08` 1200 problems - again!!

[Brian G]

Since I bought my 1200 GS from new last Sept I have a had the electrical side stand switch/sensor diagnosed as a problem needing replacement 4 times(!!) now. Anyone else had a said problem? The garage says this is "extremely unusual". I`m losing faith in the bike and as I want to a big trip to South America (maybe even the whole PanAm) I don`t want a problem like this in the middle of Patagonia, 2000 miles form a computer!! Any thoughts/advice would be really welcome!

 

[autogs]

there surley is no way 4 switches can be faulty,just looked on my 08 to see how its mounted and it doesnt look vunerable to damage,im assuming you dont offroad,
cant beleive the dealer doent think there is more to this than meets the eye,

 

[Dahoum]

Surely your dealer can interrogate the computer to find out where the fault lies if it is electrical??

 

[Brian G]

I agree folks! I`m encouraging them to look at the whole electrical system. there must be something that`s triggering these recurring faults. Just wondered whether anyone else had similar problems?

 

[RickG]

No way 4 switches are faulty, the dealer is lost as his computer doesn't tell him what to do next so he's blindly trying the same thing over and over in the hope the gremlins are exorcised.

If the sidestand switch is nothing more than a simple switch (ie one with contacts) it surely ought to be possible to test its operation using a multimeter?

Using the same logic it ought to be possible to disconnect the switch and link together the right wires where switch plugs into the loom (so as to simulate the switch in operation) If the diagnostic computer still throws up a fault code then the problem is certainly elsewhere. Have you looked at the connector to see if there's evidence of contact corrosion or similar?

 

[Brian G]

Not being a techie sort of person I naively assumed they would be able to figure this out! As it`s still under warranty(thank goodness) and it is their job after all! Is that too trusting??

 

[st247]

If the sidestand switch is nothing more than a simple switch (ie one with contacts) it surely ought to be possible to test its operation using a multimeter?

Using the same logic it ought to be possible to disconnect the switch and link together the right wires where switch plugs into the loom (so as to simulate the switch in operation) If the diagnostic computer still throws up a fault code then the problem is certainly elsewhere. Have you looked at the connector to see if there's evidence of contact corrosion or similar?

It can be done easily enough (info here). You'd have thought that the dealer would have spotted any corrosion at the connector if he's been there four times already.

If it was mine the next time it failed i'd try bypassing the switch to see if the fault persists.

 

[Pukmeister]

If it were my bike with the same recurring problem under warranty, I'd take it to a different offical BMW dealership and get a second opinion.

 

[elefantmanshawn]

link it out and f**k it off

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Not your problem

Not being a techie sort of person I naively assumed they would be able to figure this out! As it`s still under warranty(thank goodness) and it is their job after all! Is that too trusting??

The bike is under guarantee; Ask them politely for a similar replacement bike and leave the problem to them to sort out. Otherwise your guarantee is a waste of time.