• Welcome, Guest! We hope you enjoy the excellent technical knowledge, event information and discussions that the BMW MOA forum provides. Some forum content will be hidden from you if you remain logged out. If you want to view all content, please click the 'Log in' button above and enter your BMW MOA username and password.

    If you are not an MOA member, why not take the time to join the club, so you can enjoy posting on the forum, the BMW Owners News magazine, and all of the discounts and benefits the BMW MOA offers?

TPMS sensors

KevinRT

KevinRT
I am getting my TPMS sensors replaced but am wondering if the technicians need the whole bike or can this be done with just the wheels and tires, in other words without the bike. Do they need to sync them with the bike's computer or is this automatic and no software or link up is require? If the latter, I will wait to do the front and get a few more klicks out of that tire.
 
I need mine replaced too. The cost is ridiculous $475.50 installed. Batteries lasted 7 Years 3 months.

Ouch! That makes pretty expensive batteries....

Mine didn't come with TPMS and a retrofit would have costed something like $800 in parts only.

I installed a 3rd party TPMS and the wheel sensors use calculator batteries that I can replace myself for less than $5 each

 
I need mine replaced too. The cost is ridiculous $475.50 installed. Batteries lasted 7 Years 3 months.

How many miles did they last? I was wondering if battery usage is more tied to the transmitting of data for each mile run.

Thanks --Chris


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Ouch! That makes pretty expensive batteries....

Mine didn't come with TPMS and a retrofit would have costed something like $800 in parts only.

I installed a 3rd party TPMS and the wheel sensors use calculator batteries that I can replace myself for less than $5 each

Which system did you go with?
 
I think many of us who own motorcycles that are aging are about to get quite a shock when we have to replace these tire pressure sensor parts. I did a quick search from the official BMW parts source in Canada http://www.parts.bmwbikes.ca quoted the following prices - admittedly the 'sticker/sign' probably is not necessary but the total cost without installation would be $463.75 CAD.

RDC sensor for front wheel

1. Sensor. RDC 36318532732 $235.00 CAD
2. Pin. RDC 36238521833 $11.75 CAD
3. sign "TPC" tire pressure control 71217698971 $4.50 CAD

RDC sensor for rear wheel

1. Sensor with valve. RDC 36318532731 $185.00 CAD
2. Repair kit, tire pressure monitor valve. RDC 36318520871 $23.00 CAD
3. sign "TPC" tire pressure control 71217698971 $4.50 CAD

No mention of the CR2032 (lithium) battery because it is soldered/welded inside the sensor. Also not sure how difficult it would be to perform the change oneself.
 
Last edited:
I think many of us who own motorcycles that are aging are about to get quite a shock when we have to replace these tire pressure sensor parts. I did a quick search from the official BMW parts source in Canada http://www.parts.bmwbikes.ca quoted the following prices - admittedly the 'sticker/sign' probably is not necessary but the total cost without installation would be $463.75:

No mention of the battery but perhaps it is included with the sensor? Also not sure how difficult it would be to perform the change oneself.

This guy shows how to replace the batteries... But it's quite a task.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mpjz0cDjnK4

I think I would just buy replacements when the time comes....

--Chris


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The sensors "live" in a really harsh environment, subject to lots of shock and vibration and temperature extremes. I'd think battery life and life of the rest of the components is pretty similar ... making battery replacement alone not worth the effort. Once again, neither BMW nor anyone else is trying to "screw" you with high prices. This is the cost of doing business---divide by 7 for cost per year.
 
The sensors "live" in a really harsh environment, subject to lots of shock and vibration and temperature extremes. I'd think battery life and life of the rest of the components is pretty similar ... making battery replacement alone not worth the effort. Once again, neither BMW nor anyone else is trying to "screw" you with high prices. This is the cost of doing business---divide by 7 for cost per year.

Cost of my system divided by 7 comes up to $1.47 / Year vs the OEM at $66.75/ year.
I think that BMW has a big interest in not making the batteries serviceable.

Even changing the entire system (Monitor + 2 sensors) would only come up to $17/ year

Like I said before, these are very expensive batteries.
 
I'm using the Steelmate TP-90
Does your front wheel have the valve stem coming out the side of the wheel? I have heard that some of the sensors that scre on the valve stem will interfere with the brake caliper on the front wheel.
 
Could you pair a third-party TPMS sensor with the BMW computer when batteries need to be replaced?

Chris
 
Does your front wheel have the valve stem coming out the side of the wheel? I have heard that some of the sensors that scre on the valve stem will interfere with the brake caliper on the front wheel.

Yes. No issues.

There is a "lock nut" that comes with the kit which I did not install because that front wheel valve stem is short which kept the sensor from screwing all the way in.

The nut makes no difference. I did not install it on the rear wheel either.

Make sure that you have a metal stem valve on your rear wheel though. (The front wheel has one already)

The extra weight of the sensor, even if it's not much, can stress that OEM rubber valve and cause a leak DAMHIK
 
Nah...as they say, follow the money.

The price difference is so outlandish for the same technology. But...like a lot of things BMW, it is designed to bring you back to the dealership for service with high priced replacement parts.

Chris
 
Back
Top