BMW Star Marked tyres

[Zak33]

Hello all

One of my ex motortrade colleagues has just had a BMW fitted with 4 new tyres (not a recent BMW... it's over 8 years old)
The engine lights came on and the diagnosis...

the tyres aren't good enough and are not BMW Star Marked run flats (they are run flats..but not BMW approved... and the car 'knows')

Anyone else had the priviledge of having to buy tyres for a Bimmer that are their' spec and not your choice?

https://www.bmw.co.uk/bmw-ownership/...-price-promise

Why do you need BMW Star Marked Tyres?

Did you know that over a third of all enquiries and MOT failures are related to tyres? That’s why having the right tyres is paramount. BMW Star Marked tyres are designed in collaboration with leading tyre manufacturers, meaning they not only provide a smooth drive and optimum grip, but also ensure that they are made specifically for your BMW model.

Interested? try a search on the phrase "bmw star marked tyres" and see what you think.

[g8ina]

Good Grief, thats as bad as having a Linn Sondek LP12 !

[spacein_vader]

Hello all

One of my ex motortrade colleagues has just had a BMW fitted with 4 new tyres (not a recent BMW... it's over 8 years old)
The engine lights came on and the diagnosis...

the tyres aren't good enough and are not BMW Star Marked run flats (they are run flats..but not BMW approved... and the car 'knows')

Anyone else had the priviledge of having to buy tyres for a Bimmer that are their' spec and not your choice?

https://www.bmw.co.uk/bmw-ownership/...-price-promise


Interested? try a search on the phrase "bmw star marked tyres" and see what you think.

Bluetooth odb and torque would clear the warning light. If it kept it up I'd either learn to ignore it or be looking up alternative ECUs to flash. If it's a common beemer issue someone will have made one.

Either that or there's a fuse to remove somewhere.

[jimborae]

More to the point WTF is up with your colleague fitting runflats to an old BMW. They should know better and you certainly should.

The Law states that all runflat tyres should be ditched at the first opportunity on all BMW's older than 3yrs.

[Zak33]

well lets begin at the beginning.

WITH LIGHTS ON the car won't drive at normal speeds and it's an MOT failure now with any warning light on

and ... well thats enough really. The engine lights didn't used to come on... they were just "suggested" tyres...but the issue on many cars is that they are now essential

I am unable to hold my resentment in... I wonder that there isn't a legal argument about this somewhere......

[peterb]

I can't see why the engine management light would come on with the 'wrong' tyre - its not an engine problem. I'd expect a separate warning light for tyre pressures.

Mine has a warning light based on the difference in wheel speed if one tyre is under pressure - but not fitted with run flat.

Has he run an engine diagnostic check?

[Zak33]

BMW have coded the ECU to throw a wobbler....its not the engine light it's the tyre light, but that's an MOT fail now.

subtly they mention it on that website "Did you know that over a third of all enquiries and MOT failures are related to tyres?" - that's because BMW dealers get it all the time

[Zak33]

I also think the X3 has Tyre Tolerance Logic
"Tyre Tolerance Logic

The tyre tolerance logic detects different tyre-tread circumferences on the front and rear axles. This can occur where:
- Mixed tyres are used
- An inflatable spare tyre is fitted
- Tyres are used that have been worn down to markedly different levels "

although in this case, all 4 tyres were new and the circumferences were therefore all the same.. but you cant get away with just 2 new tyres on lots of 4x4's anyway

[Jonj1611]

I think its just a pressure light, there are no electronics, rfid or similar in a car tyre so there is no way that a car knows what tyre it has. Maybe more likely that the tyre pressure sensor is faulty.

On a side note I would be pretty sure that BMW would be in breach of anti competition rules if BMW cars can only use tyres they say are suitable.

