2011 BMW X5 30D - what affect/issue will TPMS have after installing STAGGERED Wheels?

Hi guys,

I'll be picking up my stock standard 2011 BMW X5 30D shortly and I am keen in installing Staggered wheels (rear wheels bigger than front).

Would anyone know if there is an affect on TPMS after installing it (DIY)? Or do I need to do get a professional to do it and then they will need to do make some changes on the TPMS computer?

Cheers, Henry

You can do it yourself but you will have to dismount the tire from the rim in order to access the valve steem area. It is not an easy task but is you feel you can do it have at it

Originally Posted by dj_hazit

Hi guys,

I'll be picking up my stock standard 2011 BMW X5 30D shortly and I am keen in installing Staggered wheels (rear wheels bigger than front).

Would anyone know if there is an affect on TPMS after installing it (DIY)? Or do I need to do get a professional to do it and then they will need to do make some changes on the TPMS computer?

Cheers, Henry

You are getting new TPM sensors with your new wheels, no? If so, you only have to reset the TMPS in iDrive once the new wheels are on the car.

The new wheels, ie rims and tyres, will not have sensors on them. I was told that these sensors cost like $500.

My plan is to transfer the sensors from the original bmw wheels to the new wheels.

Originally Posted by dj_hazit

The new wheels, ie rims and tyres, will not have sensors on them. I was told that these sensors cost like $500.

My plan is to transfer the sensors from the original bmw wheels to the new wheels.

The mere fact that the wheels are staggered has no impact - the OE 20" sport package wheels are staggered. (I realize the Brits and the Yanks are two peoples separated by a common language. I am assuming that by staggered you mean different rim WIDTHS, not different rim DIAMETERS).

You should check with the firm selling you the new wheels and get their WRITTEN assurance that the OE TPMS sensors will fit your new wheels. Here in the USA, X5's produced after October 2010 use a different sensor than those produced prior to that date. From comments made on this board by non-USA owners I suspect that may not be the case, but given the cost of the sensors I think you need some assurance that the ones installed on your X5 at delivery will fit your new staggered wheels.

Sorry if the above is confusing.....

Hi guys, thanks for your response.

I've actually purchased 285/35-22 all round (non-staggered). I just felt the x5 should have consistency all around.

Also I found out from a BMW expert that the sensors are actually fitted on the chassis and not in/on the rim/wheel itself. This is good news for all the people wanting staggered on their 2011 e70 model. I'm not too sure about the 2010 model but definitely on the 2011 model.

i'm picking up my vehicle next week, and the wheels hopefully will be arriving next week. If you guys want a great deal...email Sean who's located in California. He's email address is vipdynamicwheels@gmail.com and just mention Henry referred. I'm from Australia Melbourne...I really think the wheels and rims I got was a great deal. Ofcourse, Aussie dollar being so strong at the moment, is an advantage.

I've attached some photos he sent of an X5 he did with 285/35-22 of the same black matte 22" rims I will be getting too. My ones will be pure black and no red lining.

Time to find a new "expert". Here in the US, the TPMS sensors are mounted inside the wheels, attached to the valve stems. Maybe it's different in Oz. But I'd be surprised.

Originally Posted by quackbury

Time to find a new "expert". Here in the US, the TPMS sensors are mounted inside the wheels, attached to the valve stems. Maybe it's different in Oz. But I'd be surprised.

+1. I personally saw the wheel guy install the sensors on the rims before putting on the tire. He may have the speed sensor on the chassis like my 545 AKA Flat Tire Monitoring System.

Originally Posted by dj_hazit

Hi guys, thanks for your response.

I've actually purchased 285/35-22 all round (non-staggered). I just felt the x5 should have consistency all around.

Also I found out from a BMW expert that the sensors are actually fitted on the chassis and not in/on the rim/wheel itself. This is good news for all the people wanting staggered on their 2011 e70 model. I'm not too sure about the 2010 model but definitely on the 2011 model.

i'm picking up my vehicle next week, and the wheels hopefully will be arriving next week. If you guys want a great deal...email Sean who's located in California. He's email address is vipdynamicwheels@gmail.com and just mention Henry referred. I'm from Australia Melbourne...I really think the wheels and rims I got was a great deal. Ofcourse, Aussie dollar being so strong at the moment, is an advantage.

