Break Down in Switzerland

[barryt]

The sad sight of my 800 GS being loaded onto the back of a lorry in Switzerland yesterday (thursday). The bike had done nearly 1,500 miles around France, Italy and Switzerland but broke down in Switzerland on the way home due to overheating. Not sure what the problem is yet - pump, thermostat or just a leaking pipe.

The bike had the remedial work for the coolant hose done in March 2009 on a recall.

Unfortunately Swiss BMW had no record of that work and refused to do anything until they had completed the recall work!

BMW Assist were excellent - sorted out hire cars and flights from Geneva to the UK.

Now waiting for the bike to be repatriated (up to 14 days) rather than having it fixed in Switzerland so that we can find out what the problem is.

 

[Morticia]

Oh BarryT, I am so sad this has happened .

I hope your bike gets home soon and its all sorted for you quickly.


Morticia

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Sorry to hear this

How was the PD

 

[everywherevirtually]

I had to visit BMW in Linz when I was over there and they said the same thing. That recalls hadn't been done even though my local dealer said they had

at the time my local dealer was under immense time pressure and I'm wondering if they skipped on a few things

Personally I would have let the Swiss at it.

If your hose had been leaking you would know about it. Sometimes though on the 800 stones can jam the radiator fan. It's worth a look. I think this happened to Micky.

 

[barryt]

I had to visit BMW in Linz when I was over there and they said the same thing. That recalls hadn't been done even though my local dealer said they had

at the time my local dealer was under immense time pressure and I'm wondering if they skipped on a few things

Personally I would have let the Swiss at it.

If your hose had been leaking you would know about it. Sometimes though on the 800 stones can jam the radiator fan. It's worth a look. I think this happened to Micky.

Fans were kicking in ok - no problem with them. Coming through the Swiss border we stopped to buy motorway passes and I noticed a bit of steam coming up off the bike but as it was chucking it down with rain I didn't think it was anything more than rain on the engine/exhaust.

About a mile on the gauge started to flash on and off - I pulled over and there was huge clouds of steam coming out of the radiator pipe and coolant down the side of the cylinders which is why we suspected a pipe problem - the jubilee clip didn't look that robust!

But when we took the radiator cap off there seemed to be plenty of water in there and it wasn't that hot and neither was the radiator which is why we we were then thinking pump or thermostat.

I got taken to Visk first but they wouldn't touch a warranty job so we went on to Sion to the main dealer there. We got there around 4ish and they weren't interested in even checking to see what the problem was - if it was a pipe I'd have waited until the next day for them to see if they could fix it. A pump or thermostat meant that it would have been next week at the earliest. They checked my chassis number and reckoned that there was outstanding recall work but I rang my own dealer and the work is shown as complete in March 2009.

To be honest I was completely underwhelmed by the Swiss approach to it - just couldn't be arsed frankly which is why I've asked for the bike to be shipped back without the repair for a BM dealer to look at it in the UK.

Barry

 

[Greggers]

I'd bet a pound that when the hoses were changed under the recall, the water pump hadn't been properly bled ... I had the same thing when I first got mine, normal road riding was fine, but as soon as it got worked hard it overheated like a b@stard, red light on and everything

BMW still insist on fitting those spring hose clamps, I ditched mine straight away and fitted proper stainless hose clamps ...

G

 

[v8legend]

I'd bet a pound that when the hoses were changed under the recall, the water pump hadn't been properly bled ...
G

Mine had the mods done over a year ago (by SBW) before I bought it, however the hose came loose recently, so I went back to NOG. They did it whilst I waited, but it took ages. I had a check with the mechanic to see why it was taking so long. He explained that the hose had gone back on quickly, but he was having trouble bleeding the system. I asked about changing the clamps to Jubilee, but he didn't think this was an issue. He said that the clamps are common practise on modern cars, which do far higher mileages than most bikes, and don't present any problems there. He did say however that the pump is painted giving a smooth surface, and when he does the mod he roughs them up with some emery to give the hose something to grip to.

