What is a Tire Pressure Monitoring System?
Have you ever heard of a tire pressure monitoring system? It’s a pretty cool feature that comes with the BMW 5 series. Basically, it’s a system that keeps an eye on the air pressure in your tires. If the pressure gets too low, it’ll let you know with a warning light on your dashboard. That way you can take care of it before anything bad happens, like a flat tire or decreased fuel efficiency. It’s a small but important feature that can make a big difference in keeping you safe on the road!
How to Reset BMW 5 Series Tire PRessure Warning Light:
VERSIONS
2003 – 2010 (E60/E61) – Without iDrive
Using the blinker switch on the side of the steering wheel.
Use the toggle, and toggle up until your dashboard has the tire pressure warning light in between your speedometer and tachometer. (the toggle is where the up and down arrows on the blinker switch are)
Hold down the BC button for a few seconds, then release it.
Hold down the BC button again until a checkbox appears below the tire warning light.
Release the BC button.
Drive the vehicle!
2010 – 2017 (F10/F11/F07/F18) – With iDrive
Select the MENU button on the Idrive system
Select VEHICLE INFORMATION from the main Idrive menu using the Idrive scroll and selector wheel.
Select VEHICLE STATUS
Select PERFORM RESET
Select PERFORM RESET again
Drive the vehicle!
2018 – PRESENT (G30/G31/G38/F90)
Select CAR on the Idrive infotainment screen
Select VEHICLE STATUS
Select TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR
Select TIRE SETTINGS
Choose the correct TIRE TYPE (choose summer or winter if you swap tires for different seasons)
Select SAVE TIRE SETTINGS
If you are swapping between winter and summer tires, follow the same steps but select PERFORM RESET after selecting the season.
Drive the Vehicle!
Everything in this article is applicable to all BMW 5 series versions and models including M competition versions. (520d, 525i, 528i, 530i, 535i, 540i, 550i, 530e, M5)
Tip: If tire pressure light does not go out after following these steps, recheck your pressures with a tire pressure gauge, then repeat the reset procedure.
2022 5 Series Reset
How Does the BMW 5 Series TPMS Work?
The BMW 5 series TPMS is a system that keeps track of the air pressure in your tires.
The system uses sensors that are installed inside each tire to measure the pressure.
The sensors wirelessly send data to the car’s onboard computer, which processes it in real-time.
If the pressure in any tire drops below a certain level, the TPMS sends a warning signal to the dashboard.
The warning signal can appear as a symbol on the dashboard, an audible alarm, or both.
The TPMS also continuously checks the tire pressure and updates the dashboard display as needed.
If the TPMS detects a problem it’ll tell you which tire needs attention, so you can take care of it right away.
NOTE: Some of the E60/E61, 5 series models do not use TPMS sensors. Instead they use the ABS’s wheel speed sensors to measure tire pressure. This only really matters if you are having an issue with the tire pressure monitoring system.
When to Reset BMW 5 Series TPMS?
After adjusting tire pressure, adding or removing.
After tire balances, rotations, or wheel alignments.
After replacing one or more tires.
After jump starting a dead vehicle battery.
When installing new rims or wheels. (remember to transfer old sensors to new wheels)
If the tire pressure warning light doesn’t go out on its own.
After switching between seasonal tires. (summer to winter)
After replacing the vehicle’s battery.
After repairing or replacing any faulty not working TPMS sensors
After replacing any wheel speed sensors.
What are Common Causes for BMW 5 Series Tire Pressure Lights to Turn On?
Worn-out tires: Tires that have reached the end of their life span may develop leaks or lose air more easily.
Temperature changes: Temperature fluctuations, such as cold weather or hot weather, can cause the tire pressure to fluctuate and trigger the warning light. In my experience, this is the most common reason any tire pressure light comes on!
A slow leak or flat tire due to puncture or damage to the tire.
A crack in one or more rims. (This is VERY common in BMW vehicles)
Vehicle weight, too much weight in or on the vehicle. (Including towing)
If a spare tire is installed, the TPMS light will be on even if you reset the light. Spare tires don’t have TPMS sensors in them.
Faulty tire pressure sensors: leaking or damaged TPMS sensors. Faulty TPMS sensors can potentially send incorrect readings to the car’s computer.
TPMS software or calibration issues. Occasionally software needs to be updated in newer vehicles by the dealer.
Dying tire pressure sensor battery. (Sensor batteries usually last around 5-7 years before being replaced)
A dead vehicle battery then jumped by another battery can cause the TPMS light to come on.
What Happens When Your BMW 5 Series Tires are Underinflated?
When your BMW 5 series tires are underinflated it can cause a lot of problems. For starters, your fuel efficiency can decrease. Meaning you’ll be spending more money on gas than you should be. Your tire tread might also wear out faster than they should, which means you’ll need to replace them sooner than you anticipated. Plus driving with underinflated tires can be dangerous. It can affect your car’s handling and braking capabilities which increases the risk of accidents on the road. Not to mention, driving with underinflated tires can also damage your rims, which can be costly to repair or replace. Overall, we highly recommend checking your tire pressure at least once a month and before any trips!
