EWS-Failure: 150.000 BMW motorcycles are affected

[Fanum]

If you carry a spare, do you know how to fit it? Would you mind posting a 'How To'?

Cheers

Do a search...it's here already.

IIRC it was that nice Mr Wapping who posted it, but the search button will find it

 

[SMB]

Vin Decoder

I picked up my new GS on Monday this week. - What a bike!!!
Just put the vin number into the decoder to find if my bike has this EWS problem recall.
The decoder (http://www.bmw-z1.com/VIN/VINdecode-e.cgi) tells me that my bike is a F800ST, but within the date range of EWS problem. Can anybody throw a light on this, or have I been fooled into thinking a ST is a GS?
SMB

 

[Pressurized]

Do a search...it's here already.

IIRC it was that nice Mr Wapping who posted it, but the search button will find it

I tried several searches - no success and Wapping has 20 pages of posts.

Let me tell you instead that, when on a tour in Europe last week, a friend's 08 GS with some 3,000 miles on it broke down with an EWS failure - specifically the immobiliser chip transponder. It took a BMW mechanic one and a half hours to fit a spare involving removal of the handlebars, the headstock and needing special tools. Carrying a spare seems a little whimsical, don't you think, as it in itself is not going to help you in a side-of-the-road fix? It would seem as if you're going to need a trained mechanic and it's a fair bet that everyone of them will carry the part in stock.

Here we go again indeed!

 

[SMB]

EWS replacement

I believe that you can easily remove the wiring plug from the failed unit. Plug in the spare ring unit, tape it next to the key - jobs a good one to get you home.

 

[casperghst42]

I believe that you can easily remove the wiring plug from the failed unit. Plug in the spare ring unit, tape it next to the key - jobs a good one to get you home.

As someone pointed out, it's only for starting the engine. Just hold you spare key next to it while you start the engine - ok, do not stall it...

Casper

 

[nemezis]

Can anybody throw a light on this...

Affected:

R 1200 GS K 25 26,853
R 1200 GSAdv. K 25/2 13,040
R 1200 GS MU K 25/11 10,327
R 1200Adv MU K 25/12 5,399
HP 2 Megamoto K 25/03 1,205
R 1200 RT K 26 19,578
R 1200 R K 27 17,614
R 1200 ST K 28 1,568
R 1200 S K 29 1,440
HP 2 Sport K 29/HP 189
K 1200 S K 40 6,203
K 1200 R K 43 3,372
K 1200 R Sport K 43/HV 3,764
K 1200 GT K 44 8,473
F 800 S K 71 3,078
F 800 ST K 71 11,574
F 6560 GS K 72 3,175
F 800 GS K 72 2,439

Between 01/08/2006 and 15/03/2008.

 

[CliveS]

Fix under a recall

I just had my 25 series EWS replaced as a recall item at my last service. The service I may add, was not scheduled as I was getting the poor running problem seen to. I was surprised they did not inform me prior to this service. How much does a few letters cost(150.000) compared to the anger people feel when being stuck and having to loose time and money getting help, and do not forget the inconvenience it causes.

 

[nemezis]

I was surprised they did not inform me prior to this service.

There is no law in the European Union that forces the manufacturer (BMW) or your dealer to inform you about an issue which is no safety issue. As you might know even issues with safety systems like ABS-brakes (a cut of 75% of braking efficiency) is no safety issue in the Europaean Union.

How much does a few letters cost(150.000) compared to the anger people feel when being stuck and having to loose time and money getting help, and do not forget the inconvenience it causes.

Why should the dealer pay for a letter? What would be the benefit? The "benefit" would be that he get's a lot of work to do that is payed very, very bad by the company! Just ask your dealer about the issue of warranty work.

Who cares about the "anger people feel when being stuck" and the "inconvenience it causes" it causes. BMW is just another company which maximises profit, so do their dealers.

 

[Decster]

BMW is just another company which maximises profit, so do their dealers.

...like every other motorcycle manufacturer, car manufacturer, clothing manufacturer, food manufacturer, construction manufacturer, shall i go on


...who do you work for and do they do what they do for the good of the human race or to maximise profits?

 

[Pressurized]

I believe that you can easily remove the wiring plug from the failed unit. Plug in the spare ring unit, tape it next to the key - jobs a good one to get you home.

I see, thanks.

...like every other motorcycle manufacturer, car manufacturer, clothing manufacturer, food manufacturer, construction manufacturer, shall i go on


...who do you work for and do they do what they do for the good of the human race or to maximise profits?

BMW must, however, balance the costs of designing and fitting a better part against the loss of goodwill. The extremes are to recall everyone as soon as the part is available and fit them - very expensive - or do nothing apart from fix bikes as they break down - only costs them on warranty jobs. Seems like by taking a position somewhere in between, they're acting reasonably. How this position affects each customer and their next choice of bike is entirely up to the customer.

 

[nemezis]

..., they're acting reasonably.

I heard customers that had a breakdown in holiday. They think different. They don't believe that the company is acting reasonably in the issue of the ring antenna. At least in Germany it's known for years that the EWS is somehow unreliable. My guess is that a premium manufacturer should not sell bikes with an unreliable part (especially if they know about the fact of the unreliability).

I don't know how things are in the UK. I don't know how to write numbers and I don't know how to write dates in UK-style. But I do know about beeing polite. Possibly that is a behaviour that is not known in the UK (I really do not know!)

