TPMS Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
It is not a legal requirement to retrospectively retrofit TPMS to your vehicle.
Retrofitting TPMS requires the ECU to be installed to the rear of the vehicle and then wired with power, ground and a wire to the Body Control Module so the TPMS ECU can communicate with the car.
Programming requires 2 VCI codes, one each for the BCM and the IPC.
UK Law on fitment
By November 2014, all new passenger vehicles will have to have TPMS installed by the manufacturer
The law is not currently retrospective, and does not apply to older vehicles
TPMS is now part of the annual vehicle test, and applies to all newly registered cars from January 1st 2012. This means that a car with a faulty TPMS will fail the vehicle test from January 2015
Until 2015, a faulty TPMS will only be an advisory and be listed on the testing certificate (UK). Different European countries may interpret the EU legislation differently.
There are hundreds of thousands of cars on European roads with sensors removed. The cost of replacement is high, circa €40.00 to €80.00 for the sensor, and €65.00 for updating the ECU where required. Rubber tyre valves are used to replace the sensor and the warning light disabled, however this practice will be prohibited on new-type 2012 cars. Insurance implications will be the same as for disabling an airbag or ABS. Disabling a safety system on a vehicle may become an offence