GSA screen causing damage.

[Pete Rihoy]

Hi All,

A mate showed me 3 lines which had appeared in the front of the instrument housing of his GSA and asked me what I thought had caused it. It was pretty obvious that it was heat damage and I said that it looked like the moulded folds in the screen had acted as lenses, concentrated the sunlight and had slightly melted the surface. I had heard of a Fireblade melting it’s clocks after the owner fitted a “double bubble” screen but I wasn’t aware of this problem on BMWs.

He said that he had wondered if this was the cause and took it to the dealer to try to make a claim. He was told that they doubted the cause (Quote “No f*ck*ng way mate, they tested these things in the desert”) and the new part would cost him £94!

The next lunchtime he went to his bike, parked in the usual place, and noticed three lines of concentrated sunlight exactly lined up on the areas of damage. He took some photos on his phone and will be going back to see them tomorrow.

Has anyone else noticed and reported this problem? In any case, it would be worth parking yours in the shade or, if not possible, with the sun coming from behind the bike.

Regards

Pete Rihoy,
Guernsey.

 

[blobbs]

What's sunlight We don't get any of that

 

[deaninkl]

Pete, the theory behind your story is fine, and definately could be the cause, but geting a UK dealer to cough up may be vey difficult. Best bet is the pick a nice hot day (don't hold your breath while waiting..;o) and take the bike to the dealer and see how the theory performs on their forecourt.

I have a GS but have several friends with the GSA's, and I live in a place (Malaysia) that is just a couple of degrees off the equater, we get some serious sunshine. We burn our arses just getting on the bike after an hour in the sun, but have not heard of melting instruments or anything else for that matter. Of course sun angles are all different but in English weather..., even if its true, I doubt any dealer is going to buy into it. And BMW tell us there is feck all wrong with EWS, Fuel pump relays, ABS...etc. etc. etc.

Fact is if you see a van outside the dealer with a couple of guys inside in white coats assume the dealer thinks you have well and truely lost it.

But hey, while you are at it ask them about the theory that the little peaple are effecting the EWS.... Nemisis sure believes it..

good luck.

 

[Pete Rihoy]

Hi Dean,

I'm sure that you are right about an admission from a dealer, but there is no doubt about the cause. The photo shows the sun striking the exact spots and the damage is where the plastic has been softened so that the texture has "flowed out" to leave it smooth. We had a particularly strong sun the other day and Ashley didn't move the bike at midday as he usually does, so it got to "cook". It could be due to the angle of the sun, or even this particular screen?

BTW, I'll be in your neck of the woods next year as my daughter is getting married to a Malay. Anyone doing bike hire around KL?

Regards

Pete Rihoy,
Guernsey.

 

[deaninkl]

Hi Dean,


BTW, I'll be in your neck of the woods next year as my daughter is getting married to a Malay. Anyone doing bike hire around KL?

Regards

Pete Rihoy,
Guernsey.

Pete, drop me an email at deanmlewis at hotmail dot com there is bike hire in malaysia, a I'll get some info for you an get back to you. If you have the time Borneo is an adventurers dream there is bike hire there on GS650's Bike did an artical about 8 months ago and claimed it was the best roads on the planet. But Just around KL alone in fantastic, I can show you some good places. rgds, Dean

 

[red1]

This insn't an uncommon issue. It affects lots of bikes, but not just any single make or model. If you look at other makes (US) forums you'll see mentions of this issue and also vendors selling screen "mitts" to fit over the screen for unshaded parking.

As to blaming the manufacturer for sunlight damage? Possibly they should warn about parking in direct sunlight, but any curved piece of glass/plexiglass/plastic will in certain positions cause this. IIRC the Honda ST1300 (Pan) was a major concern with "instrument sunburn".

 

[bumpy]

Just as an aside.

I used to leave my presciption driving specs, with special coated lenses, on the dash panel of the car while I was in work. After a few days the coating crackled and misted. The specs were wrecked. Total cost about £200.

Lesson learnt.

 

[Pete Rihoy]

Pete, drop me an email at deanmlewis at hotmail dot com there is bike hire in malaysia, a I'll get some info for you an get back to you. If you have the time Borneo is an adventurers dream there is bike hire there on GS650's Bike did an artical about 8 months ago and claimed it was the best roads on the planet. But Just around KL alone in fantastic, I can show you some good places. rgds, Dean

E-mail sent Dean, if you didn't get it (i.e. I cocked-up your address) peterihoy at guernsey dot net

Regards

Peter

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

I have suffered the same situation with my GSA12, Mine has slightly melted the black clock housing. Not taken it back to the dealer as it's only very small (about 15mm long)