If you are ordering a new bike then........

[Andy B]

Our old friend the Ring Antenna has just blown on my 12 week old 1200GSA. Fortunately it happened at home, and the inconvenience was kept to a minimum.

Anyhow, something for people who have ordered or are planning to order a new bike. check this with your dealer. The instance of failed Ring Antennas on 2008 bikes is particularly bad although the problem goes back to, and is not uncommon on 2004 onwards bikes. For some reason GS's and GSA's have been particularly badly affected, but it is not confined to these models alone.

In the first week of May this year BMW introduced what the dealers have described as the ultimate fix for this problem, but it is perhaps a little early to see whether they are right.

There is a simple way of checking whether your new bike has the upgrade or not - the last three digits of the new part are 247. INSIST your bike comes with this upgraded part.

If you don't know what a Ring Antenna is (I didn't until Saturday afternoon!) search this forum and see just how many people have been caught out by it. I would argue it as far as BMW supplying bikes not of merchantable quality when it has been well aware of this problem for 4 years.

 

[tonedef]

I'll be able to see what they fit to the latest bike in just over two weeks time. Mine was delivered to UK on Thursday but is still boxed up in a Leeds warehouse because I'm stuck in Saudi until 19th June.

 

[Big Nick]

Thanks for the heads up as my new GSA is due on 1st July

I'll ask the dealer but I'm sure they'll tell me it has even if it hasn't

 

[kindofblue]

Thanks for the heads up as my new GSA is due on 1st July

I'll ask the dealer but I'm sure they'll tell me it has even if it hasn't

Nick, I believe you can verify this yourself. There's a small plate covering the part number that comes off with a small flat blade screwdriver. 247. Don't leave home without it.

 

[scopevale]

Excuse my ignorance, but WTF is a Ring Antenna?

It sounds like some form of Gaydar - will I need it when I meet other UKGSERs?

 

[Andy B]

It is the 'thing' where the ignition key goes in! Black and circular where the key is, and then if you look below it between the ignition socket and the instrument binnacle you'll see a squarish black box (bit smaller than a match box). When you put the key in the ignition it reads the chip in the key and talks to the engine management system/immobiliser to tell it that you have used the right key for the right bike, and the immobiliser will then let the engine start.

If it breaks, you get a readout on the dash saying 'EWS!'. The bike won't start at all.

Apparently, I've been told today that BMW has instruicted all dealers to include the upgrade as part of the PDI on new bikes.

The way to recognise whether you've got the latest part is around the black plastic rim of the ignition socket it will say 'Ignition'. Only the new part has this on.

 

[scopevale]

Thanks very much Andy I'll be sure to check with the dealer on Saturday when I do the paperwork

 

[Ruadh08]

Just checked mine, delivered last week, and it has the wording "ignition" on it so I presume it is OK. Will check with the dealer when it goes in for its 600 service. Thanks for the info!!

 

[Andy B]

I think you're okay.

When I was told this was the way to recognise the new part, I had a quick look on a few bikes at the dealers, and certainly, the majority (older bikes) had no 'ignition' written on the barrel, whereas the replacement part on my bike clearly has it.

Good luck!

 

[LoneTiger]

It is the 'thing' where the ignition key goes in! Black and circular where the key is, and then if you look below it between the ignition socket and the instrument binnacle you'll see a squarish black box (bit smaller than a match box). When you put the key in the ignition it reads the chip in the key and talks to the engine management system/immobiliser to tell it that you have used the right key for the right bike, and the immobiliser will then let the engine start.

If it breaks, you get a readout on the dash saying 'EWS!'. The bike won't start at all.

Apparently, I've been told today that BMW has instruicted all dealers to include the upgrade as part of the PDI on new bikes.

The way to recognise whether you've got the latest part is around the black plastic rim of the ignition socket it will say 'Ignition'. Only the new part has this on.

Photo pls

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

Ring ring

Just checked mine, delivered last week, and it has the wording "ignition" on it so I presume it is OK

'ignition' written on the barrel, whereas the replacement part on my bike clearly has it.

Mines has ignition on the outer ring but it does NOT have the new part number.
This is on a march 08 gsa.

 

[garbo2]

thanks

Thanks for the heads up, mine is delivered to rainbow on tuesday hope to pick it up on friday or saturday ,wish bmw tekky was here to wish me wellgarbo

 

[Deleted account 210516001]

Mines has ignition on the outer ring but it does NOT have the new part number.
This is on a march 08 gsa.

Just picked up my new 08 GSA mid June. Still with the 121 part number.

Any idea what the response of the dealer will be if I ask for a change at the 600 mile service. I see there is a list of GS Chassis numbers to be replaced. What is the story with GSAs?

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Are you sure that 121 in the FCC ID is the part number? Mine is brand new and confirmed with the dealer (who I trust) as having the new part. But it has the same FCC ID/IC as above.

 

[wilbjr21]

In my line of work (Telecoms) FCC means the American "Federal Communications Commission" which is a bit like our Ofcom.

May mean that any radiation from the aerial conforms, and has been tested to a certain standard and this number is the cetificate. The other number looks more like a BMW part number.

 

[John Armstrong]

Are you sure that 121 in the FCC ID is the part number? Mine is brand new and confirmed with the dealer (who I trust) as having the new part. But it has the same FCC ID/IC as above.

I bought a "spare" one in April this year and it has exactly the same markings as the one in the photo, including "ignition" on the top

BTW the top number ending in 136 is I guess the part number as it's mentioned on the box and the ring antenna

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Just had another look - I think, as John says, the TOP number is the part number. Mine ends 247 -01.

 

[twisticles]

I know this is a 1200 thread, but for info, my 800GS has ignition on the barrel. We haven't seen loads of 800s die from EWS yet.

 

[John Armstrong]

I know this is a 1200 thread, but for info, my 800GS has ignition on the barrel. We haven't seen loads of 800s die from EWS yet.

How many 800's are around, compared to 1200's

 

[Andy B]

Well that's another bit of duff advice from my dealer!

The one thing I do know is that the top number is the part number, and that the new ring antenna finishes 247.

If anyone collects a new bike with anything other than 247 at the end of the part number I would insist it is changed. There has to be a question over merchantable quality, especially as BMW has done a recall to replace it.

Based on what seems to be the failure rate on 08 bikes I would not wait for the 600 mile service either. I'd do it straight away.