Tyres, Brakes and Suspension » Retro Fitting a TPM System to a 2015 R1200RS

I am new to the Forum. I have a R1200RS I purchased new in June 2015 in the UK. I bought a "Base Model" (not a Sport or SE) and added the options I wanted at the time. This included an OE alarm which was installed at the factory and sits under the back seat on its own mounting point. Next to it (further forward and deeper) under the rear seat I noticed that the mountings are also present on the frame to fit a TPMS control unit (I would just need to get the screws and nuts to hold it on). As well as the mountings there is a blanked off "loose" currently unconnected electrical harness connection which I assume is also for a TPMS control unit. So, I believe I have the "mounting point" and the electrical harness connection for an OE TPM system.

I recently for the first time connected a GS911 unit to the bike and noticed that the TPM system appeared on my laptop screen. It was not activated and showed no code numbers of any connected items (control unit or sensors) which is what I would have expected because I did not specify this when I bought the bike. My question is as follows: If I purchased a TPMS control unit (65758546222) which are now available quite cheaply from wreckers/breakers and two new sensors (as I understand the batteries in the sensors wear out) could I retrofit the TPMS system to my bike and have it "switched on/activated" at my local BMW dealer? or switch it on myself with the GS911 (and a TP Sensor wake up tool?)?

My concern is whether the main ECU would be the same as a bike's which originally had a TPMS fitted? or whether there are any other issues that make retro-fitting the system not possible on my bike as it was not fitted when it was delivered in 2015, for example the TFT display unit is not capable of dispalying the TP info/warnings?

I was considering purchasing a control unit and fitting it myself under the seat. Then the next time I needed to change the tyres I thought that I could ask the tyre fitter to install a TPM sensor (with new bolts which attaches it to the valve) on each wheel. Then at that point I wanted to have the system activated/turned on (or turn it on myself afterwards with the GS911 and a wake up tool?) Any help or advice as to whether this is possible would be much appreciated. Steve

I have an Amazon sourced TPMS on my other bike, honestly I'd go for that over than faffing with a retrofit. Control unit goes on the handlebars. Battery powered. Cost under $50 and works just fine. Ten minutes to install if you have a coffee break

Hi Steve, you are correct in assuming that the burning question is whether your current ECU will accept a TPMS system installed at a later date.
I'm sure a BMW dealership will know the answer to this, but they may not be willing to share that info.

Having said that, I'm sure they'd try to sell you the system and install it, for a price, so my best gues is that it IS possible to do it. It just needs switching ON within the ECU.
You may be able to do this from a GS911 (don't forget Motoscan - both companies develop the ECU in slightly different ways, and what one company CAN do within the ECU, the other company MAY NOT be able to do!). ((This definately applies to part of the TPMS system))

My only advice would be (having tried MANY cheap TPMS sensors), is that you'll waste time and money buying the sensors from China, etc. I bought 3 from different suppliers, and none ever worked consistently. Only buying an OEM one, resolved my problem. (Oh and I tried many times to replace the batteries, only for them to fail again!!)

I don't know where you are in the UK, but I'm in Cheshire if I can help with anything.

Good luck
Phil

Thanks for the reply(s) hopefully someone else will be more definitive. To take it a little further I just bought a control unit off a 2000 miles "broken" bike and two brand new BMW sensors (not the chinese ones) or at least I think not. Thinking then it should be a "straightforward" job. I contacted my local BMW dealer (where I bought the bike) and they looked up the VIN on their system and then said I could not retro-fit the parts/system which was a bit of a shock. When I asked why, they could not tell me and when I explained what I put in my initial post about having the wiring present, and having the TPMS menu appear when I connected the GS911 they could not add anything else. It was this that prompted me to start looking elsewhere for the answer. The dealer seemed willing to "let me try" going forward and fitting the parts (including the new sensors when I have the tyres changed next time) but could not tell me if it would then work or not. I guess they expect it not to. Looking online I can find "blown up parts diagrams" that show all the parts (sensors, fitting screws, control unit, TPM sensor location stickers etc) as retro-fit parts (see photo). This is for an RT (K52) rather than an RS (K54) but I didn't think there would be any difference. I have a feeling that the answer may be in the first line of the parts list in the photo which says "For Vehicles with RDC and then X530A=No". I don't know what this means but maybe it is something to do with the ECU that is/was fitted? RDC refers to the control unit I have bought and can now fit. I don't know what the "supplement" X530A=No means though. Does anyone else know? The thing that makes me want to pursue this is that there is a "retro-fit" parts diagram (all be it for an RT) that shows all the parts required for what is a similar bike and the TPM system showed up so clearly on the GS911. It seems strange to me then that if I even have the wiring on the bike aswell why it would not just work if I added a control unit and the sensors. Cheers Steve
Screenshot 2022-01-20 at 19.10.06.png - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Another reply. I spent last night looking at online parts catalogs. The interesting thing was that the "retro-fit" TPM System parts are only listed as an option with a "diagram" (as per my previous post) for K52 models (R1200RT's) not R1200R's or R1200RS's. I therefore tried to see if there were any differences in things like the ECU. I could not find anything obvious. The main ECU for all the R1200"R" models appears to be the same. It is therefore still strange to me that the "retro-fit" parts are only shown as an option for an RT. Why BMW would do this I cannot understand but it would explain why my local dealer on loading my VIN came back and said the retro-fit is not an option for my 2015 RS.
So, thinking about all this some more I think what I am going to do (to try and save some work also), is when it gets a bit warmer in the garage I will go out with my laptop and the GS911 again and try just plugging in the new TPM control unit I have now purchased and see if I can then "register" its presence and enter its "digital code" into my bike's ECU. Hopefully I can do this without having to spend lots of time actually fitting the unit. If this works or I am able to make some "changes", I may then try and register the wheel sensors also without them even being fitted? I will post on any progress I make. Steve

Zitat von FlakeBlue74 im Beitrag #5

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It is therefore still strange to me that the "retro-fit" parts are only shown as an option for an RT. Why BMW would do this I cannot understand

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Zitat von Grumpy Goat im Beitrag #8

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You already bought the TPM Control Unit so have nothing to lose ... may as well try fitting it. Good luck.

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #7

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Far too much hassle and expense to worry about. Buy a decent pressure gauge. We managed for a century without TPMS!

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #11

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even if I had a warning of a loss of a few psi I would probably carry on until the handling became sub-optimal. Just like analogue days.

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