But I know that beeing polite is known in the rest of the world. And I would guess that the rest of the world would have seen it polite if they were informed by their dealers about the ring antenna problem and then not having a breakdown in holidays.

Are these things different in the UK???

 

[Pressurized]

I heard customers that had a breakdown in holiday. They think different. They don't believe that the company is acting reasonably in the issue of the ring antenna. At least in Germany it's known for years that the EWS is somehow unreliable. My guess is that a premium manufacturer should not sell bikes with an unreliable part (especially if they know about the fact of the unreliability).

I don't know how things are in the UK. I don't know how to write numbers and I don't know how to write dates in UK-style. But I do know about beeing polite. Possibly that is a behaviour that is not known in the UK (I really do not know!)

But I know that beeing polite is known in the rest of the world. And I would guess that the rest of the world would have seen it polite if they were informed by their dealers about the ring antenna problem and then not having a breakdown in holidays.

Are these things different in the UK???

Again: an individual customer's perception of BMW's behaviour is up to that customer.

Case in point: my mate broke down in Switzerland a week ago last Saturday at around 2pm. Pouring rain. While the rest of us (seven) went on to our destination, he and another BMW rider waited for recovery. He was recovered to a nearby dealer and, during discussions with BMW Recovery by phone, they said they couldn't fix the bike until Tuesday so were going to fly him home and later ship the bike - all at their cost, of course.

By sheer chance, a technician at the dealership turned up to use the dealer's equipment to change the tyres on his car and offered to replace the part there and then. My mate was then able to continue the holiday.

My mate's view is that he is happy with BMW. Probably would be even had the technician not arrived as this is the way he thinks; overall the GS is the best bike sold for him. I can't argue with his decision as it's his own but personally, after having a 1200GS for 2.5 years, I ride a KTM Adventure (and I never had an EWS failure).

 

[wilbjr21]

My dealer - Cooper Sunderland - got in touch with me to let me know mine was affected. Good service.
So some dealers are informing the punters

 

[Thunder]

 

[Rushy]

I have seen a load of guff on here about this part. TBH I have not given it much of my attention because I have an 1150 and have no plans to replace it for quite a few years but just out of curiosity how much is this part to buy?

 

[M3GS]

Roger: With all due respect, the antenna ring/EWS is only to start the engine. It won't cause a runninng engine to stop.

We've let Nemesis in again - two more pages of reaction. We should know better.

Well this made me think. I have done some more research on this failure and thought about what exactly happened. The bike cut out and I coasted to a stop. When I tried to restart the EWS warning came up. I truly cannot recall whether I switched off the ignition and then back on again first... I suppose logic dictates that I must have done.

Thanks for the heads up as our yank friends say. If I did turn off and then on then what caused the thing to cut out in the first place? Fuel pump controller?? Whatever, I'll have that replaced as well next week. Maybe then I can take a tour without worrying whether part of it will be spent languishing in the cab of a recovery truck.

Thanks

Roger

 

[Stumpy]

I tried several searches - no success and Wapping has 20 pages of posts.

Let me tell you instead that, when on a tour in Europe last week, a friend's 08 GS with some 3,000 miles on it broke down with an EWS failure - specifically the immobiliser chip transponder. It took a BMW mechanic one and a half hours to fit a spare involving removal of the handlebars, the headstock and needing special tools. Carrying a spare seems a little whimsical, don't you think, as it in itself is not going to help you in a side-of-the-road fix? It would seem as if you're going to need a trained mechanic and it's a fair bet that everyone of them will carry the part in stock.

Here we go again indeed!

That’s correct for a "proper " fix however for a get you home fix

Just below the ring at the front of the bike there are 2 screws unscrew these, take the cover off. You can then unplug the old ring and plug in a replacement. Tape or cable tie the new ring around the handlebars near to the ignition. The key does not have to go though the centre of the ring just needs to be near it. as already mentioned taping your spare key to the ring will also work.

I carry a spare ring and fuel pump relay. While I agree I should not have to I feel more confident having them in my tool kit. Fuel pump relay was £80 I can't remember how much the ring was.

I used to think all the bad reports about the 1200 where just a product of the internet age but now I'm not so sure. I'm hoping to change my bike next year. At one time I believed I would always have a GS in the garage now I'm not so sure. I love how the bike rides, like the looks and have been more than happy with the service I get from Motorrad Central East. However hanging over my head are the reliability issues.

Stumpy

 

[Pressurized]

I used to think all the bad reports about the 1200 where just a product of the internet age but now I'm not so sure. I'm hoping to change my bike next year. At one time I believed I would always have a GS in the garage now I'm not so sure. I love how the bike rides, like the looks and have been more than happy with the service I get from Motorrad Central East. However hanging over my head are the reliability issues.

Stumpy

Thanks for your reply and I'll make sure my mates know about it. Coincidentally, he too uses the Edinburgh BMW dealer.

 

[deaninkl]

This is what I like about the precision of the Germans.

150 (to three decimal places) of faulty bikes. wow.

Tim

Tim, I spent 15 years working with German engineering companies, early on I realised that in German 150.000 = 150,000 in English, and 5,25 = 5.25 they use a . instead of a , for numbers, very confusing for us brits, and most of the rest of the world also.

So Nemisis' article was talking about 150,000 bikes, thats a lot.

 

[garfield]

I've just had my 57 plate 12ADV's EWS replaced under warranty in the 12k service 2 weeks ago, didn't even ask for it to be done, given that the one I had in the bike hadn't been causing any problems.....