I am looking at a set of 17 inch rims to swap my runflats onto.

Dealer was not sure about the TPM set up which I have and if it is transferrable from my S-lite rims to the new set. He seemed to think that first Gen MCS had some sort of rotational measuring set up and not actual TPM systems, and that only 2nd Gen had actual TPM System.

Does anyone have an answer to this I would prefer not to have a yellow blinking light on my Speedo 24/7.

 

It's not *exactly* a 1st-gen/2nd-gen thing, but almost. Basically, the new-style direct TPMS (with the sensors in the wheel) started showing up in mid-2007, and all MINIs produced after September 2007 had them. So, there are some 2007 Coupes running around out there with the old-style indirect TPMS (based off of wheel speed, with no sensors in the wheel), even though they're 2nd-gen cars. Likewise, there are 2007 convertibles with the new TPMS, even though they're 1st-gen cars.

All that aside, your 2003 is definitely the old-style indirect TPMS. You can swap wheels to your heart's content and don't have to worry.

 

ScottRiqui got it correct that the 2002-2006 (don't know build date in 07) had a sensor for rotational changes based on revolutions, and not a sensor in the wheel itself. That is why if you put on Winter tires you may see the TPM light on the tach come one, or if one wheel is lower (I think it's 5% and up?) then the rest. Mine when I change from Summer to Winter and back does light the warning lamp. But since I just changed the tires and I have verified the pressure is OK so all I do is reset the TPMS with the reset button next to the hand brake and all is well

If after you reset it with the switch it does not go out, shut the vehicle off and on again and it should be reset then.

If it goes off again during normal driving then check immediately the pressure on all 4 wheels. If all is OK, reset it again. If this happens a 3rd time take it into the dealer to have this looked into.

On my car I had the pressure sensor that threads onto the cap and shows me at a glance if a tire is down in pressure (here there available at most discount auto stores) and mine are factory set to 32 psi.

Now if my TPMS light goes ON I quickly look at the cap on each wheel to see if one is down. If not I reset the monitor. If it happened again I would manual check the pressure of each wheel. This however has not happened to me yet.

Hope that helps with the 2nd part of your question.

Regards

Scott.

 

Thanks Guys !

I put my 16" summer rim/tire set up few months back and tried the reset before and it didn't work. I just figured there were sensors in the S-lite rims which needed to be transferred over.

Just tried the reset again. This time......All is well.

No more Blinking light ! Thanks a TON !

 

Quick side note, when the light is on and you hit the reset button, it does not go off right away.

You need to drive a certain mileage so the computers can detect the new setup spinning; then at that time, the light will go off

 

nice ...scottriqui and v3hzz thanx for your answers , I was scare to swap my original rims with new aftermarket rims due to the tpms but now I can go safe, since a customer for my old rims ask me for tpms and I said if I have them I will not give away....thanx

 

Glad we could be of some help and you now are able to give others the info to inform them as well.

Good luck on selling your old rims.

Regards

Scott

 

Trivia - the ENTIRE reason we have all this government-mandated TMPS garbage is due to the Ford Explorer tire/rollover fiasco, circa 2000. Soccer moms weren't checking their tire pressures (do any of them?) and running around on defective tires that were grossly underinflated, a double-whammy that was causing Explorers to roll with frightening frequency. As usual, the government decided to "fix" this issue for us, and TPMS systems are the result. Why everyone went to the in-tire sensors, I'm not sure.. more regulation? I dunno. I'd much rather have the "old" ABS-based system that merely measured tire rotation speed. MUCH less of a headache when dealing with aftermarket wheels, swaps, etc.

 

Now that figures.......

 

I think the reason for the switch from indirect TPMS to direct TPMS is two-fold: First, the indirect system can't reliably detect a small loss of pressure as well as the direct systems, so they can't meet the accuracy requirements in the final version of the law.

Second, the indirect system can't detect a loss of pressure if both tires on the same axle are equally low. So, in the case where someone goes months (or years) without checking their tire pressure, the indirect system won't detect the gradual loss of tire pressure unless one tire is losing pressure much faster than the others.

 

nice thread. thanks for the info.

 

Sorry for the thread bump and possible stupid question, but...

I have a 2006 JCW, I just went and had new 18" tires installed and they charged me to rebuild the TPM sensors. I thought my car used rotation speed to determine pressure. If that's the case they shouldn't have had to rebuild the sensors, yes? I mentioned this to the mechanic and he swore that I had wheel sensors and they needed replacement, but I'm still skeptical.

Is there a way for me to determine what type of sensors I have? I really feel that I've been duped.

 

Yes, you were duped. None of the 2006 MINI models used a "direct" TPMS system (the kind with the pressure sensors in the wheels.) They all work off of measuring wheel rotation rate using the same sensors as the ABS system.

Where did you get your 18" wheels? Are they factory MINI wheels? If they came off of another car, it's possible that they have TPMS sensors mounted on them even though your car doesn't need them.

 

Figures, this is what I get for not having my boyfriend take the car in. Mechanics love trying to put one over on their female clients.

My 18"s are JCW wheels that came with the car:





Is there a way I can prove I don't have the sensors, other than making them take the tires they just installed off? I'd like some proof to back up my claim when I go back and raise hell.

 

If those are the wheels that came with the car from the factory, then they certainly didn't have TPMS sensors in them.

The mechanic might have added some aftermarket TPMS sensors and charged you for them, but your car doesn't need them and can't make use of them.

As for proof, I know that the 2007+ MINIs with factory TPMS sensors in the wheels have metal valve stems that say "sensor" or something similar. But since you got new valve stems with your new tires, I don't think that will do you any good.

I think going in and raising hell is probably your best bet. At best, they charged you for sensors that you don't need and can't use. At worst, they lied to you outright and just charged you for sensors that they didn't even install.

 

The valve stems they installed are rubber, not metal like they seem to be with the TPM sensors.

 

If you got rubber valve stems...there is the proof you need! The sensors are built into the bottom of the stem.

 

So, if my 2003 is stil not working, it must be a wheel speed problem. But my ABS works!??? any ideas?

 

TPMS System not working...