Faulty Auxilliary Light Switch

[The Nutter]

Has anyone else been subjected to the auxilliary light switch being a bit tempermental? Sometimes it won't operate the lights unless you hold the switch firmly in the on position. Other times it switches on but the slightest pressure in the off direction or a large bump in the road and they go off.
I believe BMW are aware of it and mine is getting replaced this weekend, but that is after waiting over a week as there were no spare switches either here or in Germany.
That said, it's the first thing to go wrong after 7 months (better than my 2004 model did) so things seem to be getting better!
I was the first to suffer an alternator failure on the 2004, just wondered if I'm the first with this one (though I doubt it).
Still love it though, this ain't a whinge. Just letting you all know.

 

[Flipper_Man]

Has anyone else been subjected to the auxilliary light switch being a bit tempermental? Sometimes it won't operate the lights unless you hold the switch firmly in the on position. Other times it switches on but the slightest pressure in the off direction or a large bump in the road and they go off.
I believe BMW are aware of it and mine is getting replaced this weekend, but that is after waiting over a week as there were no spare switches either here or in Germany.
That said, it's the first thing to go wrong after 7 months (better than my 2004 model did) so things seem to be getting better!
I was the first to suffer an alternator failure on the 2004, just wondered if I'm the first with this one (though I doubt it).
Still love it though, this ain't a whinge. Just letting you all know.

Yep - had mine replaced on my '09 GSA a few months back after a few days of riding in tipping rain.

 

[Wberesford]

Yep been there, seen that, checked the switch and got the replacement!!!!

Mind you I had to do the solutioneering for the dealership after they told me that the switches were on backorder.......kind of tells me that the issue is bigger than they might like to acknowledge!!!

FYI

BMW R1200GSA Anniversary

 

[Mike Peers]

And I thought it was just me. Mine stopped working after about 2000 miles. I still haven't got round to booking it in yet, but its a nuisance.

 

[The Nutter]

Thank God it's not just me then. I was hoping that BMW could at least build a waterproof switch, after all it's not a new invention. If they can't get a simple switch right, what else could possibly go wrong?......................

 

[agcstoat]

Just had one replaced under warranty - it packed up within 3 months of buying the bike (after a few days of heavy rain) and BMW have next to no spares in stock - the guys at Bahnstormer swore blind that they rarely if ever go wrong... I suggested that perhaps they ought to buy Honda switchgear

The phrase "bag'o'shite" comes to mind.

Alan

 

[The Nutter]

Just had one replaced under warranty - it packed up within 3 months of buying the bike (after a few days of heavy rain) and BMW have next to no spares in stock - the guys at Bahnstormer swore blind that they rarely if ever go wrong... I suggested that perhaps they ought to buy Honda switchgear

The phrase "bag'o'shite" comes to mind.

Alan

Obviously not as rare as they make out. Show 'em this thread to prove it!

 

[ghiribizzo]

My switch has been US for a long while. After reading posts on here decided to leave it a bit in the hope that replacements may be more likely to be available and hopefully better quality than fitting another of the same.
Those that got them changed around October - are those switches still going ok?

 

[xjrjason]

Waves hand ............ '08 bike, had three, then the warranty ran out.

They now expect me to pay £60 plus for the next one, which would come out of the same box as the last three (although reading above the box is now empty). So a complete waste of time and money, and I told them so as well.

If you leave you bike out in the rain, on the side stand, with the handle bars turned to the left. The switch fills with water. Apparently as this is what I'd done, it was my fault, what did I expect etc etc.


Looking for an alternative, like a water proof version.

 

[forest biker]

forest biker

yep mine went at about 9k , had to buy one because warranty was just out, 70 bloody quid plus an hour to change cutting all those cable ties off

 

[wilbjr21]

Still love it though, this ain't a whinge. Just letting you all know.

Thank God it's not just me then. I was hoping that BMW could at least build a waterproof switch, after all it's not a new invention. If they can't get a simple switch right, what else could possibly go wrong?......................

Thats a whinge ...... sorry.

 

[ghiribizzo]

Oh well. Best get them to put another of the same on for the moment. When it failed, the switch had probably been used about 4 or five times and had never been left in the rain at that stage.

I notice early bikes had the switch on a housing to the right of the indicator/horn etc. rather than on the top. I presume that was pre-production only?

 

[forest biker]

forest biker

fpc,s final drives, ring antenna ,s , paint finishes what dosent like water, now faulty switches, i suppose you shouldnt expect to much from a 12k bike

 

[Wapping]

This thread may be helpful if anyone is looking to replace their switch.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245861&highlight=switch

 

[Rederic]

I had the same problem with mine a june 2010 model,It was left outside hotel the first night i was away it was damp but not raining heavy
I made a quick fix by fitting a 150mm cable tie on the mirror arm in line with the switch and pushed it between the rocker and the housing
It worked a treat until i got back it was replaced under warranty no questions asked