Tire losing pressure, can't figure out why - XBimmers

MileHiGolfer · 02-21-2013, 11:45 AM

Guess this isn't really an X3 specific question, but figured I'd ask it here.

On my wife's 2012 X3 35i (non-sport), one of the tires has a slow leak. Seems simple enough, take it to the tire store, have them fix it. Well I took it there a while back, and they said there was nothing wrong with it, so I took it home. Went flat again. Took it back there, they said there was a nail in the tire that they took out but hadn't punctured it so that wasn't the cause. Took it home, flat again. The people at the store went so far as to ask me if maybe someone was letting air out of the tires. Yeah, gremlins I'm sure.

Any ideas what could be happening? It's a frustrating problem for sure.

On top of that, for some reason the TPM keeps saying the back right tire is low, when it's the back left tire that is actually the problem, and the back right is fine. So somehow they're switched? They're the original tires, and the car only has 7500 miles. Guess I need to go to the dealer for that anyway?

pokerface · 02-21-2013, 12:19 PM

slow leak could be a bead problem. Have them reseat the tire. Yea and it looks like the TPM is in the wrong spot too... so rotate the tires?

am36 · 02-21-2013, 12:34 PM

I would have thought that if a nail was removed from the tyre then the likelihood would be for the nail to breach the inner of the tyre wall.

I had a slow puncture once which passed a submersion test and it was only when the tyre was removed from the rim and the guy ran his hand around the inside wall of the tyre that we found the nail just poking through. Our belief was that it was leaking when parked in a particular orientation.

The other obvious issues are a dodgy valve or poor seal on the rim.

MattUK · 02-21-2013, 12:36 PM

and go to a different tyre place.. they sound useless!

noka · 02-21-2013, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokerface

slow leak could be a bead problem. Have them reseat the tire. Yea and it looks like the TPM is in the wrong spot too... so rotate the tires?

If that's the case, then if you rotated tires (which BMW doesn't recommend and I wonder if it's related) then they would be wrong again. My guess is that a TPMS system reset would fix it but probably best to ask the dealer service.

nyalpine90 · 02-22-2013, 08:55 AM

i had similar issue with tpms indicating wrong tire, maybe the valve stem isnt install correctly

rmeir · 02-22-2013, 11:42 AM

get a soaking sponge run over tire all over gently so you dont raise bubbles and see if you can spot a leak someplace. Could be any number of factors.

noka · 02-22-2013, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmeir

get a soaking sponge run over tire all over gently so you dont raise bubbles and see if you can spot a leak someplace. Could be any number of factors.

...and maybe include valve stem and tire-to-rim contact area. There is also special leak detection fluid (e.g. designed for natural gas leak detection) which might be better than a soapy water solution.

TomBlue · 02-22-2013, 05:01 PM

I had a similar problem several years ago with a different vehicle, a Lexus FX300 The problem was corrosion on the edge of the rim. The guy at the tire store told me it's a common problem with aluminum rims. Have your person check that area, buff the rim and reapply the tire. It may solve the problem.

MileHiGolfer · 02-22-2013, 05:05 PM

Thanks everyone. The tire place said they submerged it both times and couldn't find anything at all, so I can't imagine I'd be able to do any better. It was at Les Schwab, a pretty big and reputable tire joint, though of course that doesn't exclude them from having a bunch of boneheads working there.

I should probably just take it to the dealer, though that's not nearly as convenient as the tire store down the street.

rmeir · 02-23-2013, 11:57 AM

nothing against anyone but most of these places have 18 yr old h.s. dropouts working there. I would do it myself and if still causing problems, take it to the dealer and replace the tire. My guess it it might be warrantable. [neologism]