[kalniel]

I also think the X3 has Tyre Tolerance Logic
"Tyre Tolerance Logic

The tyre tolerance logic detects different tyre-tread circumferences on the front and rear axles. This can occur where:
- Mixed tyres are used
- An inflatable spare tyre is fitted
- Tyres are used that have been worn down to markedly different levels "

although in this case, all 4 tyres were new and the circumferences were therefore all the same.. but you cant get away with just 2 new tyres on lots of 4x4's anyway

Ie, it has ABS and can detect when tyres rotate at different speeds for the same vehicle speed, hardly rocket science

I would be absolutely stunned if BMW threw an ECU wobbly due to non-star tyres - but one way to check would be to borrow a set just to check - cheaper than an ECU diagnostic probably..

My suspicion is there's a real problem somewhere else.. like ABS sensor - which the tyre change has flagged up because it would normally trigger the TPMS reset or whatever. ABS sensors can be part of the ECU, hence that warning.

[Butcher]

Who said it was the non-star marked tyres? Because that sounds like the dealer spinning a yarn to get some tyre custom and then they'll fix the actual problem afterwards when it is too late.

[Spud1]

I've had 3 BMWs (currently in an M240i) and i've never seen this - it sounds like its just a TPMS sensor going off or not being fitted correctly, rather than the car detecting that it's been fitting with a non-approved tyre. I've also never come across such a setting/warning when going through Bimmercode - but there are definitely settings you can use to disable TPMS sensors (not that you should!!). I have had non star tyres on my old 116i for a period too, with no issues.

If they didn't properly reset/replace the sensor that would do it...

on a side note, the current run flats they fit are not as bad as they used to be - I am running Bridgestone Potenza S001's at the moment (as there was a shortage of MPSS when I bought it..and didn't want to wait 3 months for the car!) and find them to be grippy enough and still fairly comfortable - although my car has quite a firm ride as it is so maybe their supposed harshness is more noticeable on the bigger cars That said, I will still be changing all 4 to MPSS (or MPS4S if they start making them in 18" by then) when summer comes around and these RFTs need replacing..they are about £10 a corner cheaper and Costco usually runs a 4 for 3 deal in the summer on Michelin tyres

[Zak33]

well I was as disbelieving as you all are.. but I've now seen 5 seperate BMW people say its a consistent problem.

i'm utterly unable to find legit real links to explain the Star Rating issue. There is a huge amount of controversy, but moreover, scare mongering about insurance companies. wrong tyres etc.

So..what I'm looking for is legit, real , hardcore tech explanations proving it one way or another.
We allknow tyre pressure monitors are on loads of cars, we know that ABS sensors can detect wheel roation speeds, though that's quite old tech, and I know that diff sensors can detect very fine speed differences in axles speeds.
But what I cant find is 100% definitive proof of certain BMW models, old or new, NEEDING these tyres.

How would the tyre signal the car? Are there magnets or other transpoder devices in the tyre walls?

Or is it utterly smoke and mirrors?

[Zak33]

this debate has some of the most sensible discussion on it..
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/...f=72&t=1647833

I'd love to know from a proper BMW tech, trained by BMW, what the score really is. There looks like a proper issue with drivetrain warranty claims if the car has non star markek tyres, but I'm interested mostly in the warning light scenario

[GoNz0]

My BMW says to fit star marked and it arrived with MOE fitted as no doubt they were the cheaper option for the last owner, MOE is mercedes version of BMW star.

All it means is the compound is tuned to the manufacturer's specs.

No problem here

Apart from 580nm doing it's best to shred them

If you look at the Michelin page for Primacy 3 you will see they all have different ratings.

[spacein_vader]

My BMW says to fit star marked and it arrived with MOE fitted as no doubt they were the cheaper option for the last owner, MOE is mercedes version of BMW star.

All it means is the compound is tuned to the manufacturer's specs.

No problem here

Apart from 580nm doing it's best to shred them

If you look at the Michelin page for Primacy 3 you will see they all have different ratings.

Tuned to specs meaning the manufacturer has tuned BMW with the right spec of cash.