Engine Pinking

[arrybash]

I have a 2009 GSA which is still under warranty. Its fitted with a BMW Akropovic which I have taken the baffle out.

If I give it a handful of throttle it "pinks" really bad. The only way to prevent it "pinking" is to open the throttle carefully.

When new the dealer advised me it doesn't need the engine remapped to fit the Akropvic as it should sort itself out.

I have now refitted the baffle but yet to try it to see if the "pinking" has stopped.

Anybody else had this problem?

Can the engine be remapped to solve the "pinking"?

Regards

Chris

 

[arrybash]

I put the baffle back in but it didn't stop the pinking so I took it to my dealer for his opinion.

He did a test run and agreed that there is something no right with it.

He uploaded the latest software and checking various settings. Then went for another test ride. Pinking is still there.

They are going to contact BM on Tuesday to get advise on what to do next.

Chris

 

[Pukmeister]

The ecu cannot be remapped but you can alter the fuelling with a boosterplug etc which fools the ecu into thinking the intake air is very cold so it adds a little more fuel. I have one on my 2008 GSA and it smooths it out at part throttle and makes it more rideable, not any more powerful. You can also fit a power commander and get it set up on a rolling road dyno for optimum fuelling under all throttle/load conditions.

I also have sports headers and a PC3USB ready in the garage, but they aren't getting fitted until my bikes warranty has expired.

Has the dealer checked the condition of your spark plugs and secondary coils ?? It sounds like you have a weak spark when the engine is under load.

 

[paul1961]

Knock sensors ??

 

[Giles]

At a guess I'd have thought you need to fit a power commander and get it set up correctly.

 

[The Nutter]

At a guess I'd have thought you need to fit a power commander and get it set up correctly.

Had a BMW Akra fitted to my 2004 and did 25,000 miles on it, baffle out, with no pinking (or any other problem). If it's an approved BMW part (as the Akra is) then it shouldn't need any 'setting up'.

Interested to see what the cause is though!

 

[Funners]

I had a similar problem (as have others) and it turned out to be the 2ndry coils, they were fine on the BMW diagnostic machine, but as soon as they were replaced the problem went away....
worth a thought

 

[D6]

At a guess I'd have thought you need to fit a power commander and get it set up correctly.

no body else does,
the operative words here are "under warranty"
just make sure you know what it was incase it happens again

 

[Giles]

Are the headers original or has it been de-catted??

 

[Steptoe]

At a guess I'd have thought you need to fit a power commander and get it set up correctly.

It needs setting up correctly/the problem found before you start adding something else to the mix.

 

[Giles]

Fair enough!! I was speaking to a beemer techy at Vines the other day about headers and aftermarket pipes. He told me that if I went down that route it would need a power commander and a dyno set up. Mechanics aren't really my thing

 

[xjrjason]

My '08 GSA, has a full akrapovic no-cat system on it. (baffle in)

No pinking, no power comander, no change of set up.

 

[Goose]

I have a 2009 GSA which is still under warranty. Its fitted with a BMW Akropovic which I have taken the baffle out.

If I give it a handful of throttle it "pinks" really bad. The only way to prevent it "pinking" is to open the throttle carefully.

When new the dealer advised me it doesn't need the engine remapped to fit the Akropvic as it should sort itself out.

I have now refitted the baffle but yet to try it to see if the "pinking" has stopped.

Anybody else had this problem?

Can the engine be remapped to solve the "pinking"?

Regards

Chris

Would be really interesting to hear the feedback you get!

Same bike as mine - in fact we have 3 x 2009 GSA's ALL pinging badly and it's been 10 months of hell with BMW here in Cape Town to try get it resolved. All we get is a run-around and no solid help or answers..... oh and they wash the bike every time it goes in...?

PM me if you want the local BMW forum links!

 

[mfish]

I've got a 31,000 mile '05 standard GS that has intermittently pinked - especially 2 up. However after the recent service (which included filling with synthetic for the 1st time) the bike no longer pinks, and runs cooler.
Cheers, Michael.

