ABS is dead - and bl***y expensive to replace

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walkon40

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My ABS (2000 1150GS) conked out a few weeks ago. Took the bike in for 48k service yesterday and was told that the ABS unit (under the tank) is dead. Dealer tried to reset it, but after 5 or 6 miles it failed again. Diagnosis: rare failure, but nevertheless unretrievable. Replacement cost: £1170 plus fitting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was told that there might be a chance of getting one 2nd hand from Motorworks/Motobins or similar, but if bike it's come from had knock, might not be useable (and will only find out once fitted).

Has anyone had this problem? And if so, how did you get 'round it (apart from not using ABS anymore, which is fine by me).

Martin :spitfire
 
PM andy mullin on the site...........he had exactly the same thing happen apparently - Jefferies fitted a new ABS pump, I understand and was no better.

Allegedly very hard to diagnose, I believe.

FWIW, I've heard you have to use same ABS pump for your type/year of bike - therefore a pump from an RS/RT of same year won't work.

Dealer should be able to help with exact unit type, naturally....

Steptoe also could help, but he's overseas at present
 
Martin,

If your sure it's completely shagged, do what I did - rip the sodding lot out and chuck it in the bin. Save yourself about 4.5KG and you know your brakes will never play up again :thumb

TTFN and happy new year
 
Delpel

Good idea too, its not that difficult to sling it out and replace the brake lines, the fecking thing will never fail again.

Walkon40, This is the way to go, yours is not the servo type so you won't notice any difference, rip the thing out and sling it, then fit new one piece braided hoses directly to the caliper just like any other bike and bingo you've got brakes again. The new brake lines will be cheap enough, less than £100 I would think, HEL are good.

HTH
 
Jimb said:
Good idea too, its not that difficult to sling it out and replace the brake lines, the fecking thing will never fail again.

Walkon40, This is the way to go, yours is not the servo type so you won't notice any difference, rip the thing out and sling it, then fit new one piece braided hoses directly to the caliper just like any other bike and bingo you've got brakes again. The new brake lines will be cheap enough, less than £100 I would think, HEL are good.

HTH

Or you could be a cheapskate like me and get the u-link thingy from a non-abs which attaches the top line to the bottom line - works and cost £14

More to spend on beer tonight :beer: :beer:
 
walkon40 said:
Replacement cost: £1170 plus fitting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Has anyone had this problem? And if so, how did you get 'round it (apart from not using ABS anymore, which is fine by me).

Martin :spitfire

Which is why I never went for ABS in the "second" place (the first being, I have no use for ABS). Besides, I knew if it ever failed, I'd never repair it. Cripes, those £1170 will pay for a lot of trips.

If being without ABS is fine by you, why did you pay the premium and go for it in the first place? Just wondering.
 
If being without ABS is fine by you, why did you pay the premium and go for it in the first place? Just wondering.

The reasons being that I bought the bike second hand 15 months ago, the 1150 having the better fuel economy with the 6th gear (and I do some touring). I didn't intentionally go for an ABS bike, it's just that it was there and I had not found anywhere the suggestion that the ABS might go at some point (and evidence suggests that they very rarely go). I doubt that I'll replace the unit with a new one, I ride without the ABS being used 99.9% of the time anyway. When I come to sell the bike (which hopefully is several years away, it might look somewhat silly without the ABS, however by that time it won't do much to the price anyway.

Martin
 
walkon40 said:
The reasons being that I bought the bike second hand 15 months ago, the 1150 having the better fuel economy with the 6th gear (and I do some touring). I didn't intentionally go for an ABS bike, it's just that it was there and I had not found anywhere the suggestion that the ABS might go at some point (and evidence suggests that they very rarely go). I doubt that I'll replace the unit with a new one, I ride without the ABS being used 99.9% of the time anyway. When I come to sell the bike (which hopefully is several years away, it might look somewhat silly without the ABS, however by that time it won't do much to the price anyway.

Martin

It won'tlook that silly mate, just remove the ABS ring and sensor from the front wheel and replace the right hand switch gear for one with out the ABS button. Remove the control unit and link the brake lines together and attach the rear line direct to the rear master cylinder. Hey presto as it comes from the factory without optional ABS
 
walkon40 said:
I didn't intentionally go for an ABS bike, it's just that it was there and I had not found anywhere the suggestion that the ABS might go at some point (and evidence suggests that they very rarely go).
Martin

Neither have I. I take it we are talking about the ABS Pressure Modulator?

Have you checked overseas. The list price on the MAX BMW site is US$1605. Chicago BMW gives a 20% discount which takes that to US$1284 or roughly £745 plus shipping and whatever taxes/duties the UK charges.
 
Global Rider said:
which takes that to US$1284 or roughly £745 plus shipping and whatever taxes/duties the UK charges.

Knowing the robbing bastards at C&E, probably enough to take it over £1170!!
 
Just a thought, but is there somewhere where these units can be overhauled, ie an independent brake/hydraulics specialist such as a Bosch agent ??

It may be as simple as an internal O seal failure, who knows?

I doubt that BMW dealers would spent the time and effort to strip, inspect and overhaul the units (or even get spares for them) but a specialist such as a Bosch agent might have the necessary skills, tools and spares ? (assuming it is a Bosch part). They may even have a factory exchange scheme ? If so, Could be cheaper than BMW, and worth a trawl through your Yellow Pages ?
 
AAAGH! Just got news from my local agent on my bikes problem - ABS Pressure Modulator dead. Need to get a new one. Their price is South African Rands R21600 (about 1400 punds) on a bike worth around R 75 000!!!
Words dont express the feeling!!!
Its an 05 GS 1200 so if there has been any updates in this line please please please PM me.
ta
Graeme
 


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