Flat tire monitor – BMW 2004 Mini Convertible Cooper User Manual

Page 73

FLAT TIRE MONITOR

The concept

As you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor keeps
track of the tire inflation pressure in all four
tires. The system alerts you when there is a
substantial pressure loss in one of the tires
relative to another.

The tire inflation pressures are monitored
based on the speeds of the four wheels in
relation to one another. A flat tire is
detected as the result of differences in cer-
tain speed ratios, and a warning is gener-
ated.

System requirements

So that the system can 'familiarize' itself
with the correct inflation pressure, please
do the following:

1. Check the tire inflation pressure in all

tires

2. Compare them with the inflation pres-

sure table, refer to page

, and adjust

the pressures if necessary

3. Initialize the system.

System limitations

The Flat Tire Monitor cannot alert you
to severe and sudden tire damage

caused by external factors, nor does it
detect the gradual and minor loss of pres-
sure in all four tires.

On the other hand, the following situations
could lead to a delayed detection of pres-
sure loss or to the system not functioning:
>Driving on snow-covered or slippery

roads

>Performance-oriented driving: slip at the

drive wheels, high rates of lateral accel-
eration

>When driving with snow chains, false

warnings and undetected pressure loss
may occur

>When driving with a space-saver spare

tire, the Flat Tire Monitor cannot func-
tion.

Initializing the system

The system must be reinitialized
immediately after changing a tire

and wheel, or after correcting the pressure
in any tire. This requires a bit of driving.

1. Before a journey, start the engine, but do

not start driving

2. Press the button long enough for the

indicator lamp in the display elements
to light up for a few seconds

3. Drive off.

It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect a flat tire and issue an
alert.