 

[Ash]

what a barsteward

 

[barryt]

I'd bet a pound that when the hoses were changed under the recall, the water pump hadn't been properly bled ... I had the same thing when I first got mine, normal road riding was fine, but as soon as it got worked hard it overheated like a b@stard, red light on and everything

BMW still insist on fitting those spring hose clamps, I ditched mine straight away and fitted proper stainless hose clamps ...

G

I think this is probably near to it. One of the group suggested some sort of air lock - the clips are poor and thats where the steam was pouring out from but possibly because it was just the weakest point.

In fairness the bike hadn't been worked that hard until this holiday - we'd already done 8 days and probably averaging 7 hours a day in the saddle.

It was great while it lasted!!

I have to say BMW Assist were fantastic - worked hard to try and get them to sort the bike and when that failed sorted out a hire car to Geneva, flight to Heathrow and hire car waiting the other end. Even offered to fly me back to Sion to take the bike home if I had it fixed there.

Barry

 

[Big Nick]

Or not as the case may be!!

Seriously though, sorry to hear your trip ended suddenly

 

[everywherevirtually]

Or not as the case may be!!

Seriously though, sorry to hear your trip ended suddenly

Fixed it for you

 

[Dryskier]

Sorry to hear this

How was the PD

Funnily enough - that was also waiting for a breakdown truck for repatriation.
No drive.
Just happened to break at exactly the same time as Barrys bike.

 

[swissrob]

thing is with the swiss if its not on paper then they wont believe anything.....

 

[everywherevirtually]

thing is with the swiss if its not on paper then they wont believe anything.....

That goes for the Austrians too. Sometimes they are so fucking pedantic you just want to smack them in the face

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Funnily enough - that was also waiting for a breakdown truck for repatriation.
No drive.
Just happened to break at exactly the same time as Barrys bike.

Para driveshaft failure......................not uncommon

 

[swissrob]

.

I got taken to Visk first but they wouldn't touch a warranty job so we went on to Sion to the main dealer there. We got there around 4ish and they weren't interested in even checking to see what the problem was - if it was a pipe I'd have waited until the next day for them to see if they could fix it. A pump or thermostat meant that it would have been next week at the earliest. They checked my chassis number and reckoned that there was outstanding recall work but I rang my own dealer and the work is shown as complete in March 2009.

To be honest I was completely underwhelmed by the Swiss approach to it - just couldn't be arsed frankly which is why I've asked for the bike to be shipped back without the repair for a BM dealer to look at it in the UK.

Barry

didnt really read the bit about the dealer not being arsed... unfortunatly its something my mates have come across before when they had an issue.

they cant be arsed if you have not bought the bike from them, there are of course exceptions but thats the way i have found them in general, my local one in basel is shite and wasnt even interested as it was a non swiss reg bike.

 

[barryt]

Funnily enough - that was also waiting for a breakdown truck for repatriation.
No drive.
Just happened to break at exactly the same time as Barrys bike.

Nothing to do with climbing over the same pass twice in succession being too much for it!!

 

[barryt]

didnt really read the bit about the dealer not being arsed... unfortunatly its something my mates have come across before when they had an issue.

they cant be arsed if you have not bought the bike from them, there are of course exceptions but thats the way i have found them in general, my local one in basel is shite and wasnt even interested as it was a non swiss reg bike.

The recovery driver was less than complimentary about his countrymen - kept saying something about French and langsam which I believe is slow in German!

 

[barryt]

Funnily enough - that was also waiting for a breakdown truck for repatriation.
No drive.
Just happened to break at exactly the same time as Barrys bike.

Well done for making it home intact John!!

 

[SKON]

That goes for the Austrians too. Sometimes they are so fucking pedantic you just want to smack them in the face

+1, give `em a fraggin uniform..........