I own a 2008 MCS that came standard with TPMS or tire pressure sensors. Well I bought used wheels and snow tires without sensors and just put them on.

Here is my report:
1. After mounting the wheels follow the sensor reset procedure in the manual. Then drive it for a couple minutes.
2. Everytime you start the car, the warning light in the center speedometer flashes and the tire pressure light on the steering wheel gauge lights as well.
3. After 15 seconds the light on the steering wheel gauge goes out and then displays the speed (as I like it). After 2 minutes the flashing light on center display just says full on.

It is up to you if you can accept this action at every startup. I find it is not too distractive. If the center light bothered me I would put a round piece of electrical tape over it to block it out.

I can deal with this for 3 months to save $200!

 

Would you be kind enough to take one of your TPM equipped wheels for a ride in the trunk, reset the monitor as instructed and see if the warning lights go out and stay out?

Many thanks as you will be saving me $150 if it works.

 

That wouldnt work, you would probably need to take all the wheels with you.

 

Are you certain that the monitor needs to see four inputs?

 

I can speak for the the Corvette set up and I think mostly are all the same. Each TPMS sends out a signal so you will need to have all 4 sensors in the car.

 

If you're referring to the '07-'09 system, I hypothesize that it needs to see all four. I say this because if you have the NAV option, it tells you which of the four wheels is the problem. Without the NAV, you know there's a problem, but not which wheel. It'd be simpler for MINI to design one system for both models and then let the NAV tap into the info, rather than different systems for NAV and no-NAV.

Someone with facts will let us know, I'm sure.

 

Not worth a $200 savings IMO, to deal with this every year for 4-5 months. Plus the sensors are actually *useful*.

 

How's that? Should it work then you buy one sensor, save $150 and never deal with it again.

 

Sounds reasonable.

 

Just to clarify, you have to have all 4 sensors to work (even in the trunk). I blew out a tire and the shop busted one of my sensors. Until they replace it I get drive aroudn with my warning light.

 

I Purchased my snows, wheels and sensors from TireRack. I performed the reset and my light is off. I think it's a great thing. My snows are not RF and I want to know what's going on. Especially when is 20 degrees outside.

 

I was commenting on the OP, not your post. One sensor in the trunk isn't going to do anything for you.