GSA1200 Ignition Problems

[grendal]

...so, there I was about to park up this morning, turned OFF the ignition...NOTHING HAPPENED! ..pulled the key out of the ignition barrel....STILL NOTHING HAPPENED!!
So, hit the engine kill switch and the engine stops, but all lights still on and all I need to re-start the bike is to press the starter button and she fires up with no keys!
Well I can't leave it like that with lights ablazin' whilst the battery goes flat with the chance that someone could nick it relatively easily, so took it over to BMW Battersea.
They investigated this afternoon and have changed the ignition key barrel under warranty - will get more details when I collect it tomorrow morning!
The thing that worries me more than anything else is that last week on a ride back up from Somerset the engine just stopped and only a bit of snappy clutch work saved the day! At the time I thought (rather stupidly) that I just hadn't turned the key properly in the ignition and it had moved back into an off position as I turned a corner (it hadn't) - but obviously this was a sign that there was a major problem!
Anybody else had a similar experience?
Its my fourth warranty claim on a bike only 18 months old and though I love the bike it can put you in a bl**dy foul mood at 6.30am sometimes!

 

[GSmonkey]

Not an unknown problem. See http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131542

 

[LiquidLAN]

And that's mine gone to... an 06 GSA with about 15k on the clock...

happened the first time in Marlborough just now, but sorted itself out within about 10-15 seconds, but just rode it back and its sitting in the garage ready to ride away...

oh well... call to BMW ES I guess...

and they'll be here in 90 minutes apparently...


mmm... I guess all I need to do now is sit back and wait for the "what do you expect" responses

 

[bone]

Got mine back with new switch fittted. ,but only because Williams stood the cost themselves. BMW cust.service refused to admit there was a problem, saying if they had heard of this fault then they would have issued a recall.
A good dealer wants to to keep a happy customer base.

A market leading corporate giant doesn't give a fig about the individual joe.

Thats my experience anyway fwiw.

 

[LiquidLAN]

Got mine back with new switch fittted. ,but only because Williams stood the cost themselves. BMW cust.service refused to admit there was a problem, saying if they had heard of this fault then they would have issued a recall.
A good dealer wants to to keep a happy customer base.

A market leading corporate giant doesn't give a fig about the individual joe.

Thats my experience anyway fwiw.

do you know that seems to be a theme I'm reading more and more here... luckily my bike is still under warranty so hopefully is shouldnt be an issue... will have to wait and see tomorrow.

ironically it was only this morning that I was talking to NOG about test riding the 08 GSA - do you think my bike heard and had a huff as a result??

 

[LiquidLAN]

Got mine back today - (test rode the new 08 GSA while I was up there) - new switch in mine to, but this one was under warranty.

Talking to one of the guys there BMW will investigate any part that is replaced under warranty if there are three incidents - I guess you're wont count to that though Bones, if the dealer footed the bill.

 

[grendal]

...when I was collecting my 1200GSA earlier in the week, I specifically asked if a report would be sent to BMW about the problem as I emphasised how dangerous it could be potentially. The answer came back that BMW would only consider a recal if they deemed it important enough!

I'm feeling more and more pis8ed off with them at the moment as I had the bike recovered - for a fifth time - yesterday in Manchester. The engine started spluttering and eventually cut out altogether. Plenty of fuel in the tank. Few mins later I tried to start it again and it fired up but cut out again within 15 seconds. After waiting for the Assist crew to attend, the engine obviously cooled down and by the time the engineer arrived it started fine and was running as normal. After a couple of mins it started to splutter again and then cut out altogether! So onto the back of a van and off to Battersea! I'm starting to wonder if mine was built late on a Friday!

 

[bone]

Didnt mention in post, GS is still under warranty until august!

 

[LiquidLAN]

Didnt mention in post, GS is still under warranty until august!

Gobsmacked... whats the point of a warranty if when something like that breaks the manufacturer just shrugs their sholders... at least the dealer did the right thing.

 

[John Armstrong]

Gobsmacked... whats the point of a warranty if when something like that breaks the manufacturer just shrugs their sholders... at least the dealer did the right thing.

Agreed the dealer did the right thing.

Maybe BM's stance is that the warranty doesn't cover 100%? For example tyres, brake pads, fair wear and tear items, bits that have been used outside of "normal" use.

 

[marcus]

Got mine back with new switch fittted. ,but only because Williams stood the cost themselves. BMW cust.service refused to admit there was a problem, saying if they had heard of this fault then they would have issued a recall.
A good dealer wants to to keep a happy customer base.

A market leading corporate giant doesn't give a fig about the individual joe.

Thats my experience anyway fwiw.

Once again BMW attempt to renege on warranty claim on the basis of "it's not a known problem"

I had similar issues with the ignition on one of mine. cultimating in complete electrical failure at speed.
Top marks to Park Lane / Battersea for fixing it at minimal fuss.
No marks to BMW for making a machine full of systemic faults and not admitting it.....

 

[Gipsy]

What exactly is the fault? Is it the same as the ring antenna failing? Have to admit I'd be bloody pissed off having my bike recovered 5 times. Mine has only needed recovering twice, so perhaps I'm lucky.

 

[GS TRV]

Mine has only needed recovering twice, so perhaps I'm lucky.

Not pleasant reading all the same

 

[bone]

What exactly is the fault? Is it the same as the ring antenna failing? Have to admit I'd be bloody pissed off having my bike recovered 5 times. Mine has only needed recovering twice, so perhaps I'm lucky.

The ignition switch fails to turn the engine off when the key is turned, the ring antenna works/fails only when key is put in the switch. My issue with the manufacturer was as the switch was faulty, it may turn the engine off when it wasn't supposed to.

 

[grendal]

What exactly is the fault? Is it the same as the ring antenna failing? Have to admit I'd be bloody pissed off having my bike recovered 5 times. Mine has only needed recovering twice, so perhaps I'm lucky.

The fault on Monday was the ignition barrel; on Friday it was another electrical problem related to the fuel pump. All the bits were replaced under warranty and I picked the bike up this morning!
Each time its recovered though, the cost to me in tube and bus fares and more importantly, my time - missed meetings and general inconvenience is really getting me down!

 

[Howard Millichap]

Welcome to BMW ownership guys. They've been doing this sort of thing for years. That's why I got rid and now ride a Triumph.

 

[Martyn B]

...and me!

...so, there I was about to park up this morning, turned OFF the ignition...NOTHING HAPPENED! ..pulled the key out of the ignition barrel....STILL NOTHING HAPPENED!!
Anybody else had a similar experience?:

Actually yes - me, last week. Exactly the same thing happened (much to the amusment of my mates who had all turned up for a ride) so had to take the earth off and call for recovery to the dealer. Good timing as the diagnostics had gone up the swany and I had just been notified that my new rear wheel (which had been on back order for two months) had turned up. So, in less than 1800 miles I've had to have:

1) New rear wheel (buckled at m'facture)
2) Ignition switch (to fix above)
3) Diagnostics "tune" (with hammer?)

I'm not impressed.

More proof (if it were ever needed) that fings aint what they used to be....