Help - 1200 playing up in Morocco

[Firebird]

Hi,

Selmeston and I are having problems with his 07 1200GS. After going through the start up diagnostics it comes up with EWS! and warning light. It appears the bike does not like the key. Have disconnected the battery for a while and this worked once. Have wheeled bike away from power cables and this has worked a couple of times.

Bike has now stopped at a filling station and usual tricks no longer seem to work. Anyone else had this problem and know a cure / workround? Could the engine management be lose as we have done some pistes?

Any HELP (not piss taking) would be appreciated.

 

[Dellis]

A mate had the same problem - it's the bit of kit on the bike that talks to the chip in the key. I don't know it there is a work round but I'm sure someone will be here and able to help shortly.

Dave

 

[Fanum]

Common problem....it's the antennae ignition ring....they fail.

There's no recorded code for it, and there's no way of bypassing it.

Sometimes its intermittent, and some reports say that trying it after leaving the bike turned off for 20 mins or so (as you've already said) can cure it temporarily, but ultimately, I'm afraid you may be screwed until the antennae ring is replaced.

Try removing all the keys on the keyring.....apparently other keys can block a signal to an already failing antennae and sometimes this can help, particularly if there's another transponder type key in the bunch.

Other than that, it needs to get to a dealer for replacement or it will likely fail and the bike will not be startable

Progress huh??

 

[snoopy]

That's shit luck, hope you're up the top end of Morocco. Good luck.

 

[Timolgra]

If anyone knows for sure what the part is and and get it perhaps couriered from Ocean Motorcycles in Plymouth to the Caraneal Hotel, 12 Pier Street, Plymouth.
I'll be there tomorrow evening then leaving for Morocco on wednesday. It may be possible to get the part to him.

I won't be on this site much but my mob is 07967 301096

Tim

 

[Firebird]

Selmeston has headed back to Spain to get it fixed under warranty. Meanwhile I will have to have fun on my own!

 

[wildbeeste]

Hope Selmeston gets back ok.
Technology is a wonderful thing - only if it works though

 

[Firebird]

Selmestons trip is over. Dealer has fecked him about in Malaga so he has been flown home by insurance. He will come back out to Spain to collect the bike and ride with me back up to Bilbao.

His Morocco adventure is over for this year.

Me? Well I am going solo still.

 

[Gaulois]

Waiting for flight back to London as I type this. Can´t thank BMW assist enough. They´ve really helped out unlike the useless dealer in Marbella. To get out of Morocco firebird suggested sticking the emergency (plastic) key in the lock and leaving the bike switched on even during breaks and ferries etc. Plan worked fine and got me out of Morocco in 2 days but when I arrived at the dealers he was convinced it was because I had used the plastic key. I told him the problem had not presented when the key was used only when the original metal one was. He would not listen despite my quoting BMW Assist, a BMW mechanic from Vines who gave us advice on the phone and the unanimous comments on the UKGSER site.
He reset the bike´s computer and I set off for Morocco again. Somewhere around Rabat in the middle of a biblical downpour (Advice - be VERY cautious on Moroccan roads in the wet. They´re very slippery and Moroccans don´t seem to take any notice of the changed conditions hence LOTS of accidents.) The bike failed again. Eventually started it again after disconnecting the battery and drove back up to Ceuta and Spain. When I got to the dealer´s this morning he told me that he won´t even look at it until tomorrow AM because he´s busy. BMW Assist & I told him 24 hours in advance I was coming back. Then he has to get the part (he maintains it´s the computer itself) and can´t fit it until Tuesday or Wednesday. I pointed out that my Moroccan trip was going down the swanee due to his refusal to look past the end of his nose (I was more polite than that) to no avail. After trying to hook up with a friend who lives out on the Costa without success I decided to cut my losses and head for home and a (much needed) change of clothes. A letter to BMW will be in the post tomorrow afternoon

 

[Tim Cullis]

Very sorry to hear of your woes, Philippe. I can only imagine how exasperating it is. I wonder how useful the BMW dealer in Casa would have been in these circumstances.

John: do you have much time left in Morocco? Where are you now?

Tim

 

[ballistic]

Had the same problem with my new GSA last Easter Sunday in Connemara, as far away from civilisation as you could possibly get... in Ireland, at any rate.
I knew immediately what it was, as I'd had the same problem on my previous 'basic' 1200, leaving it overnight seems to do the trick, but that's no good when you're stopping for lunch, petrol etc.
The way I got round it was by stopping the bike by putting the side stand down whilst still in gear. Pressing the indicator cancel button for 5 seconds, followed by the right indicator button for a few seconds, switched off the low beam, saving the battery whilst parked up. Obviously, you have to leave the key in the ignition, so you can't wander off out of sight of the bike.
I'm calling BMW Assist now I'm home and have them take the bike away and sort it.
Buggers your holiday up, doesn't it?

 

[Gaulois]

Very sorry to hear of your woes, Philippe. I can only imagine how exasperating it is. I wonder how useful the BMW dealer in Casa would have been in these circumstances.

We did consider trying the dealer in Casa but decided against it as we couldn't be certain he could/would take on the bike (we couldn't call him as it was the weekend) and we thought the part would either be at or get to a Spanish dealer faster. If there's a next time I'll rely on the Moroccan's 'can do' attitude.

btw dealer was democratic. An English bloke on a GSA which he keeps in Spain arrived having booked a 6000 mile service. He was 30 minutes late due to his flight being delayed and they told him he'd' missed his appointment' and that they wouldn't service the bike!