What is Tire pressure Monitor System (RDC)?
Tire pressure monitoring system known as RDC is based upon pressure sensors in each wheel and responsible for controlling whole tyre pressystem in car.
Tire pressure monitoring system (RDC) is basically an electronic system installed in BMW to monitor tire air pressure and alert the driver when it falls dangerously low than standard. There are both direct and indirect TPM systems which triggers either your dashboard indicator light or a warning message displays when air pressure drops below the manufacturer’s recommended level. Since 2002; BMW has started offering most of its vehicles with pre-installed tire pressure monitoring systems (RDC) to ensure that in case of a run-flat tire, driver is quickly informed via this electronic system. It is easy to get installed TPM system in any good mechanical workshop; if not provided at factory level for your model.
What does Tyre pressure Monitor System (RDC) failure mean in BMW
An ideal Tire Pressure Monitoring RDC system in BMW will detect and send an alert to the driver when there is 20% air pressure loss in one or more tires. After receiving an alert; the first thing to do is to check tire pressure with a pressure gauge. When the tire is at the appropriate pressure, the indicator light should go off. But if tire pressure in all tires is correct and you still getting warning messages or light indicators then there might be some defects causing malfunctioning in TPM system. It’s worthwhile to check if the problem is with TPM system itself or the main control unit has failed.
Reasons of BMW Tyre pressure Monitor System (RDC) failure
You might receive Tire pressure Monitor System (RDC) failure message due to some obvious reasons such as: defective TPMS RDC sensors, Faulty RDC module or any other external interference. Like many other parts in your BMW, sensors also have a life and might need checking and replacing from time to time. Sometimes, there is a problem with sensors lithium-ion battery which drains out with the time. In most cases, OEM batteries have a life of up to 10 years so it’s good to check sensors for their battery when you continuously getting inoperative message and not finding clue to fix this error.
In some other cases, there might be a problem in the communication between signals transmitted by sensors to the central control unit. RDC receive signals through an integrated antenna which may fail and create communication break or transmitters can also go faulty.
Another common problem with BMW tyre pressure system is when the RDC module is installed under the spare tire in the trunk floor. Water can build up under the spare tire which in turn damages the module or causes corrosion to the sensitive electronic components. To be more responsive to the warning alerts it is a good idea to check TPMS fuse once. In most models, this fuse is located in the junction box behind the glove compartment and it can burn in case the control unit shorts out.
One possibility could be mechanical damage which usually happens during tire replacement. Mechanics might forget to transfer sensors to the new rims causing the car not recognizing TPMs sensors. However, many shops have wireless readers or detectors that can verify if the sensors are properly installed and emitting signal.
Diagnose BMW Tire pressure monitoring system (RDC) failure
It might be difficult sometimes for you to analyze the actual problem which caused tire pressure monitoring system (RDC) issues to malfunction but its diagnosis is not a big problem at all. With the help of an OBD-II scanner, BMW specific fault codes can be clearly read to diagnose BMW tire system malfunction. Many top notch scanners are available that can read messages appearing on dashboard and decode the numbers and alphabets to help in diagnosis of malfunctioning.
Common Display Error Messages
Depending on the generation and model of BMW, several different error messages appear on dashboard to keep you alert on Tire Pressure Monitoring System RDC failure. Some of the possible error messages are:
- Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) for the detection of flat tires is currently unavailable. Please contact the nearest BMW
- TPM Status: TPM Malfunction
- System unable to detect tire pressure loss
- Check tire pressure manually
- Continued driving is not possible
- Consult service center
- TPM Inactive warning light on the dashboard.
- Low tire pressure. Stop carefully.
- Tyre Pressure Monitor (RDC) failure
- Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC) failure
- Unable to detect any loss of tyre pressure. Check tyre pressures manually
- If problem recurs, have it checked by your service partner
Fix Sensors Manually!
Every machine can be fixed, so can be your BMW.
One easy way to fix the problem is to check tire pressure in all four tires and their sensors manually and consider them replacing one by one until the warning light goes off or message stops displaying.
How to reset BMW Tire Pressure Monitoring System (RDC)?
Resetting Tire pressure monitoring RDC is the next step after you have fitted the sensors properly, inflated all the tires with recommended PSI. All the information about recommended tire pressure is provided on the driver’s door frame or under the fuel cap so just open it up and find it there. Typically, BMW tire pressure is 32-36 PSI. Once you get all the information. Resetting RDC system in BMW is quite easy with an in-car communication system called iDrive.
- Inflate the tires to the recommended tire pressure.
- Press iDrive knob to select vehicle settings.
- Scroll down to Vehicle Tires using the iDrive knob.
- Rotate the iDrive knob to select the TPM menu.
- Select Reset then press iDrive knob.
- Select YES. Status should change to Resetting TPM.
- After a short drive Status should change to TPM Active.
After resetting, you are again in a safe position and have a system which can measure pressure accurately allowing reasonable braking distances and performance stability.
A list of bmw fitted with tyre pressure rdc system:
- 1 series E82 E88 F20 F21
- 3 series e90 e91 e92 e93 f30 f31 f34 gt
- 5 series e60 e61 f10 f11 m5 g30 g31
- 6 series E63 E64 640d
- X series E70 X5 G05 E83 X3 G01
