I've have been running my old winter tires without TPMS sensors since winter 2012-13. The tires were worn down and did horrible in the snow last year, so I just left them on until last month to get a few more miles before they were retired. So, I've been putting up with the TPMS "Inactive" message on my 2011 328i for months since there were no TPMS sensors in the wheels.

I have access to a tire mounting machine and wheel balancer, so a few weeks ago, I took the old tires off, installed 4 RS Technik TPMS sensors on the steel rims and mounted new Blizzak snow tires. Eric at pyspeed.com matched the units based on my VIN, so the sensors are probably the correct ones. I have identical units on my X5 that I installed last year and have had no problems with them. I was careful not to damage the sensors during mounting. I did notice during sensor installation the inner ridge on the steel rims contacts a portion of the rubberized undersurface of the sensor - I have no idea how TPMS sensors work - depending on how they measure air pressure, not sure if that would interfere with the sensors' function.

Every time I start the car, the TPMS "Inactive" warning usually comes on within 10-15 seconds, just like it always has for the past 12 months. When I try to reset the system with the control stalk (no iDrive), it immediately gives me the "Inactive" message. I've driven at least 50 miles since installing the tires, including autobahn speeds (I'm military stationed in Germany). I've varied the tire pressure to recommended pressures on the door label and then back to the book recommended for speeds at and above 100 mph.

My questions:
1) Am I missing something basic?
2) Since I drove around on tires with no TPMS sensors for a year and never put the original wheels back on, is it possible for the RDC control module to have a code that has to be reset either by putting the original OEM wheels with sensors back on first vs. using BMW diagnostics to reset before the system will start functioning again?
3) If BMW diagnostics are required, does anybody have any experience using a Mongoose ISO cable in conjunction with BMW ISTA online for problems like this in a 2011 BMW 328i? DrewTech is giving me the "might or might not work" spiel but I've read several places where it sounds like it might work (some places say it won't work with the MOST bus, though).

I'm regretting spending $200 on the sensors to try to get the light to go away ... trying to decide if I want to put more money/effort into this or to just call it a day with $200 worth of non-functioning components in my wheels ... I know the Germany dealer will just rake me over the coals before they balk at the aftermarket sensors ...

Any thoughts?

Time to bring the car to a tire shop that has a TPMS diagnostic tool. Here's an example:
http://www.bartecusa.com/

I can't imagine that the service check will be that expensive, but they should be able to diagnose why your TPMS are not communicating with the car.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Forgot to put in the OP that I already tried the TPMS diagnostic tool that the auto hobby shop had. The guy helping me was the one actually using the tool (so I didn't get to play with it) but we walked around to each tire - all four units were "on" and talking to the tool. The tool keep asking to release pressure from the tire but when we tried that (up to 10 psi released), neither the tool or the system was happy. Maybe I'm getting an artificially high reading because of the way the sensors fit onto the rim? It was a tight fit to get the valve stem properly seated - the soft underside of the sensor's rectangular base does actually contact the steel ridge on the interior, horizontal surface of the rim. I have no idea where the "measuring" of the air pressure happens on these units.

 

are you sure they sent you the right sensors?

pre 2009:
RS Technik 008 BMW Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor System TPMS Part 36236781847 and 36236779490

2009 and newer E9x:
RS Technik 012 BMW Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor System TPMS Part 36106790054 36106856227

 

are you sure they sent you the right sensors?

pre 2009:
RS Technik 008 BMW Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor System TPMS Part 36236781847 and 36236779490

2009 and newer E9x:
RS Technik 012 BMW Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor System TPMS Part 36106790054 36106856227

Yeah, it's the RS Technik 012's. Eric at pyspeed.com actually proactively emailed me for the last 7 on the VIN to confirm everything was correct before shipping them.

 

I have access to a tire mounting machine and wheel balancer, so a few weeks ago, I took the old tires off, installed 4 RS Technik TPMS sensors on the steel rims and mounted new Blizzak snow tires. Eric at pyspeed.com matched the units based on my VIN, so the sensors are probably the correct ones. I have identical units on my X5 that I installed last year and have had no problems with them. I was careful not to damage the sensors during mounting. I did notice during sensor installation the inner ridge on the steel rims contacts a portion of the rubberized undersurface of the sensor - I have no idea how TPMS sensors work - depending on how they measure air pressure, not sure if that would interfere with the sensors' function.

What exactly is the freq of your new TPMS sensors?

Are they transmitting?

 

433 MHz.

Here is the webpage of what I bought:

http://www.pyspeed.com/RS-BMW-Tire-Pressure-Monitor-Sensor-36106790054-p/rs-012-tpms.htm

 

Probably about time for a sticky on the TPMS frequency changeover.:angel:

 

Pretty sure inactive means there is a component in the system that is malfunctioning.

There are receivers behind the fender liners for the TPMS sensors in the wheels.

Have the car scanned and see if there is fault stored. It should tell you which receiver is malfunctioning, if there is one.

Also check the TPMS fuses.

