EWS! Fault... Anyone?

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TearAway

Guest
Got an EWS! fault on the bike today..

Stopped to go into a shop and when I cam back out and put the key into the bike it wouldn't start and and the display reads EWS!

Tried everything to get it going but no luck... went off and phoned recovery and when the reovery guy turned up tried the key again and it cleared... took the key out and tried it again and now it won't start...

Any one come across this one and know how to fix it.. it's a 1200 gsa by the way...
 
It will most likely be the Ring Antenna. This sits in front of the ignition switch and carries the code in the key to the ECU so that only paired keys will start the bike. This has such a bad history of failures that some owners have resorted to carrying a spare; it is a show stopper. This spare can be used to get you going but to actually change the unit requires new anti-tamper screws etc.
Recovery to a dealer and a warranty job.
 
I had this- I got caught out on a cigarette break in Lairg (Far Northern Scotland)- it was raining and i thought that was the cause- luckily i got it started again, until next switched off. GS recovered, new attenae fitted and never gone wrong again since... good luck:aidan
 
When you say it won't start do you mean it turns over but won't fire, or the bike's totally dead? I ask in case I get the same fault on my GSA, but also for my bro who has a similar intermittent problem with his new Aprillia 650 - it sometimes turns over but won't fire. I thought it might be a fuelling issue, but now you've got me wondering.
 
Had exactly the same problem on a three week old gsa.I had bmw recover the bike and they fitted the new antenae a complete pain in the bollix.:mad:
 
TearAway said:
Any one come across this one and know how to fix it.. it's a 1200 gsa by the way...
Click to expand...


you have to take the yoke out to drill the security bolts out.

might be easier the second time if done by bmw dealer. i hear they replace with cap heads :nenau
 
Thanks

Well bike's in the back of a recovery van on route to the dealer. It appears to be the aerial ring antenna as you guy said. It was reassuring to know it wasn't something serious. :thumb

This must be costing BMW a small fortune in theres of recovery not to mention the faffing about to repair the problem.. :augie

@Batocaster... All the electrics work, apart from the starting motor. It doesn't turn at all and the screen flashes up 'FAULT' 'EWS!' It feels a lot different to say a stuck starting motor or a fueling problem. It's the entire ignition system that seems to be down


Thanks guys hopefully BMW will get it sorted before the crimbo
 
Ring antenna.

I carry a spare in the top box, along with a spare fuel pump relay. Don't want to end up miles from anywhere and have to wait for recovery. Not worried about the semi permanent nature of my RA fix as long as I get back to civilisation I'll worry about the proper fix at my leisure.

As an aside is anyone prepared to put a post up about how to do the replacement properly, with piccies to help. Judging by the number of failures it could be very useful to many peeps on here.
 
EWS = Engine Wont Start

Been there had that, bike was three weeks old at the time - replaced ring antenna under warranty.
 
One more problem that 11** owners don't have to worry about:D

Can it not be wired out of circuit or is the fiendishy clever computer too sophisticated for that?:augie
 
Last edited:
The Ring Antenna is indeed a common problem. I went on a tour to Switzerland with some 12 BMWs (GS, R, K) and we had 3 failures in 1 week, not all GS1200s. Luckily one of the guys with us owned a Swiss dealership, so we managed to get the bikes loaded and taken away quickly, but nevertheless a pain in the @rse.

TIP: If you are indeed stuck in the middle of nowhere and you get the problem, remove any other keys you may have on a key fob (magnetic fields can cause failure) and just try the ignition key alone. Also (and this sounds silly, but works), wheel the bike about 10 metres away from where the bike was standing - apparently magnetic waves can disturb the fields in the ring antenna, and a change of location, albeit small, can help.

These arent gonna completely solve the problem, because the error is registered in the bike's memory, but it may mean you can start the bike up again and get closer to a dealer.

Good luck

Martin
2004 GS12
2007 GS12
 
Packer said:
One more problem that 11** owners don't have to worry about:D

Can it not be wired out of circuit or is the fiendishy clever computer too sophisticated for that?:augie
Click to expand...

there's a huge thread on Advrider about this- some computer literate guy over there is trying to find a way round it but it doesn't sound hopeful since aparently the BMW race team have the same problem!
 
Grizzly GS said:
EWS = Engine Wont Start

Been there had that, bike was three weeks old at the time - replaced ring antenna under warranty.
Click to expand...

+1 my bike was 8 weeks old, and that was nearly 2 years ago, can't believe it's STILL a common fault
:mcgun
 
From the World of BMW site about Herbert Diess' trip in Africa on the F800GS:

"Interestingly, in contrast to Herbert's earlier travels on machines like the R 100 GS, taking modern BMWs into the wilderness doesn't mean that you need an extensive list of spare parts. Now all he takes is a ring antenna for the key, a fuel pump and a tyre repair kit."
 
EWS

It seems i now have the Ring Antennae problem, went to start the bike this morning ready for work and nothing happened when i pressed the start button,and with EWS showing on the dash.

Tried turning the ignition off and on and tried starting again, did this about 10 times then eventually it started.

Pain in the arse as i doubt i will get it sorted until the new year, but fingers crossed it will be ok for my shifts over xmas.

Pain in the arse, but hey ho these things happen
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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