02-21-2013, 11:45 AM	#1
MileHiGolfer Private Drives: 11 535xi M-Sport Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 52 iTrader: (0)	Tire losing pressure, can't figure out why Guess this isn't really an X3 specific question, but figured I'd ask it here. On my wife's 2012 X3 35i (non-sport), one of the tires has a slow leak. Seems simple enough, take it to the tire store, have them fix it. Well I took it there a while back, and they said there was nothing wrong with it, so I took it home. Went flat again. Took it back there, they said there was a nail in the tire that they took out but hadn't punctured it so that wasn't the cause. Took it home, flat again. The people at the store went so far as to ask me if maybe someone was letting air out of the tires. Yeah, gremlins I'm sure. Any ideas what could be happening? It's a frustrating problem for sure. On top of that, for some reason the TPM keeps saying the back right tire is low, when it's the back left tire that is actually the problem, and the back right is fine. So somehow they're switched? They're the original tires, and the car only has 7500 miles. Guess I need to go to the dealer for that anyway?
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02-21-2013, 12:19 PM	#2
pokerface Major Drives: B8 A4 2.0T Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414 iTrader: (1)	slow leak could be a bead problem. Have them reseat the tire. Yea and it looks like the TPM is in the wrong spot too... so rotate the tires? __________________ F25 X3 N20: 2010 B8 A4 2.0T quattro (current)/ 2013 F25 X3 x28 N20 (babymobile)

02-21-2013, 12:34 PM	#3
am36 Squadron Leader Drives: X3 2.0d M Sport - DSB Manual Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Cumbria Posts: 68 iTrader: (0)	I would have thought that if a nail was removed from the tyre then the likelihood would be for the nail to breach the inner of the tyre wall. I had a slow puncture once which passed a submersion test and it was only when the tyre was removed from the rim and the guy ran his hand around the inside wall of the tyre that we found the nail just poking through. Our belief was that it was leaking when parked in a particular orientation. The other obvious issues are a dodgy valve or poor seal on the rim. __________________ - F25 2.0d M Sport manual, DSB, black leather with fineline wave wood, Pan Sunroof, 368 M alloys, exterior trim and rails in matt aluminium, reversing camera, sun protection glass, windscreen with grey shade band, heated front seats, extended storage, powered tailgate, Xenon's, bluetooth c/w USB, DAB.

02-22-2013, 08:55 AM	#6
nyalpine90 Major General Drives: '12 X3 28i AW Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: valley stream LI Posts: 8,718 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2012 X3 [4.50]	i had similar issue with tpms indicating wrong tire, maybe the valve stem isnt install correctly __________________

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02-21-2013, 12:36 PM	#4
MattUK Captain Unsensible Drives: 2011 X3 3.0D MSport Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 340 iTrader: (0)	and go to a different tyre place.. they sound useless!

02-22-2013, 11:42 AM	#7
rmeir Private First Class Drives: x3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: chicago il Posts: 148 iTrader: (0)	get a soaking sponge run over tire all over gently so you dont raise bubbles and see if you can spot a leak someplace. Could be any number of factors.

02-22-2013, 05:01 PM	#9
TomBlue New Member Drives: X3 35i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 10 iTrader: (0)	I had a similar problem several years ago with a different vehicle, a Lexus FX300 The problem was corrosion on the edge of the rim. The guy at the tire store told me it's a common problem with aluminum rims. Have your person check that area, buff the rim and reapply the tire. It may solve the problem.

02-22-2013, 05:05 PM	#10
MileHiGolfer Private Drives: 11 535xi M-Sport Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 52 iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone. The tire place said they submerged it both times and couldn't find anything at all, so I can't imagine I'd be able to do any better. It was at Les Schwab, a pretty big and reputable tire joint, though of course that doesn't exclude them from having a bunch of boneheads working there. I should probably just take it to the dealer, though that's not nearly as convenient as the tire store down the street.

02-23-2013, 11:57 AM	#11
rmeir Private First Class Drives: x3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: chicago il Posts: 148 iTrader: (0)	nothing against anyone but most of these places have 18 yr old h.s. dropouts working there. I would do it myself and if still causing problems, take it to the dealer and replace the tire. My guess it it might be warrantable. [neologism]