I have exported my 2008 JCW from the US to Switzerland where I now live. In Switzerland TPMS is NOT required. I have just purchased a set of R114 rims with the winter runflat tires, and of course the wheels here do not have the sensor for the TPMS, and even if I had the option used in Europe, it would use the rotational velocity technology and not the pressure sensing.

What are my options? The TPMS works fine with the standard R113 rims, but I'd like to be able to "switch off" the TPMS while I have my winter set installed, and then back on in the Spring when I reinstall the R113s. Is this possible?

 

You can get the sensors from tirerack for about $200 and install them and make the car happy.

 

From what i know about this the Europe sensors are the same as the US on 2008 and up. but i could be wrong. Of course there was also a change in 2010 to the sensors so make sure you get the ones for the 2007-2009 cars not the upgraded 2010+ cars

No easy way to shut it off. It can be done with NCS Expert or one of the other programing softwares but that will cost you around $200 anyway.

Easy way to do it is to buy the sensors from Tire Rack and have them installed. then you are also safe and know when a tire is low.

 

The pressure sensor TPMS is used only in the US, to meet US regulations.

The easiest solution is to purchase and install the TPMS sensors. However, tire installers in Europe have no experience with them!

 

However on March 10, 2009 the European Union voted and approved legislation that TMPS be phased in over a two year period of time from Nov 2012 to Nov 2014.

With that I believe that BMW/MINI made the change to the 2010 model year cars to meet the new tighter regulations of the EU.

Yes this would be the easiest solution.


This may not be so true. The Europeans tend to train people before the need arises unlike the US where it is implemented and required and even 3+ years later there are places that can not deal with the requirement.

 

As far as I know, MINI has used the pressure sensors only in the USA. I know that for sure when they were introduced, and it still seems to be the case. If you look at RealOEM for 8/11 builds, the sensors are listed for USA but not for Europe.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. My local MINI dealer here in Switzerland has offered me the US sensors for CHF 250 but that is a price for EACH wheel, so it would be CHF 1000 for all four, which at current exchange rate would be about $1100.

If I were to buy them from Tirerack as suggested, how are they installed? Would I have to go to a tire shop to have it done?

 

They're perfectly ok with TP senors here in Germany.

 

You order them (pay more for shipping since you are far away), then go to a tire shop and have them just break the 1 side of the bead down. With small hands you can get in there and push the valve stem through, tighten the nut down, and re-inflate. Since the tire was not indexed on wheel you could get away without balancing, you might want to since there is now an additional weight in the wheel.

You will then use the stalk-end button to reset the sensors and the car is happy.

 

With the run-flat tires, I wonder if the bead is able to be simply pushed aside in the way you describe...

 

While on the tire machine you can use the prybar that is used to pull the lip of the tire over the rim of the wheel. Having small hands helps too. Not ideal I know, but possible.

 

With a 45 on a 17? Absolutely.

 

These are the 185/50 winter runflats on the 5.5" R114