Ok guys, here we go again...

Travelling down on a 475 mile trip I was almost at my destination when out of no where my TPMS warning came on screen telling me there was an TPMS/RDC issue? I pulled into a service station and checked my tyres in case one or more had lost pressure (no reason why they should). All pressures were fine but I let some air out and inflated them again thinking I can fool the car. I got back in the car and it allowed me to do the tyre pressure refresh but only reached 59% and came back with the same warning etc. I reached my destination and whilst driving along I heard a metallic sounding noise as though something had fallen off. I pulled up but couldn't see anything. I reached a car park where I park my car whilst at work and whilst driving around looking for a space I could hear the same sort of noise which almost sounded like there was something lodged in one of the tyres. I pulled up and checked but couldn't see anything.

I know the TPMS module is on the inside of the wheel, so what is the chance that this has somehow dislodge and is now loose inside the wheel making this noise that I am experiencing?

Your thought are appreciated

 

Never heard of them coming loose from factory. I guess is someone did not put a tire on right or clipped one by accident it come off. I would take it to one of the tire places that did your last tires.

 

I can understand if it came off immediately but almost 500 miles later? Unless it was just hanging on and something gave it a final push. I'm just clutching at straws but will put a diagnostic reader on it tomorrow to see if it comes up with any error codes?

 

yep, or have someone pull the wheel/tire off and shake it.

 

Ok, fault code showing 4806DA, RCDi wheel electronics front right no reception. So hoping its only a simple fix. I read multiple forums and most say different things. Is there a single receiver that communicates with all tpms sensors or is it a receiver for each?

 

Yes, its in the center, but when it fails all don't receive signal, its like under the center console.

 

Don't suppose there is a picture of the location? Not that it's looking like that's the culprit, hopefully it's just a sensor?

 

I have seen it in the R60 on the rear bumper, on the f60 i think its in the center console or in the C pillar like the F56 https://www.minif56.com/threads/help...failure.86881/



Its part of the key fob signal and the RDC . https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...k-anymore.html

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...o/61357928663/

 

Phoned my local garage today, they have the unit to test if the sensor is defective or not. They said that they will only diagnose but not replace as that is a main dealer requirement. Is that true, I thought the TPMS sensors were just plug and play as you can buy them off the shelf. If they do indeed need coding to each vehicle is there an alternative to main dealer such as esys, bimmercode etc?

Onwards and upwards

After checking the internet, it appears that you do have to program new sensors to the car. Looking at purchasing a programmer as it may work out cheaper in the long run than having to pay visits to the local main dealer?

Ok, more info and I'm confused. Seen a video on youtube of someone swapping over a defective TPMS sensor for a new one on a mini and he didn't carryout any coding? Can someone please confirm if you have to program or not, it'll save me having to purchase a coder if not?

 

My 2019 F60 and my current 2020 F60 didn't need any coding of Continental TPMS sensors I bought from ECS Tuning. All I had to do is select the function on the screen, and drive around a short while. They work great. Part number A2C9743250080. On sale right now (end of November 2023).

 

How did the ecu know which wheel the sensors belonged to without coding? Ecs is US so would need shipped, more expensive than genuine bmw here in uk

 

How does a thermos bottle know whether to keep the fluid inside hot or cold? I don't know how it "knows", but, it detects the changing signals with no problems...I ASSUME it must have a certain frequency...433 Hz if I'm recalling correctly. If I put my OEM wheels back on the car (when I take the new wheels with the new sensors to have new tires put on), I reset the unit to detect the OEM sensors. It does so with no problems. And then I swap them back to the Continental sensors with no problems.

I'd HOPE genuine BMW in the correct frequency would work with no coding needed. You simply have to enter the TPMS Setup menu in your car and choose something like: "Set up new Sensors"....I forget exactly how I do it.

 

Yes, but you have a total of four sensors sending data to the receiver, how does the receiver know which wheel is which. I don't have entry to learn new sensors, only to recalibrate existing sensors

 

Are you sure you don't have the "learning new sensor" selection in your menu? I'd bet you do. How it knows which sensor is on which wheel, I can only assume that the receiver is "directional" in nature...meaning, based upon where the little computer chip is located in the vehicle, it can determine 4 different directions of signals being generated. All I can say is: it's computerized, and I'm not a computer specialist....obviously. But it tells me the pressure in each tire...and it's very accurate...if it says the right rear is 2 PSI lower than the other 3, it is.

 

I've been in and out of the menu and can't remember seeing such a setting. Can you remember approx the area it could be in as then I can change and setup the new sensor?

 

Sure! Tomorrow I'll pay attention and report back. In the meantime, I think it's under "My Mini", then "Vehicle Status", then the "Tire" Icon...at which point the pressures of each tire are displayed. I think at the bottom of that page it gives the option to "re-set sensors", and if a new TPMS sensor happens to be detected, an option for "re-learning" or something like that...which requires a decent distance of driving to have it set up...perhaps even more than 10 minutes. The re-calibration after filling all the tires to the correct pressure only takes a mile or so. I know I didn't report this exactly right with the wording, but it was so intuitive the times I've done it, I just didn't pay a lot of attention to it.

 

Maybe that is why I don't see the extra command because I have not installed the new sensor. I am away at work and my sensor is at home. Hopefully Thursday I can experiment?

 

Set 4 sensors today. It's under "Vehicle Status", then the Tire Icon (which is the first one on the list in my 2020 JCW), then at the bottom of that page is "Program Sensors". I had to be stopped to activate this. Then it says "reprogramming" and I had to drive about 3 miles before it finished. No programming required. My 2019 was the same way. Hope that helps!

 

Well, you were correct in that the sensor didn't need programming. But my activation purely consisted of carrying out the reset and driving until complete. New sensor now integrated with original 3 and all is good. Thanks for sticking with me