 

What kind of scanner was it? You need a BMW specific scanner to pull faults. Generic snanners can only pull from the dme.

 

It was a generic scanner ... don't have access to a BMW specific one which was why I was exploring the possibility of using a Mongoose ISO cable along with the online BMW diagnostics at www.bmwtechinfo.com. If I knew it would work, I'd probably make the $300 investment since I also have an X5 but the answers I'm getting from DrewTech are very vague.

 

Just because the sensors are transmitting doesn't mean they are the right ones.

 

I have a similar issue. I had new PSS put on this summer at a local Chevy dealership. The car was fine for 2 weeks, then out of the blue I got this same TPMS Inactive warning. I've just been ignoring it, I live in the sticks and it's too much of a hassle and rip off to take it to BMW to see WTF the deal is.

 

... I've just been ignoring it ...

You are smarter than I am!

 

Just throwing this out there but you have the option of coding the tpms system off. It costs $100 for the coding cable and you can also setup INPA to pull faults.

 

I have had the same issue with my '11 135i. Snow tires on aftermarket rims from Discount Tire. The TPMS sensors have been replaced once with the new ones matched to VIN. Still the same issue. To DT's credit, they just refunded the $236 that I paid for the senors. I have to take car to the dealer for scheduled maintenance in a week or two, and I will ask them to evaluate the problem.

 

Jeez. I'm sitting in the waiting room of a "discount used tire" placing having them put in my eBay bought tmps sensors. I'm not very confident now. Thanks for the read.

 

X2 on Tire Rack.
Tire Rack sensors worked perfectly for me on my snows.

 

just bought wheels also but no tires yet hehe..

hmm so i can just get TPMS from tire rack also? when im ready to buy tires?

 

our BERU tpms do not have this issue, ours is made in Germany, just like OEM.

 

I'm having the same problem with mine. i caught a flat in georgia on my way back to north carolina. they put a different tire on that was too big just to get me back to north carolina(sensor worked fine). got back and got a new tire thats when my TPMS went inactive. The A******* that put the tire on either stole it or broke it(going with he stole it since it wasn't there) the shop has put new sensors on but still inactive. He has some on order coming in on monday but I'm afraid these won't work either. I told him he has t get bmw specific then. so he got them from a dealership in raleigh.

My question is would these work. or do I have to give these jack a***** my vin to match them. either way once I'm done getting my new free sensors put in and working. IM DONE with those A**holes. I have a 2010 335i, don't know what e series that falls into but I LOVE IT lol.

 

Here is the end of the TPMS saga. Purchased aftermarket rims and snow tires from Discount Tire. TPMS INACTIVE from next day on. My local Discount Tire was unable to remedy the TPMS inactive situation. DT ordered replacement sensors and installed them. TPMS inactive the next day. After several attempts to fix, local DT store said it could do no more. DT reimbursed me the cost of the sensors ($236).

I had my 135 in for routine maintenance at dealer (under 50k miles). Dealer looked at sensors; four different kinds on each wheel. No wonder the system was confusted and INACTIVE. Dealer replaced with OEM parts and now the system is funtioning properly.

I sent email to DT advising them of this. I received a call from DT customer service rep. who said they would reimburse me for the dealer's labor charge to install ~ $225. Apart from all the hours watining at DT, all good now. As a bonus, I had a 328i cab as a courtesy car; no comparison to the 135 cab!

 

When I got my new rims and snows, I had DT put them on along with sensors. All the sensors were the same but had communication problems. Found out some tech had switched out the sensors and put the wrong go sensors in the right box. The local DT was fine about fixing everything, but they still got a little confused using the corporate parts catalog of what Benu sensor to get. Not the local guys fault. Put the right ones in and 10-15 seconds after driving all was good!

 

I have the ContiComfortKit. It is TPMS safe. Where to put it? I hung it up in me E93 after a few minor modifications.

 

Would you mind describing your minor modifications. I would love to do this!

 

Update

So, an update to my original post ... I put the all-seasons (original rims, tires and sensors that came with the car) back on 7 days ago and I still get this "Inactive" status that won't let me complete a reset. Think this is the computer/central system afterall. What is the best BMW specific code scanner for a 2011 328i Sedan that won't break the bank?

 

So, an update to my original post ... I put the all-seasons (original rims, tires and sensors that came with the car) back on 7 days ago and I still get this "Inactive" status that won't let me complete a reset. Think this is the computer/central system afterall. What is the best BMW specific code scanner for a 2011 328i Sedan that won't break the bank?

Tire dealers in the U.S. have TPMS diagnostic equipment that can check the TPMS signal and battery life. I'm sure EU shops have access to the same equipment...no need for you to buy anything. I can't imagine that such a diagnostic check would be very expensive.

If the TPMS are putting out a good signal...none are damaged, and the battery life is shown to be "good" then you can suspect the "central system" although we've heard of few such failures in here.

 

Mine eventually went out--it started happening around the beginning of January.
I suspected that I had weak sensors or something (like low sensor batteries)--they'd been working for months--this was my new winter tire and wheel set.

