Info re> Winter wheel pakage (Canadian)
 

I am just about ready to buy a set of winter wheels for my X5 4.8 w/sport 20s.
I was informed that you have to intall sensors so that you would not get the warning light to go on the dash and can not be diabled.

BMW service mentioned that If you could live with that light on for the season you could save about $800 with a set without sensors.

After speculating the genuine BMW winter tire package options.
I was able to source aftermarket 18' Beyern wheels, Dunlop RF tires and sensors(OEM) for less than discounted BMW package without sensors.

cost of sensors where @$90 each compaired to @$180 each from BMW.

What is your poll on this guys:
Live the red light and save money :rolleyes:

or

Drive the X5 and being aware that it is functioning the way it was designed :bmw:

In Canada the 07 X5 do not have sensors in the wheels like our American friends do. The sensors sense the distance of rotation of the wheels. So if you have a 07 model you would not need the sensors. Even Canadian 08 models may not have the new style tpm's. To check take a look at your valve stem if it is a metal stem with a thick cap that says TPM on it you have the new style with sensors in the wheels. If not you have the previous style.

I hadn't known that there were individual sensors. Are these on the '08s in the US? Will it show the actual pressure of each tire in psi on the display?

07 and 08 in the USA have them. No they do not show individual tire psi.

Thanks, Denalio. I see now from the '07 manual that there was either a FTM (flat tire monitoring system that uses relative wheel rotation to sense a problem) or TPM (tire pressure monitoring system that uses individual sensors in the tires). Or can both systems be used on the same car?

I doubt it.