I've attached some photos he sent of an X5 he did with 285/35-22 of the same black matte 22" rims I will be getting too. My ones will be pure black and no red lining.

You may have been royally screwed by your expert buddy Sean.

How do you expect the tire pressure INSIDE the tire is measured by a sensor in the chassis? Magic? OMG

Z

Originally Posted by ard

You may have been royally screwed by your expert buddy Sean.

How do you expect the tire pressure INSIDE the tire is measured by a sensor in the chassis? Magic? OMG

It wasn't Sean that mentioned about the sensors on the chass.

The sensors pick up the weighting off each wheel.

Btw, the expert was a mechanic at BMW Doncaster Melbourne.

P.s. There's no way I'm getting advise from the seller for my rims, about tpms. I think that's common sense and you would be a fool to not do research prior to purchasing wheels.

Look, I realize we are two nations separated by a common language and all, but you originally asked about TPMS sensors. Those are located INSIDE the wheels. If you don't have the TPMS sensors, your TPMS system will not work. Pretty black and white. If you don't want to take our word for it, just install the wheels without them and see what happens. (And if you don't want to take our word for it, please don't waste our time by asking us questions like this).

There are NO sensors that pick up "the weighting off each wheel." There are no such sensors in the wheel, there are no such sensors on the chassis, they do not exist anywhere except in your mind and maybe your "expert's" mind. (If you have the self-levelling rear suspension, there are drop links which sense your rear ride height, but they neither know nor care what the "weighting" of each wheel is).

Seriously, find yourself a new expert.

Originally Posted by quackbury

Look, I realize we are two nations separated by a common language and all, but you originally asked about TPMS sensors. Those are located INSIDE the wheels. If you don't have the TPMS sensors, your TPMS system will not work. Pretty black and white. If you don't want to take our word for it, just install the wheels without them and see what happens. (And if you don't want to take our word for it, please don't waste our time by asking us questions like this).

There are NO sensors that pick up "the weighting off each wheel." There are no such sensors in the wheel, there are no such sensors on the chassis, they do not exist anywhere except in your mind and maybe your "expert's" mind.

Technically correct. And perhaps correct also in reality, but...

Some BMW X5s internationally do not have a TPMS, rather, to reduce costs, they have a FTM (Flat Tire Monitor) instead. Often people seem to use TPMS and FTM interchangeably, but there are big differences.

The FTM is the older style system that uses the individual wheel speed information available from the wheel speed sensors used by the ABS and Stability systems. The FTM does not use pressure sensors in the wheels, but rather when reset computes a relative rotational speed ratio for the wheels and, if one of the wheel's ratio goes to far from that ratio, the system assumes its effective circumference has been reduced due to low pressure.

If the X5 in question has FTM instead of TPMS, then it does sort-of have a sensor which is not mounted on the wheel, e.g., the ABS speed sensor.

I do not know if Australia uses the TPMS or FTM system.

Fair enough. But the OP did title his thread "What affect/issue will TPMS have...." Both the "old style" (pre-10/10 build) and "new style" (post-10/10 build) systems use sensors mounted inside the wheel. Certainly his "expert" should know the difference between TPMS and FTM.

Originally Posted by quackbury

Certainly his "expert" should know the difference between TPMS and FTM.

I agree.

Does anyone know if Australia uses the FTM or the TPMS on their X5s?

I think the TMPS is only used in the US. Everyone else gets the FTM.

So, let's summarize:

(1) If you have TPMS, there are pressure transducers inside each wheel as part of the valve assembly. These transducers transmit pressure information via radio frequencies which the vehicle uses to monitor and report low tire warnings. This is now on all US BMWs. If you change tires or adjust tire pressures, all that is needed is a system reset. If you change wheels, you must transfer the TPM's/valve stems from the old wheels to the new wheels, or buy new ones, and reset the system.

(2) If you have FTM, there is nothing in or on the wheels to monitor the pressure. The vehicle computer uses the existing speed sensors used by the ABS/DSC systems to determine relative rotational speeds, and if relative rotational speed changes, it assumes it is caused by a low tire, which "speeds-up" the low tire rotational speed due to a smaller effecive circumference, and issues a warning. This appears to be the system on most, if not all, non-US BMWs. With FTM, if you change wheels, tires, or tire pressures, all that is needed is a system reset.

Conclusion?

If you are changing wheels, the first thing to do is confirm whether you have TPMS or FTM.