BMW AUX LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE POLL

thor1340

thor1340

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This may not be the right place for this thread, but as the owner of a nearly three year old GSA whose auxillary lights are left switched on for most of the time. Why has my switch failed?

How many others have suffered this fate?

I have seen a few names on here who have had the same problem, how about a list of the broken switches, I am right peeved after forking our £300+ last year for an extended warranty guess what, the switch ISN'T BLOODY COVERED.

I believe there is a relatively simple fix, but that is not the point really is it.

BMW = Broken More Wonga

Let the list begin! :nenau
 
Replace it with one of these for less than £11. They can even be had cheaper if you look hard enough.

Alternatively, if you leave them on all the time, why not hard wire them into the dipped beam circuit via a relay?
 
If I replace the original switch with another that is going to cost extra money to do away with the original BMW mount otherwise it won't look right. My point is at the price of these bikes the switch quality is atrocious, if it had been switched on and off every day for three years I could understand it but it hardly gets touched at all.
 
No problems at all with mine - '08 GSA. I don't have them on all the time...just when its appropriate.
 
thor1340 said:
This may not be the right place for this thread, but as the owner of a nearly three year old GSA whose auxillary lights are left switched on for most of the time. Why has my switch failed?

How many others have suffered this fate?

I have seen a few names on here who have had the same problem, how about a list of the broken switches, I am right peeved after forking our £300+ last year for an extended warranty guess what, the switch ISN'T BLOODY COVERED.

I believe there is a relatively simple fix, but that is not the point really is it.

BMW = Broken More Wonga

Let the list begin! :nenau
Click to expand...

At my last service - last June the switch was replaced as being faulty, dealer said they'd been replacing several.
It worked every time for me and I still dont know why they did it.:confused:
 
thor1340 said:
This may not be the right place for this thread, but as the owner of a nearly three year old GSA whose auxillary lights are left switched on for most of the time. Why has my switch failed?

How many others have suffered this fate?

I have seen a few names on here who have had the same problem, how about a list of the broken switches, I am right peeved after forking our £300+ last year for an extended warranty guess what, the switch ISN'T BLOODY COVERED.

I believe there is a relatively simple fix, but that is not the point really is it.

BMW = Broken More Wonga

Let the list begin! :nenau
Click to expand...

no lets not let the list begin please,ffs isnt there something more important in your life?
for what its worth ive had 3 gs adv and never had a switch go.
 
I've had 2 GSA's , the first for 20 months and it had 3 switches , all replaced under warranty . My lights are on all the time as well . My current bike has had 4 switches (one lasted about 200 yards up the road before it failed) and all were replaced under warranty as they failed in the first 2 years . The current switch is 3years old and packed up 2 weeks ago but at £136 to replace it at Bahnstormers I think I'll stick to the Mk.1 cable tie solution until I can be arsed to fix it myself as I've read in previous threads . Don't be under the illusion that because we pay a premium price for our bikes that we get a premium product because those days are long gone but for lords sake don't start compiling lists of failures as that way madness lies .:beerjug:
 
2008 GSA, aux lights always on, no switch issues.:nenau

If it goes wrong, I'll fix it myself.
 
thor1340 said:
I believe there is a relatively simple fix, but that is not the point really is it.

BMW = Broken More Wonga

Let the list begin! :nenau
Click to expand...

A poll of light switch failures FFS:eek: What are you gonna do with it? Waive it under some geeks nose at Motorrad HQ along with the immortal line that it's not fit for purpose? Get off your fucking arse and fix with your relatively simple fix instead of bitching about it or are you one of those people who reckon stuff never goes wrong?. As for your post that it won't look right, get a grip man FFS:blast

Oh, my light switch has never failed on my 56 plate but there again, I only use the lights when needed;)
 
So Sgt Bilco, are Moderators the only ones allowed to ask questions and proffer opinions on here?

Yes I am going to write to BMW, and having a list of similar failures adds weight to my case.

Yes I will fix it when all other avenues have been exhausted but as you would have understood if you took the time to read and understand my post properly.

After paying a hefty sum for the extra warranty I feel justified at venting my spleen or is it only you who is allowed to do so?

This is not the first BMW failure I have had outside of the original warranty and I have as much a right as anyone else on an open forum to ask a question, seek support and gather information.