 

[arrybash]

The bike is still in warranty, serviced to spec by the main dealer and I was carefull to only fit the genuine BMW akropovic silencer with no other modifications done to headers cats etc.

I have been using Shell V power recently in the hope that it would prevent it from pinking, but it hasn't made any difference.

The dealer (Chester BMW, excellent service) have now been in contact with BMW. BMW advise not to use Shell V power as its 99 octane and they don't like it.

As it was pinking before I was using 'V' power its not the fuel thats the problem, so BMW have advised the dealer to check the knock sensor.

Its going in next week so I will keep you informed as to the outcome.

I will advise them to consider the secondary coils whilst they have it in.

Regards

Chris

 

[Goose]

The bike is still in warranty, serviced to spec by the main dealer and I was carefull to only fit the genuine BMW akropovic silencer with no other modifications done to headers cats etc.

I have been using Shell V power recently in the hope that it would prevent it from pinking, but it hasn't made any difference.

The dealer (Chester BMW, excellent service) have now been in contact with BMW. BMW advise not to use Shell V power as its 99 octane and they don't like it.

As it was pinking before I was using 'V' power its not the fuel thats the problem, so BMW have advised the dealer to check the knock sensor.

Its going in next week so I will keep you informed as to the outcome.

I will advise them to consider the secondary coils whilst they have it in.

Regards

Chris

As far as I'm aware, they design spec of the bike indicates that you should use "the highest unleaded octane available" - in fact we have standard 95 unleaded, can get 102 to try - yet the local BMW crowd told us we cannot use the higher octane - BUT have asked us to add Octane Booster to our fuel on a trial basis
THIS from people that would void your bike's warranty if they merely sniff any signs of synthetics or additives...?

What's WORSE is that our bikes were sold to us (as per BMW's adverts and brochures) as a 105Hp machine... WOW!!! We live at the coast and the best power output we get is 92Hp and the suggestion from BMW to "protect the engine" is to remap the ECU to a "LOWER OUTPUT POWER" - around 78 - 85Hp

Surely if I wanted a 650 or 800cc bike - I'd have kept my DAKAR......... so is this false advertising??

 

[Pukmeister]

Pinking is only the air/fuel mixture igniting (or pre-igniting) at the wrong time in the combustion cycle. It could be many things, bit I say again to check the condition of your spark plugs and mini coils before doing anything else.

 

[arrybash]

As its under warranty its not my problem to fix (Just as well really as I wouldn't want to be landed with the bill).

I will find out from the dealer at the end of next week what the problem was.

Chris

 

[arrybash]

Latest Update

The dealer has had my bike for nearly 3 weeks now. Seemingly the dealers have to be instructed by BM what they do. The ECU has had the latest update, valve timing checked, fuel tank drained and fuel replaced, spark plugs, coils and sensors all checked and seems to be OK except a knock sensor that has been changed.

But the problem has not been sorted. I collected the bike for a day to try it out. Its slightly improved but still pinking when the throttle is whacked open in top gear doing 50mph.

I changed the can from the Akropovic back to the OEM can. It still pinks when cold around town but seems to run OK when warm around town even with a pillion. However the problem is still there when cruising.

Listing carefully to it and it appears to be only happening on the left hand cylinder.

Its back in the dealers now probably for anyother few weeks as they agree with me that it shouldn't be pinking under any circumstances.

The next stage looks like they may be removing the cylinder heads.

I have owned many bikes for over 30 years and never had these problems with a new bike.

The GSA is a nice all round package, but I am not impressed with the tractor like engine.

Looks like its going to be a new Tiger 1200 when they come out in 2012 (hopefully the BM will survive a few months out of warranty without landing me a big bill).

Chris

 

[skywalker]

You don't need all these Power commanders etc, contact Hilltop Motorcycles in Leicester. He can access the bikes std ecu & remap it.
Know loads of people who had their bikes done & they've all said its the best money they've spent.
Google Hilltop Motorcycles .com