Help needed: repair to ignition and antenna wiring

Zimboy

Zimboy

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Following some t**t's much appreciated attempt to hotwire my 1200GS, I have a technical question to ask about the cables to the ignition and EWS.

The ignition cable (red and green) and EWS cable (blue, yellow-white, yellow-brown and green-brown) were pulled out of the socket and various attempts made to short and start.

I've managed to piece together the ignition cable and plug, so the bike powers up with the key but with the inevitable EWS. The 4 pin plug is stuffed however with no chance of repair. After visits to AJ in Shipley, various bike shops, Motor Works, Motobins, Maplin and RS Electronics, eBay for a replacement harness, as well as a Google search on the plug, there is no replacement to be found on the planet. Looks like a Tyco, but smaller than any on RS Electronics catalogue.

AJ will sell me the entire harness new for £600 - for the sake of a 50p socket FFS. My last option is a bad one - chop away at the EWS and solder the wires directly onto the pins. For various reasons this is absolutely the last resort.

Has anyone any suggestions or solutions for this nasty little plug? And when/if I manage to sort it, what are the chances I will haver to tow the thing in for the EWS anyway?
 
i think there is a complete harness on evil bay at the mo for 99 squid.
 
I think you'll find that the plugs and sockets are BMW proprietary.

However I am sure the dealer will be able to supply some spares to repair damage such as this (without having to replace a complete harness).

Fekkin thick scrotes for thinking they can hot wire a modern vehicle.... Oh well, if they had brains I guess they'd be flipping burgers in McDonalds.
 
The dealer looked at a diagram that was the same as on the realoem site and reckoned they were the wrong items. Harnesses apparently change by year and if there is ESA, ABS etc attached.

I saw the harness on the bay, and contacted the seller about my predicament. It seems such a waste to pay £99 for a whole harness just to hack a part, especially when I'm not sure the connectors are the same (mine is 2009).

I'm starting to feel the plugs are proprietary. That's quite annoying of BMW, especially when one realises how vulnerable that wire is on the bike. Seems so eco-friendly to design a part to be scrapped if it sustains the slightest damage.

On an aside, it seems the modus operandi is to yank out cable, see if the bike powers up, then go for the steering lock, then do the ground anchor and chain. So the expensive damage is done in the first seconds and they don't have to put in lots of effort before finding out whether it works. Bast**ds.
 
If they've shorted the red & green wires together then you will need a new engine ecu. Everyone I've seen has blown this unit. You can buy the repair plugs for the wiring harness that go to the ring antenna and the ignition switch. But you will need a new ecu because it will still display EWS and won't start
 
Hmm, worrying to end up forking out that much cash when a simple exposed wire is cut. I'm going to go back to AJ and badger Michael to help me out.

Maybe I need to trade it in - a good clean 1980's R is starting to sound a much better proposition.
 
PS I think Rainbow carry the plugs to repair your harness. Give Tony( in parts dept) a bell tomorrow
 
Cheers and thanks for the advice. Rainbow was helpful on the phone, and pass on the news for anyone else in this position...

Rob in service at Rainbow says yes, they do a repair kit for £35 plus similar in labour. (Apparently all BMW dealers have this available). The two catches are that they cannot sell these over the counter - customer must take the bike in - and the ECU may be fried if contacts are shorted and this will cost upwards of an eye watering £500....

...so let's see what the verdict is before I start lobbing any brick-shaped design 'awards' through BMW's front window.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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