Help - front brake pressure too high - RED WARNING flashing BRAKE FAILURE

[Pukmeister]

Even if you could buy and fit your own ServoABS unit, I suspect you would need a GT1 computer to do all the electronic tests required once installed, and only a BMW dealer has one of these (and they are definitely not for sale to the general public).

 

[turtleossie]

If I were you I'd take to a BMW main dealer and get the codes read off by the computer - it should cost you no more than an hours labour - then you'll know for sure if this is your problem ... or if it's something much much cheaper.

I'm told the other common issue with these ABS units is that a cable harness just under front seat/tank area gets rubbed - a wire fails and fools the system into an ABS fault - remake the wire and all is good again!

If the dealer confirms it is the ABS modulator then ask them for financial assistance etc - they apply for this via the BMW (internal) website and should be able to give you an answer there and then ...... unless of course the dealer has recently had a full frontal labotomy (like the first I tried) if you have full dealer service history, the bike is well maintained and average to low mileage for its age - you may stand a chance. Don't take no as your first answer - try another dealer .....

Good luck.

For what it's worth - next time mine goes - and if BMW don't fit for free again ..... I'll be removing the modulator and taping over the two warning lights on the dash!

 

[haydw]

The part numbers for the servo are common across the whole r1200 and k1200 range. Only trouble is when first fitted they are programmed from the bike ecu. If you go 2nd hand you cannot get one that is from another model, only a gs. I (and RGM) fell foul of that one.

 

[mark-a]

Commiserations to all who have had - and those who may have experience of this problem, it is probably more common than it seems, I had exactly this with my 52reg K1200GT,
It was dealt with in the same way as the first dealer, ie tough titty, gis loadsa dosh and we'll fix it for you, went through all the possibles in this post, mostly from initiative and word of mouth. All the above are possible causes for anyone who gets this problem.
In my case I got a reasonable deal trading it in for an 08 1200GS - no servos!!!
One extra thing with mine, if I used the rear brake and the servo became permanently 'on', the disc got very hot, obviously the brake was half on. BMW tried the brake fluid replacement and filter clean and it was ok - at first, then reappeared half way from Newcastle to Edinburgh, at Alnwick 11pm on a cold night...beastly.
One way of dealing with the nightmare of - will my servos be on or off when I brake? - was to not touch the rear brake - servos always off and leave the brakes in 'emergency non-servo mode', at least it was predictable, if required in an emergency you could touch the rear brake thus initiating the servo assist. I would never condone riding the bike like this apart from in an 'oh shit I'm in the middle of nowhere' scenario.
Good fortune to all with servo assisted brake systems -
Kind Regards everyone

 

[BlueBird]

I have just had all this rigmarole.
iT JUST FCUKRD UP MY HOLIDAY TO sCOTLAND

eventualy i took it to Bristol motoradd and they plugged it in and cleared the fault............for now.

BIG SHOUT FOR BRISTOL MOTORADD

Mike tryed to get me a goodwill claim but as my bike has 65k up it and no service history it was rejected,I will strip the abs off when/if it goes again,I would like to retain the abs but people are having non servo abs pumps going as well.

Bristol motoradd has done 3 the past week alone and Mike Pearce is doing a few aswell.