2010 R1200GS - Front parking light problem

[Nice 'n' Fat]

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.

That fact that the dealer has had an identical problem on another bike is a good start but you really do need to set down some ground rules before they go tearing in to your bike.

For Example:

Register your displeasure with BMW Customer Services before the bike goes in to the dealer. Make sure they understand that you are returning it to the dealer for a Goodwill Claim

Do the same with your dealer. Read the Job Card before you sign it. Make sure you are happy with what is written down. The dealer will no doubt expect you to sign away an hours worth of labour for initial diagnosis. Remember any contribution you make towards a Goodwill Claim will mean the warranty attached to the replaced item remains with you. Even if that contribution is £1

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

If it was not a problem before the service and is a problem now...I would get a second opinion at another dealer.

 

[Cudrefin]

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.

The problem that the dealer had experienced with another R1200GS was actually with the front parking light and not the indicators although I've also heard of a similar problem with the headlight staying on.

 

[Cudrefin]

BMW has agreed to provide a new ECU if I pay the labour costs for fitting which are circa £100. Although I'd rather not pay anything I think this is a reasonable outcome for a 4 year old bike. Hopefully I'll have the bike back by the end of next week.

 

[Nick V]

I remember that within a few days of picking up my old F800GS, the front and rear parking lights - nothing else - would sporadically flicker on and off at times.

I quickly isolated the problem as a nearly-dead battery. A new battery sorted it.

BMW CANBUS systems are prone to demonic inhabitation if the battery isn't 100%.

 

[Cudrefin]

I remember that within a few days of picking up my old F800GS, the front and rear parking lights - nothing else - would sporadically flicker on and off at times.

I quickly isolated the problem as a nearly-dead battery. A new battery sorted it.

BMW CANBUS systems are prone to demonic inhabitation if the battery isn't 100%.

A very good point. The battery is the original although nothing was mentioned when the bike was serviced about the battery being on its way out. I may invest in an Odyssey anyway. On a related note, a few years ago my Volvo V70 failed. I turned on the ignition and was presented with a dashboard resembling christmas lights and the engine refused to turn over. 7 working days at a Volvo main dealer and their solution was to replace the main computer at a cost of nearly £1300. A while later I was reading a post on a Volvo forum from someone who had a similar problem with their car. Turned out a new battery solved their problem. Coincidentally, when the Volvo dealer replaced the main computer on my car they also replaced the battery. Hmmmm.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Will you be getting the old ECU ?

 

[autogs]

Will you be getting the old ECU ?

no he wont

 

[Cudrefin]

no he wont

I'll be happy to get the bike back. I'm not sure if BMW look at failed parts like this to try to establish the cause of failure or if they go directly in to a bin. I was slightly surprised that no real discussion with the dealer was required and the replacement was approved in a matter of seconds, not that I'm complaining. My faith in BMW's customer service has been preserved.

 

[Nick V]

I'm not sure if BMW look at failed parts like this to try to establish the cause of failure or if they go directly in to a bin. I was slightly surprised that no real discussion with the dealer was required and the replacement was approved in a matter of seconds...

Having been a maccy at a franchised dealer before, this says to me that either the dealer has experienced this problem before - probably numerous times - or they received a bulletin from BMW Motorrad at some prior point, advising that it's a known issue and any warranty claims which 'fit the bill' will be honoured.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I'm not sure if BMW look at failed parts like this to try to establish the cause of failure or if they go directly in to a bin. I was slightly surprised that no real discussion with the dealer was required and the replacement was approved in a matter of seconds, not that I'm complaining. My faith in BMW's customer service has been preserved.

Warranty parts are normally retained at the dealership for about 3 months. If BMW or the manufacturer request them back then off they go. If not they get binned!

The fact that BMW authorised the repair so quickly speaks volumes