Fast forward to the weekend before Easter and me switching out to my summer set. Same issue--"inactive tire sensors". Damn.

Two separate, DIFFERENT sets of tires/wheels and TPMS sensors, bought at different times, both sets working reliably for quite a while--in the case of my summers, for over 6 years (yes I know about the non-rechargeable batteries in the sensors--but my winters were about 1 year old).

So....the problem is in the receiving unit, it seems.

Since I've been exclusively non-runflats, both winter and summer, I guess I could just code the sensors off.

 

Mine eventually went out--it started happening around the beginning of January.
I suspected that I had weak sensors or something (like low sensor batteries)--they'd been working for months--this was my new winter tire and wheel set.

Fast forward to the weekend before Easter and me switching out to my summer set. Same issue--"inactive tire sensors". Damn.

Two separate, DIFFERENT sets of tires/wheels and TPMS sensors, bought at different times, both sets working reliably for quite a while--in the case of my summers, for over 6 years (yes I know about the non-rechargeable batteries in the sensors--but my winters were about 1 year old).

So....the problem is in the receiving unit, it seems.

Since I've been exclusively non-runflats, both winter and summer, I guess I could just code the sensors off.

Six years seems a bit "young" for TPMS life unless you put a lot of miles on the car (constantly activated). As DSX has told us, TPMS diagnostic devices can pretty much tell how the remaining TPMS battery life is. I wouldn't blame it on the central computer until that's determined.

 

I have two sets of TPMS sensors, one for my winter wheels, one for my summers. Both are showing "inactive".

 

Perhaps this is the root of your problem...two different (but incompatible) systems used by BMW

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8305505&postcount=7

 

I'm the OP on this thread ...

Decided to work a little more on this problem as I never got it resolved previously and the problem didn't go away when I put on my factory original wheels/tires/sensors in spring 2014 (suggesting it's probably not at TPMS sensor issue, afterall). I broke down last week and bought the BMWhat Bluetooth dongle and Android app. BMWhat came up with the following error: A3C3 RDC Malfunction Network management. I tried to reset the code to clear it but no luck (assuming I'm doing the reset correctly - BMWhat says it successfully clears the error but then it immediately shows up again when I re-diagnose; the TPMS light never goes out on the instrument cluster at any point in the process, though). I googled the A3C3 error, but info is pretty spotty about it. The instrument cluster Check Control still gives the CC-149 error and I can't get the TPMS into learn mode (just always responds "Inactive"). My next thought is to tear into the right rear wheel well to see if the RDC control unit is damaged/corroded/whatever (according to Bentley, they moved the control unit from near the battery in the trunk to this new location sometime in 2010).

 

What was the resolution to this issue?

 

Still working on this issue when I have time. I got BMWhat and was able to read off the BMW specific code but was unable to reset it ... based on my research, this is looking more and more like I have have a faulty central TPMS receiving/processing unit on the chassis (might have nothing to do with the TPMS sensors in the tires). In late 2010, they switched over to including all the TPMS receving antennas and central processing unit in a little box behind the rear passenger side wheel well ... I located that and removed the unit ... when I shook it, I heard something rattling around in the sealed plastic part, so I'm thinking a resistor broke or something. Anyway, I'm going to try to do some more research before I replace this part ... I think a new unit might have to be re-coded and I want to make sure I can actually do it before buying.

 

Strange, mine broke, but that unit's errors backfed into random system errors. From mundane car on a lift lights to actually shutting all my dash notifications down (no speedometer, gas gauge, etc.)

Surprised you aren't complaining of the same if that's the case.

 

Strange, mine broke, but that unit's errors backfed into random system errors. From mundane car on a lift lights to actually shutting all my dash notifications down (no speedometer, gas gauge, etc.)

Surprised you aren't complaining of the same if that's the case.

I'm having the same issues. I just replaced all 4 stock RFTs for non runflats, drove the car for 50 miles, and the TPMS Inactive message came up. Unfortunate timing, as I was just starting a long road trip. I stopped at a gas station, checked the tire pressures, and tried unsuccessfully to reset the TPMS. After driving a few more miles all hell started breaking loose with my dashboard lights, exactly as you had described. All throughout my trip the dashboard power keep cycling off and on, throwing indicator lights for DTC, ABS, Brake, TPMS, Airbag, and car on a lift. I think the power was also cycling off and on with my stereo and air conditioning.

After making it home from the roadtrip I noticed the Sevice Engine soon light came on for the first time. I've used a scan gauge to read the trouble codes:

U112B No message from instrument cluster

U1101 Component protection

So Wongway, I'm wondering was your car still covered under included maintenance? And if not, how much did the new central TPMS receiving/processing unit cost you? Since my car is out of it's included maintenance period, I'm really trying to avoid a trip to the dealer. Also, what year is your car? I'm also wondering if my problems might really be that the TPMS sensor batteries being dead, as my car is 7 years old and I've read that the batteries only last 5-7 years.