2010 R1200GS - Front parking light problem

[Cudrefin]

Hi,

Strange problem with the front parking light on my 2010 R1200GS which won't turn off unless I disconnect the battery (or remove the bulb I guess).

I've had the bike since new and a couple of days ago took it to my BMW dealer for a service and MOT. I collected the bike, got it home and haven't looked at it until today when I went into my garage to get some tools and noticed the front parking light was on.

It doesn't matter what position the ignition key is in or even if the key is in the ignition, the light stays on. No problem with the tail light though.

I've tried leaving the battery disconnected for a couple of hours and reconnecting it but as soon as I reconnect it the front parking light comes on.

Has anyone here encountered a similar problem?

Cheers!

 

[King Key]

Does the rear tail light come on as well?

 

[autogs]

ignition switch is fecked

 

[Cudrefin]

Strange thing is tail light doesn't come on as well (unless ignition is on of course). I expect this is going to be an expensive trip back to the dealer. Here's hoping BMW's legendary customer service combined with a full service history and this being the 5th bike I've had from this dealer counts for something. I'll post an update once the fault is identified.

 

[JPR]

Does the rear tail light come on as well?

FFS Key ,read the post.!

 

[trainman]

Strange thing is tail light doesn't come on as well (unless ignition is on of course). I expect this is going to be an expensive trip back to the dealer. Here's hoping BMW's legendary customer service combined with a full service history and this being the 5th bike I've had from this dealer counts for something. I'll post an update once the fault is identified.

its something they have done, the lamp power comes from the bikes brains and I suspect some fiddling with their test machine, should not cost you anything

 

[Cudrefin]

its something they have done, the lamp power comes from the bikes brains and I suspect some fiddling with their test machine, should not cost you anything

Hopefully it's just a computer 'thing'. Oddly enough, when I picked it up from being serviced, they asked me if I'd had a problem with the indicators turning themselves on. I hadn't and I said as much to them. They reckon it happened to them while they were servicing/MOTing it. Wonder if they've (accidentally) done something they shouldn't have done.

 

[King Key]

FFS Key ,read the post.!

Thanks for your kind words, My error.

 

[trainman]

Hopefully it's just a computer 'thing'. Oddly enough, when I picked it up from being serviced, they asked me if I'd had a problem with the indicators turning themselves on. I hadn't and I said as much to them. They reckon it happened to them while they were servicing/MOTing it. Wonder if they've (accidentally) done something they shouldn't have done.

if your bike tail lamp switches on by holding down the indicator switch you could well have the answer, maybe hard to prove it was them but as you say you can plead your case

 

[King Key]

If it is an ECU problem I wonder if the dealer can do a 'reset' or 'reinstall' of software like you do on a PC? Anyone know? I presume the mileage though is held on a separate chip or similar?

 

[Cudrefin]

if your bike tail lamp switches on by holding down the indicator switch you could well have the answer, maybe hard to prove it was them but as you say you can plead your case

The tail light does still operate if I hold down the left turn switch when I turn off the ignition and it turns off when I turn the ignition on and off again. It's just that damned front parking light. The ECU is one of those parts that I expect to last for pretty much the life of the bike so if it needs to be replaced I'll be looking for a large chunk of goodwill from BMW. One of my concerns about main dealers is their desire to fit new parts as an easy solution to a problem. I've had my fingers burned by a Volvo main dealer when they've replaced expensive parts that I don't believe needed to be replaced. I've found information about vehicles on forums like this one that many main dealers are completely unaware of.

 

[JPR]

Thanks for your kind words, My error.

Your welcome .

 

[adventuredon]

switchgear//gremlins in there..I had similar issues until I changed the switchgear

 

[Cudrefin]

switchgear//gremlins in there..I had similar issues until I changed the switchgear

Was it the left side handlebar switchgear that you replaced? My bike has only covered 18k miles and most of those have been done over a few months of touring so the switchgear has had a relatively easy life. I can't imagine what there is to go wrong really. It'll be interesting to see what the dealer comes up with. If they reckon it's the switchgear then I may have a go at stripping it myself to see what's gone wrong.

 

[Cudrefin]

Just a quick update. I removed the parking light bulb last Friday, reconnected the battery and left the bike until today. I popped the bulb back in and all seemed to be ok with the front parking light functioning correctly. I retuned to the bike a couple of hours later and the light was back on again :-(

Booked the bike in with the dealer this Thursday so let's see what they can come up with.

 

[Cudrefin]

It's official. New ECU required. This is not the first R1200GS that the dealer has had with this problem.

 

[King Key]

Warrantee or your expense?

 

[Cudrefin]

Warrantee or your expense?

Waiting for the dealer to contact BMW and see if they're prepared to make a contribution. The bike is 4 years old but has only covered 18,000 miles and has always been serviced by my local dealer. The ECU should last the life of the bike or at least somewhere close to that. The madness of it all is that only the front parking light is affected. A whole new ECU for such a simple fault. If I have to pay the full bill it's going to be £500-£600 including labour.

Apparently, the local dealer had an identical problem with another R1200GS so this is not a unique problem.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Forget the warranty period. Sale of goods act applies.
4 years for an ECU is unacceptable. If you don't get, at least, a healthy discount, threaten them with small claims court.
Remember your contract is with the dealer not BMW.

 

[King Key]

If I have to pay the full bill it's going to be £500-£600 including labour.

I'm surprised it isn't more. I had a problem on a Triumph Daytona where the main dealer quoted over a £1,000 just for the ECU.