I've tried alot of gadgets from ebay, some work really well some are just cheap tat. But in all fairness most of the stuff works really well, for instance the dashcams I have bought for around £25-30 have been brilliant.

But has anyone used one of these retro fit TPMS systems?

They come with 4x wireless valve caps that monitor the tyre pressure and come with various types of display:
*dashtop mounted for data display (look a bit tacky and don't like stuff cluttering the dash)
*hidden control unit that connects to your phone to display the data
*display unit that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket
*display that fits where you have a blank switch cover

I'm thinking of going for the latter as it would fit to the right of the steering wheel where there are a couple of switch blanks to choose from and only cost about £50 off ebay

Question is are they any good? And do they actually work?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1720466472...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

do the sensors weigh much, just wondering if you would need to re balance your wheels once these were fitted ?

 

good point, I suppose there is potential to knock out the balancing, but I suspect there isn't much more than some plastic and a chip in each sensor. I can get tyres balanced for about a fiver a wheel so not a problem.

 

Looks interesting

 

Some little ******* stole my valve caps in York. Not so sure if this design is the best for that reason.

Also I assume that for the valve cap to read the tyre pressure it must open the tyre valve and this could lead to leakage at the valve cap.

This has put me off such a system.

 

yep also a concern but hopefully the locknut that comes with them requiring a spanner will deter any lazy good for nothing toe rag from simply unscrewing them. They also come with a 'open wrench' to tighten the valve sensor so hopefully a further level of security. Will also be spraying them black as the ones in the pic are silver which will hopefully render them invisible to said toe rags. The locknut will also help with keeping them nice and tight and leak free.

 

So decided to go for the TPMS from ebay but have to say I was a little pessimistic about how good it was going to be. Apart from the size of the valve sensors I am very happy with it. Everything works out-of-the box with very little setting-up to do, apart from the initial install and setting-up of min/max pressures/temp. The readings are accurate and it has highlighted what a difference air, road temp and direct sun make to the tyre pressures. Pressures can be different depending of whether they are in the shade or not. I have the pressures set to Prodrive recommended 33/32PSi F/R using a digital pressure gauge, this displays as 33/32 cold on the TPMS and with the warm weather we're having atm increases to 35/35.

package


You can open-up each sensor using the supplied adapters and change the batteries, which I thought were sealed...


Display replaces blank switch


I used a min fuse 'add circuit' for switched +


Earth was also easy as kit comes with crimped fork connector that fits the nut at the top of the fuse box


Wires poke through where display will fit


Display fitted showing psi. The display comes with an outer adapter that makes it roughly the same size as the button, but I had to file the adapter down a little to allow it to fit and not catch the fog light switch next to it. I also removed the top clip on the back of display as this stopped it from fitting flush and used a piece of 3M tape to hold it in place.


...and tyre temp




This is the only annoying part, the size of the sensor, which is made more obvious by them being painted silver, not good for dark wheels


so sprayed them black


almost invisible! LOL


So all in all very happy with it, the system works perfectly and hasn't missed a beat which considering it only cost £50 is pretty good. Will be getting one for the wife's car as well

 

I've been thinking about getting these. Nice write up.
The external sensors have been the only thing puting me off. Seems like a bit of a paid getting them off to inflate etc.
Looks good in the switch blank though.

 

naa, it's a doddle to get the sensor off with the supplied spanner, would prefer them to be more difficult tbh, so the little tea leafs that hang around the office carpark during the summer hols don't help themselves...

You can get the same kit with internal sensors but as I have 2x sets of wheels would be a pain.

 

I ordered one of these kits on a whim, installed it today and its actually pretty good. now I need to get the pressures right on each tyre as I haven't checked them since I got new tyres fitted last month!

 

Yep, I'm well impressed with them, have another set on the wifes car now as well