Can I replace BMS-K and pair with my existing keys?

[Shrimpo]

As short as I can make it: Bike has been off the road for ages due to attempted theft including attempting to hotwire the bike.

Finally admitted I will never have teh time/ability to fix it myself and put it into a shop to get fixed and sourced a 2nd hand BMS-K from Sherlocks to replace my unit which I have assumed was fried during the hotwiring.

The shop now reckons that I need to have the matching keys for the replacement BMS-K (which I assume means matching barrels etc also). They are getting an EWS error at the moment.

For some reason I was under the impression that the BMS-K could be re-programmed to accept my old keys by a BMW shop.

Is anyone able to clarify the real story for me or point me to someone who has solved this issue. Ideally I am after someone who has had it done so I can point the BMW guys at it and say "it is possible". I'm sure they are going to tell me I need a new unit and frankly my bike isn't in a state to warrant spending that much money on it.

Any help/advicve appreciated folks.

Thanks

 

[Nick V]

Sorry to hear of that, mate!

As far as I know, BMS-K ECUs are paired to a set of two keys at the factory.
BUT, it is certainly possible to allow new keys to interface with a given BMS-K, and also to bar 'unauthorized' (for example, missing or stolen) keys.

If it were me, I'd take:

1. The bike,
2. The new BMS-K,
3. The sales receipt for the new BMS-K,
4. The fried BMS-K,
5. All keys for the bike you currently have, and
6. The bike's licence and registration documents

to a BMW dealer, and explain my dilemma.
Given the circumstances, it would probably also count in your favour to take along a police statement and a relevant insurance affidavit.



Given that if you take this approach, you'll have taken all reasonable steps to prove that you're not a bike thief, I see no reason why a dealer wouldn't want to get your bike back on the road.

 

[Wapping]

Why did you do it the hard way?

I assume you were insured for the theft risk? If so, why didn't you have your bike taken to a reputable repair shop (you are suggesting BMW anyway) and have them repair it back to the condition it was before the attempt at theft took place? It's why you buy insurance. Of course now backdating the claim advice is tricky, but it may still be worth a go and its costs nothing to ask.

 

[Shrimpo]

Had my reasons for not claiming an insurance fix - it did occur to me being what it is for and all..... Basically my future premium would have exploded as I was informed my No Claims bonus would disappear.

I'm not keen to get BMW to do all the work purely based on what my service cost there and the fact there was loads of other damage done to the bike. Only reason I see any BMW involvement is that they have the Interface to the BMS-K etc that my local shop wont. I haven't lost a fortune on the BMS-K I sourced from Sherlocks (and now I know why).

I will go cap in hand to the local BMW guys and see what they say. I've got a police report number and receipts etc. Just wanted to be able to refer to evidence of it bing done before if possible in case I got the "you need a new one of those, 2 new keys and new locks" response.

I would have thought a fuse might have avoided a lot of this trouble so the ECU didn't get fried in the first place. Good reason for there not to be one?

 

[Bendy toy]

On most vehicles the immobiliser antenna/circuit is coded to a chip in the key handle/fob. The lock and key blade can be changed, but the original chip has to be present.

Fiat cars (used to at least) have a key handle that could be split. So if you had a new blade cut, you also had to move the chip from the old key handle to the new key handle.

I expect the BMW is the same - an immobiliser circuit without the corresponding key is worthless.

 

[Pukmeister]

ONLY BMW can program/pair/delete keys to and from the BMS-K module. No one else has access.

You will need to convince them that you are the legitimate owner of the vehicle and have all paperwork in support of your tale before they will even entertain you.

In engineering terms it should be no big deal to connect to the BMS-K with their diagnostic kit and tell it what it needs to know to function correctly including the bikes original build spec and key details. No doubt it will cost you for their time and expertise, I hope you get the bike sorted its a damn shame about the attempted theft and damage and all the associated hassle.

 

[Shrimpo]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Got all the paperwork for ownership etc and all the parts, original and replacement so you never know eh!

 

[patzx12]

I used to swap the ECUs between bikes when i used to mess around building R1200GS. all you need to do is:
Fit the ECU to a bike.
Read off the info in the ECU with a GS-911
Contact BMW and give them the code and they will make up keys.
I am willing to bet your original ECU isn't fried, they are fairly robust items.

 

[Wapping]

I would have thought a fuse might have avoided a lot of this trouble so the ECU didn't get fried in the first place. Good reason for there not to be one?

To render the bike annoyingly and expensively useless if it is stolen and the ignition short circuited, thereby greatly inconveniencing the thief.... If I really had to guess.

 

[Bendy toy]

Even if it was appropriate to fit some sort of circuit protection, a fuse would not work even remotely fast enough.

 

[Nick V]

To render the bike annoyingly and expensively useless if it is stolen and the ignition short circuited, thereby greatly inconveniencing the thief.... If I really had to guess.

And, should the bike eventually be recovered, an immobilization feature which has neatly immobilized the innocent owner.