That may be true. I paid $314 for 2010 sensors with discount.

Might be a diesel thing? I know for a fact they work in a 3.0 2010 X5 with no problems what so ever!

When you upgraded your wheels with these sensors, did you have to do anything to have the vehicle recognize them (ie so that no iDrive warnings occur)?

As soon as I installed the wheels I resat the TPMS on the car via idrive waited about 3 mins in park and all the lights turned green on the wheels.

Different Beru TPMS for different BMW models?
 

This part at Pyspeed is listed as being for an E36 M3 - aren't there different valve stems for different model BMW's, or do they all use the same Beru sensor and stem?

I'm just guessing, randomly, but with some knowledge of wireless technology:

They may have switched the frequency of the wireless tire sensors to a more stable or secure platform or perhaps they coded them differently. At least, I'm assuming (guessing) they're coded to avoid the vehicle picking up the tire pressure from a vehicle next to it, etc.

Each year there are more and more interference sources, and frequencies issued. I'd assume that this is a piece of technology that BMW allows little room for error on, given the "potential" for liability on their end, should the TPMS system fail to indicate a loss of pressure.

If they were smart, they'd allow for backwards compatibility of older sensors. Again, from a liability standpoint, it would make the most sense for them to maintain compatibility with previous model year sensors.

But, again, I'm completely guessing and just adding my opinion to the mix. I'd assume a letter to BMWNA would confirm or repeal the above hypothesis.

Interesting thread. My 30i is awaiting transport from SC. It will be a 3 yr lease and I will likely preemptively pull the RFs and store them for lease return. I'm looking at these non-RFs: Continental ExtremeContact DWS
highly rated: Raising the Bar - Testing New Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires
Anyone know what I should expect from the TPMS if I change the tires? Anyone know what tire pressure the TPMS are set for on the OEM tires?
T.I.A.

They're set to alert you to a drop in air pressure, not to any specific tire. They must be calibrated each time you fill your tires. It's sort of an odd system, but it is what it is.

The system I liked best was the one on my 350z, which gave me the pressure for each tire, at any specific time period.

In any case, if you change tires, you should expect nothing abnormal. They'll work fine.

Thanks A,
So, when I get the new tires what do I do to "calibrate" - settings in iDrive?

Yes, and anytime you increase or decrease air pressure. It's very simple, just a few menus to navigate through.