With regards to bodging up a switch, why should I have to. I paid a hefty sum of money for my bike and don't see why it should be fixed with a non standard switch. But you are welcome to your opinion, just don't try and force it on others.

If you don't have any helpful suggestions to add and can only post with expletives and abbreviated expletives maybe you shouldn't bother.

I suggest your time would be better occupied reading a dictionary and increasing your vocabulary!
 
thor1340 said:
So Sgt Bilco, are Moderators the only ones allowed to ask questions and proffer opinions on here?

Yes I am going to write to BMW, and having a list of similar failures adds weight to my case.

Yes I will fix it when all other avenues have been exhausted but as you would have understood if you took the time to read and understand my post properly.

After paying a hefty sum for the extra warranty I feel justified at venting my spleen or is it only you who is allowed to do so?

This is not the first BMW failure I have had outside of the original warranty and I have as much a right as anyone else on an open forum to ask a question, seek support and gather information.

With regards to bodging up a switch, why should I have to. I paid a hefty sum of money for my bike and don't see why it should be fixed with a non standard switch. But you are welcome to your opinion, just don't try and force it on others.

If you don't have any helpful suggestions to add and can only post with expletives and abbreviated expletives maybe you shouldn't bother.

I suggest your time would be better occupied reading a dictionary and increasing your vocabulary!
Click to expand...

OMG m8 get a grip, its a flecking switch, children are starving to death,,,, put a cheapy one on and give the rest to the red nose people
Thank you
 
thor1340 said:
So Sgt Bilco, are Moderators the only ones allowed to ask questions and proffer opinions on here?

Yes I am going to write to BMW, and having a list of similar failures adds weight to my case.

Yes I will fix it when all other avenues have been exhausted but as you would have understood if you took the time to read and understand my post properly.

After paying a hefty sum for the extra warranty I feel justified at venting my spleen or is it only you who is allowed to do so?

This is not the first BMW failure I have had outside of the original warranty and I have as much a right as anyone else on an open forum to ask a question, seek support and gather information.

With regards to bodging up a switch, why should I have to. I paid a hefty sum of money for my bike and don't see why it should be fixed with a non standard switch. But you are welcome to your opinion, just don't try and force it on others.

If you don't have any helpful suggestions to add and can only post with expletives and abbreviated expletives maybe you shouldn't bother.

I suggest your time would be better occupied reading a dictionary and increasing your vocabulary!
Click to expand...

It's a light switch mate, a simple light switch. Why don't you just take it off and see if you can fix it:nenau A warranty does not cover every component on the bike and really what is the problem with a non standard switch? Does it devalue the bike? Will anyone notice? To be honest, I've never heard anyone complain about the switch gear being substandard but nothing is perfect.

Oh by the way, I never force my opinions on others but I do reserve the right to have one.
 
For what it's worth, mine was replaced under warranty just before it ran out. :hide



I put it down to it taking a knock a couple of months earlier when a pheasant committed suicide on my hand guard - but forgot to mention that when I reorted an intermittent fault
 
I had a bulb blow recently - does that count :nenau :pullface
 
thor1340 said:
This may not be the right place for this thread, but as the owner of a nearly three year old GSA whose auxillary lights are left switched on for most of the time. Why has my switch failed?

How many others have suffered this fate?

I have seen a few names on here who have had the same problem, how about a list of the broken switches, I am right peeved after forking our £300+ last year for an extended warranty guess what, the switch ISN'T BLOODY COVERED.

I believe there is a relatively simple fix, but that is not the point really is it.

BMW = Broken More Wonga

Let the list begin! :nenau
Click to expand...


Yes mine has gone on my 2010 GSA 30th Anv at 30k and guess what? It's not covered in the extended warranty I have paid for ! £75 for a new switch !!
In fact fcuk all hardly is covered on the extended warranty!

As for seeing those £11 switches on ebay etc I agree whats that all about? Its not the point!

Big D
 
thor1340 said:
If I replace the original switch with another that is going to cost extra money to do away with the original BMW mount otherwise it won't look right. My point is at the price of these bikes the switch quality is atrocious, if it had been switched on and off every day for three years I could understand it but it hardly gets touched at all.
Click to expand...

You would have been better to have switched it on and off every day, as it's corrosion of the contacts caused by moisture causing your problem. Mine does it, a good hosing down with contact cleaner, and plenty of on off action see's it working again.
:comfort
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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