bar or PSI with a simple change in software settings.

 

[blueoffroader400]

Think am leaving it set to Bar pressure, cheers for the tip "Original concept which compressor?

Thanks guys

 

[original_concept]

Fresh from a BMW dealership , if it's of any interest:-

"If you have a puncture and can't get your bike to a BMW dealer (who will have the special tools and knowledge to safely remove the tyre from the rim) please make sure that those who do remove the tyre are made aware that there is a pressure monitor on the back of the valve, otherwise the tyre lever or the lifting bead of the tyre can easily break the pressure sensor and can also distort the rim around the valve hole, requiring the purchase of a new wheel. We've had that happen in the past too".

If you have a puncture, do NOT go to a BMW dealer; unless you know they actually repair punctures.

If you are recovered by BMW assist tell them to contact the BMW dealer to confirm whether they repair punctures in advance of travelling and call the dealer yourself to confirm. BMW assist will normally approve one additional stop to a another shop and after that, you're on your on.

I could go on about how brilliant Michelin's puncture repair limits of bike tyres are (yes, sidewalls too. But no company would do it for you). AIUI, Michelin are the only tyre company left who officially support repairs to their tyres.

The last time I ended up in a BMW dealer, they were happy to stick a Metz knobbly thing on the rear, with a PR3 front.... I wasn't so happy, so went elsewhere.

 

[Wapping]

If you have a puncture, do NOT go to a BMW dealer; unless you know they actually repair punctures.

For feck's sake, read what JayC's post (which you requoted) was warning about.

It was to highlight the danger of a cackhanded tyre changer damaging the bloody TPS unit in the rim when they break the bead, or damaging the valve seat. If you think that it doesn't happen, as usual the pages of UKGSer's 1200 Technical section says that it does..... and anyway, BMW now put little sticky labels on the rims, warning bods to be careful. But I guess bods rip them off as they distract from the pure aesthetics of the Twipple Bwack.

 

[Wapping]

which compressor? :

The Slime compressor is good.

Or, if you want one on the cheap. Buy a cheap car tyre compressor from any motor factors. Take off the fancy outer casing (a hammer will do it, if you are in a rush) and take out the tiny compressor.

Take care as it will run HOT when it is compressing, sufficient to burn your pinkies.

The compressors will probably draw more than 5 amps, so will trip the Canbus to safety / off if you plug them into the bog standard auxiliary socket. So you'll need to go direct to the battery, via a suitable fused lead, 7.5 or 10 amps should do it, using croc clips. Or you can go to the trouble of making a dedicated fused plug socket, I did one for my GSA, along with a jump start socket.

.....Overall? I think I would just go to Halfords and buy a bog standard foot pump and a simple pressure gauge. Use them once a month at home when you wheel the bike out and all will be well for years to come.

On your jaunt to foreign lands, you might find a compressor handy of course.... though they do have garages, or the locals would all have flat tyres..... but to be most useful you'll need a puncture repair kit, too.... which will require another thread.






Slime compressor

 

[Kremmen]

Has anyone tried...or is it known if the batteries can be replaced in the TPS wheel units???

That way it would save any reprogramming issues

 

[Roymondo]

Has anyone tried...or is it known if the batteries can be replaced in the TPS wheel units???

That way it would save any reprogramming issues

Officially no, as they are sealed units. I have seen mention of folks planning to break a dead one open to see how it goes together/how the battery is fitted on other boards, but never seen a report of their results.

 

[wildbeeste]

A quick cheer for TPS. Last wek I hired a 1200GS in Spain. On day two the low pressure warning light came on in the middle of some especially nice fast bends. Showed pressure falling about 0.1bar per mile.
I could not feel any difference in handling but rolled into a rural garage. The tyre seemed fully inflated according to the scientific kicks we applied to it but the garage airline showed the same pressures as the TPS.
Found the hole and used the repair kit with the special adhesive. After a great deal of faffing and cutting of the plugs it did seal. The repair lasted until hire bike returned. (another 400+ miles)
The TPS worked a treat and saved a potential accident.

 

[stever1]

I have the pressure sensord fitted, but i dont know how long the battery lasts for. Anyone know ?.
Incidentally, just got a small compressor from Wilkinsons for less than £11, bargain, changed the power plug for 2 crocodile clips. Also ordered a stop n go plug kit - hope i dont need it !.