![]() 02/16/2020 at 21:47 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
By portable air compressor, I mean M3. I got in my 328i to drive to my girlfriends this afternoon when I was greeted by a low tire pressure light. It said my left rear was low, and sure it was so low it didn’t even register on my gauge when I checked the tire pressure manually. So went back into my apartment , grabbed the keys to the M3, and filled up the tire and then headed to my girlfriends.
I checked it when I got back to my apartment this evening and it’s back down to 20 psi after being filled to 35 psi. Looks like I’m filling it up and then taking it to discount tire tomorrow. The M3 might get pressed into daily duty tomorrow.
![]() 02/16/2020 at 21:54 |
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You didn’t jump any curbs in the process, did you?
![]() 02/16/2020 at 21:55 |
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It was off by more than 1 psi, so no.
![]() 02/16/2020 at 21:58 |
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Does BMW actually have a dedicated plug for the air compressor or were you just using the M3 as your power source for the lols?
![]() 02/16/2020 at 22:00 |
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Well, since I wasn’t confident the tire in the 3 was safe to drive on for more than a short distance, I decided to take the M3. The power source is a ci garette lighter, and since I wanted the M3 to warm up a little before I drove it, I figured I’d use it as the power source.
![]() 02/16/2020 at 22:02 |
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An aside, I keep a rechargeable pump that can also plug into the car socket. My black and decker one recently died, and I just got this on Amazon for $32. It’s been working well so far, and I might do a review on it. It’s nice to have an emergency pump you can depend on.
![]() 02/16/2020 at 22:04 |
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I paid a lot more for mine since I bought it and they threw a free M3 in with it.
![]() 02/16/2020 at 22:06 |
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I just got a carrying strap with mine.
![]() 02/16/2020 at 22:11 |
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Makes sense.
![]() 02/16/2020 at 22:20 |
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I’ve got a Craftsman one in my car that has c ome in handy:
I also just got a battery powered one to use with bikes as well:
In theory it can do a car, but I get the feeling it might take a long time. For the bikes though, it seems to do a good job, definitely an improvement over using a traditional floor pump (assuming the gauge is accurate enough, which I haven’t checked).
![]() 02/16/2020 at 22:28 |
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fill your tires with arsine
![]() 02/16/2020 at 22:38 |
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Ah, so 1.5 psi then?
![]() 02/16/2020 at 23:36 |
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I’ve had that exact Craftsman before. It worked well while it lasted. They all have a certain lifespan in the couple years range. This last one actually lasted more than 6. It has a Li battery pack that’s shared with my screwdriver and drill.
My new one is on a par with the second one. It’s been doing well for bike and wheelchair tires. I’m sure it can do car tires but would likely take some time.
![]() 02/16/2020 at 23:49 |
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My Craftsman has actually been quite durable, it’s at least 9 years old, and I think probably more like 12. I did get one for my dad that failed much, much sooner though.
![]() 02/17/2020 at 00:21 |
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That seriously makes me happy to hear that. I hate that you usually find out your compressor died just when you really need to use it.
Fun story: dad has one with a NiCd battery that went bad, as they do, and he just wired it to an old car battery and stuck the whole assembly in one of those portable file cases to make his own kit. But he still prefers his shop compressor with the big tank in his garage. That thing must be 40 years old it it’s a day.