Checking Air Pressure in 'Donut' Spare

mscoins

mscoins

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#1
I make it a habit to check the air pressure in space-saver spare tire twice a month. However, the tire is positioned with the air valve facing down, so the tire has to be removed to do so. I tried stowing the tire face up, but the round storage shelf prevents the floor panel from laying flat.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has devised an ingenious method of checking the air pressure in the space-saver spare tire without first having to remove it.
 
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cordelli

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#2
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For $6 you can get a 42" extenstion for the valve stem, screw it on and leave the other end of the hose out of the storage area, then when you check just connect to the hose, you don't even have to empty the trunk. Local auto parts stores should have it, if not or you can't figure what I'm talking about:

http://www.getagauge.com/USAProducts.cfm
 
bmwrocks

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The full size spare in my trunk is stored upside down as well. What a great idea MSCOINS, I need that extension too.

What has everyone been doing up to this point? My guess is never checking their spare pressure.
 
C

cordelli

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#5
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#5
We have the sports package
We have potholes
We didn't get snows this year[???1]

Our spare doesn't have time to go flat.

Next year it's rims and snows.
 
mscoins

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cordelli said:
For $6 you can get a 42" extenstion for the valve stem, screw it on and leave the other end of the hose out of the storage area, then when you check just connect to the hose, you don't even have to empty the trunk.

http://www.getagauge.com/USAProducts.cfm
Click to expand...
Ordered from above URL and received it today - $9.95 which included USPS Priority shipping. Works great! FWIW, the spare had 48 psi - recommended is 61!
 
MrElussive

MrElussive

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I checked the air pressure of my donut spare when I first got my car and set it to the appropriate level of I think 50psi. Haven't bothered to check it again...if I ever get a flat, I doubt I'll rely on that shitty little donut (I'd rather call Roadside Assistance).
 
bmwrocks

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Rubber Ducky said:
BVMW claims it's to assist weight distribution...
Click to expand...
I don't get this explanation. Are they saying the added weight of a real 18" wheel and tire makes or breaks the weight distribution for the 3-series?

I would be more inclined to think it doesn't fit, and they are not going to have two different spare wheel wells depending on what wheels you order. Much cheaper to just go with one 3-series spare well and sub a donut.

Anyone agree or care?
 
mscoins

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#13
Without talking with a BMW engineer involved with this sort of thing, it's hard to say. My SA couldn't give me the reason. I imagine it's a combination of a size and cost issue more than weight. Of course, the battery is in the back to help the 50/50 weight distribution so I was told.

At first I thought the lack of a full-size spare might be that the 18s have different wheel widths, but I noticed the 17s in the sport package have different widths as well. "bmwrocks", what size spare do you have?
 
bmwrocks

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My spare is the 17 x 17.5 front wheel, 225/45R-17 tire. BTW I have no idea what the pressure in it is because I haven't got around to dealing with the problem yet.... [rofl]
 
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