1200 servo failure

[Gandan]

This has probably been covered but I had my bikes first service last week. No problems rode there and back. Couple of days later bike out of shed for run up to lakes,, red brake failure flashing. Took it out for a slow ride up the cul de sac and its like trying to stop a car with the ignition off and no whine from the servo.
Long and short, 'Richard' from BMW rescue/recovery comes out pokes around the footbrake sensor , saddle off takes off some yellow relay or sensor(Yes know my stuff dont I !!), drops it, and then states he hasn't got the GT2 for bikes or something so I am going to have to ride it slowly to woolaston for repair( about 40miles !) jumps in his car and away???. I thinks, hang on, fault on bike, ride to showroom, will insurance cover me, will I survive any close calls having to use both arms to pull the lever?
Get back on to BMW rescue and get put onto 'Tracy' a co-ordinator who then asks me to move the offside handguard, 'give it a twist' to be precise. Lo and behold warning light extinguishes and servo is up and running.
Two things worry me, one being the dodgy remedy for the servo loss and the second being 'Richard the recovery man' telling me to ride my bike with limited braking capability. Anyway, a problem shared is a problem halved....

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Scandalous service.
It supports my belief that many "faults" or "failures" are service-bay induced.
Make you weep.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Terrible service - it does seem to be pot luck on whether you get anybody who knows about bikes! The handguard touching brake lever is a well known cause of the brake system not initialising.

But, hey, hats off to Tracy for solving it; shame it wasn't suggested before sending out BMW man.

Paul

 

[araspitfire]

The secret to anything like this is knowledge of the system... Here's my little story.

I've read the dozon or so posts on the subject of hand protectors keeping the brake self-test from completing and keeping the servos and ABS from working, and had it happen once or twice to me... quick fix once you know to look there right away.

On a recent trip to Norway I dropped my bike while shuffeling it accross a lane of stopped traffic (To make room for riding buddies). It was loaded for 2 weeks and camping and rolled past sideways enough to break the windshield and mirror on the RH side. Stood it up and.... no servos.... The first thing I did (after tying everythign else back on) was have a listen to the little click of my micro-switchs on both brake levers... didn't get a click on the hand-brake.

Turned out that tiny microswitch can be the first point of contact with the road in a drop such as mine. (full lock right turn, drop... ) Anyways, it TORE out of it's little holder in such a way as to bend the tiny contacts inside, and rip the cover off.

I was able to bend the contacts back, and lock-wire the cover back on and re-install it such that I'm still riding it like that. If it falls out while riding, the servos won't fail until I re-start the bike, but I'll get a warning light to tell me that my brake-lights aren't coming on from the lever.

So, even though one could say nasty things about such a tiny delicate part (that BMW won't let me replace myself apparantly) being so exposed... I did find that it didn't keep me from riding, even though the switch was very busted up... Even if it was complety gone, I could have gotten my servos working by shorting (or opening) the wires at the connector to the switch during my POST.. I'd have had the warning light (and the need for rear brake to get my light on), but servos would have worked as normal...


Just my 2 p worth...

Al...

 

[cookie]

The secret to anything like this is knowledge of the system...

which you clearly have

less knowledgable people just get to know bmw assist better

system all seems rather fragile to me

 

[Fanum]

If you have someone from ANY recovery service telling you do do something that you're not comfortable with (in particular failed brake systems leaing you on residual braking) then just ask the guy to give you something in wrtiting saying it's safe to ride....and ask him to sign it because you're not happy doing so otherwise.

You'll be on the back of a recovery wagon pronto

Same goes for dealing with the call centre ..if they tell you it's safe, ask them their name and ask them to enter it on the system that it's safe to ride......




It does sound like this Richard bloke has some big holes in his knowledge that need plugging

 

[Arthurwg]

The real problem is that BMW's servo brakes are crap, as is the crazy electrical system that can shut off the brakes for the smallest fault. Also crap is the so-called "residual" braking system, which in my experience is non- existent for all practical purposes. For all of us with servo brakes, the recovery guy is the least of our problems.

 

[Pressurized]

The real problem is that BMW's servo brakes are crap, as is the crazy electrical system that can shut off the brakes for the smallest fault. Also crap is the so-called "residual" braking system, which in my experience is non- existent for all practical purposes. For all of us with servo brakes, the recovery guy is the least of our problems.

Servo brakes are brilliant. 'Residual' brakes will easily stop bike also and, incidentally, will pass the UK MOT test. Problem is if the servo brakes fail on the move and you don't realise it.
Anyway, what are you worried about. If you ride in NYC, the most important bit on your bike is the horn.

 

[Arthurwg]

Never use the horn. No one would pay attention. Biggest problem, next to failed brakes, are taxi cabs driven by folks just off the boat or down from the tree. After three brake failures, one at 85 mph, I can say that this is a major problem. And as I said, the "residual" system was useless. Please don't bet your life on it. On the plus side, the brakes have worked perfectly ever since the entire wireing harness was replaced. Still, I do keep an eye out for the brake failure warning.