Within a few hundred yards of setting off to work this morning the runflat indicator on the speedo lit up. I 'returned to base' and checked the tire pressures in my garage; all I found was that the right front was at 28psi while the other three were around 33psi. I used my comressor to bring the errant tire up to 33 also and fired it up again to see that the indicator stayed lit. Note that this is the DASH indicator, not the one on the floor.

The manual indicates that if this lights up it is a system monitor malfunction. Just to see if anything happened I pressed the reset button on the floor; nothing immediately so I start to exit my garage again and the warning light goes off.

No other problems after that and I'm now at work after a 34 mile drive.

Can anyone shed light on this experience??

_________________
"For the getaway cars we'll use three Mini Coopers"

 

Classic case of how the system works my friend. Your low pressure tire was rotating at a different rate than the others, so the system warned you. You then adjusted the pressure to its correct level and reset the system. Ain't technology great?

 

It's also been known to go off when you hit a bad bump as well. You did the right thing - check your pressures. Mine has gone off about 3 times in 33k miles. They were all false alarms. Just hold the button down for a few secs while stopped and within a few blocks or miles, it will reset and it shouldn't go off again unless there really is something wrong.

 

Technology? Phoooeee! This is more like smoke and mirrors!!

 

>>Within a few hundred hards of setting off to work this morning the runflat indicator on the speedo lit up. I 'returned to base' and checked the tire pressures in my garage; all I found was that the right front was at 28psi while the other three were around 33psi. I used my comressor to bring the errant tire up to 33 also and fired it up again to see that the indicator stayed lit. Note that this is the DASH indicator, not the one on the floor.
>>
>>The manual indicates that if this lights up it is a system monitor malfunction. Just to see if anything happened I pressed the reset button on the floor; nothing immediately so I start to exit my garage again and the warning light goes off.
>>
>>No other problems after that and I'm now at work after a 34 mile drive.
>>
>>Can anyone shed light on this experience??
>>

after you reset the system you have to drive the kar for the warning light to reset
you did good, all is fine

 

I guess with the MINI you need to be a rocket scientist to understand the idiot lights

 

Savage,

I'm at a bit of a loss as to what you are searching for in a low tire pressure warning light. Please be more specific and less cryptic.

 

^^^^^he just wanted to say " Technology? Phoooeee! This is more like smoke and mirrors!!"

 

>>Savage,
>>
>>I'm at a bit of a loss as to what you are searching for in a low tire pressure warning light. Please be more specific and less cryptic.



Say what? I think my post stating "runflat indicator on the speedo lit up" is about as specific as you can get. What ARE yout alking about?

 

well, specifically after stating that I thought your system performed as it should, there were two messages regarding "phoooee, smoke and mirror" technology and the requirement of a rocket science degree to understand the basics of the sensors, ie when one revolves faster than the others, an idiot light comes one advising you of such. Were I to read between the lines, I'd suspect that you desired a more "sophisticated" system which might advise you of actual psi readings per tire, or possibly even air temperatures within the tire. Sorry but BMW chose to go cheap. This in turn is an advantage, as you can get aftermarket rims without having to install sensors like on some of the more sophisticated systems.

 

^^^^thou, it would be nice if the system told you which tire was low


_________________

 

mine went off too with a false alarm once. All tires were properly pressured up.

 

I have a CVT and it went off twice already within 5000 miles. On a CVT it seems along with the Low Pressure indicator, the DSC light comes on as well.

Both times it happened I had heavy loads in the car and both times the tire pressure was actually correct .. I guess it just sensed a heavier load then usual ... and both times it went on after hitting some bump.

Reset worked both times ...

 

Mgcman, I guess my S&M (:-) comment was referring to the lack of any explanation of system function in the manual. Also, without knowing the technology behing the sensor one would assume that correctly inflated tires would cause the sensor to not register a problem without having to go for a drive. After your explanation of how the sensor functions the mirror now has the steam wiped off it but I must admit, your comment did make my ears smoke a bit .
After all, it was the manual that was cryptic by stating I should visit my dealer for this problem.
_________________
"For the getaway cars we'll use three Mini Coopers"

 

>>your comment did make my ears smoke a bit .

Savage,

Didn't mean to create overheating of auditory function.

MGC

 

Relax Mgcman, it's good to know that there are people on this forum who a) have a sense of humor, b) have a sense of tact and c) know their MINI's. Good to know ya.

 

Relax Mgcman, it's good to know that there are people on this forum who a) have a sense of humor, b) have a sense of tact and c) know their MINI's. Good to know ya.