Loom failure

[ajr2007]

I have a problem with the loom on a 2006 GS1200, the loom has burnt out and requires replacement, BMW blame the after market alarm the alarm people say cannot be the alarm as power consumption on the alarm is below the rating of the wires. They also query why if the alarm was the problem did it take 3 months for the loom to fail. THe alarm guy maintains he follows the recommended installation procedure as set out by Meta for connection to a GS. Has anyone heard of a loom failure on a GS. Replacement cost £1000 ..... ouch

 

[jeff]

loom failure

had same prob with a 2005 K. Fault was alarm shorting to earth. For the loom to short out there must be a short to earth. Alarm people are giving you a load of bollocks. The load of the alarm is irrelevant if there is an earth fault. bmw

Not saying it is the alarm. Very difficult to prove anything when the loom is frazzled. BMW eventually supplied loom and I had to pay for labour. Cant remember labour cost but it was in the hundreds

 

[patzx12]

Its a brave man that would tap into a BMW Canbus system for the sake of having an aftermarket alarm, the bike already has an immobiliser so its best left alone, a big lock is a better option.
Good luck with the repair but I would sympathise with BMW when they say they are not responsible.
I am sure I have a complete loom for a 06 bike, let me know if you are interested and I will have a look and see if its undamaged.

 

[Tony Summers]

I've had two BM's catch fire.

The first an R1100R which was attributed to the left hand switch gear.

The second was my F650 Dakar (still own this), the loom rubs the back of the spring pre-load adjuster. Known fault NOW!

I think there loom work is poor.

 

[Sprocket]

Same for me. 2005 R1200GS 30 months old, whole loom replaced. Out of warranty so goodwill and a labour contribution of around £200 if I remember correctly. No reason given for it failing.

 

[rick]

Same here. 2005 GS, just under 4 years old at the time, with 45K up. FSH, but out of warranty.

The loom shorted out to the frame under the tank in the wires feeding the ABS unit.

Similar deal to Sprocket, BMW supplied the loom and I had to pay for the labour. Not poarticularly impressed as I feel that a loom failing is due to poor quality control at the factory and that therefore BMW should pay the full cost of repairs.

I think second hand looms can be picked up for around £200.

Best of luck.

 

[TeaPig]

Once upon a time vehicles were fitted with simple fuses that went pop to prevent such things.. progress eh?

 

[ajr2007]

Its a brave man that would tap into a BMW Canbus system for the sake of having an aftermarket alarm, the bike already has an immobiliser so its best left alone, a big lock is a better option.
Good luck with the repair but I would sympathise with BMW when they say they are not responsible.
I am sure I have a complete loom for a 06 bike, let me know if you are interested and I will have a look and see if its undamaged.

Unfirtuneatly it was a requirement of the insurance company for a Category 1 alarm, a criteria which BMW own ones do meet, was assured (?????) by alarm guy that there would be no problems.......... life is always better with hindsight, still wonder why it has taken 3 months to fail....... as you have guessed I am not a techy person.

 

[Wapping]

Unless you have extended it, an 06 bike is way out of the OM warranty. I am surprised that BuMW are even discussing it with you.... other than to sell you fresh one.

You have no specific way of knowing if it was the after market alarm that shorted or something else, unless you can find the point where the failure occurred and why. Even then you may be in frank discussions with the alarm people and / or BuMW.

Part of me hopes that you CAN prove it is the alarm, as it was fitted reasonably recently and you MAY be able to build a case. Four years since BuMW fitted the loom at the factory and two years since the OM warranty expired.... less promising. Naturally the alarm fitter will claim they did it properly.... why not, I would

That a correctly functioning alarm draws less than the standard Canbus trip point of 5 amps is irrelevant. Depending on how the alarm was wired in (and the nature of the short) it may have been drawing the battery's or the alternator's full output.......

A four year old bike (if second hand) can have all sorts of previous owners' 'improvements'. Or even simple nicks in the loom.... even with a single owner from new.... Good luck

=====

When you say the loom has burnt out, what do you mean exactly? The whole lot is a charred mess? Just a bit of it? The ECU etc are gone? the bike just does no go?

 

[Kremmen]

When you say the loom has burnt out, what do you mean exactly? The whole lot is a charred mess? Just a bit of it? The ECU etc are gone? the bike just does no go?

Very good question... if there is only minimal damage & your "claim" to BM is unsuccessful, there are numerous bike sparks out there who would be able to make you a new one in their sleep
Had a loom make for my old XJ 900 for just over £250

 

[patzx12]

There is a vast devide between a BMW Canbus harness and a XJ900

 

[madmax]

How about trying one of the BMW breakers like Motorworks for a second hand loom, got to be worth a phone call.

 

[Kremmen]

There is a vast devide between a BMW Canbus harness and a XJ900

You are quite correct, but at the end of the day if you find a sparky worth his salt it doesn't really matter if it has a loom of 50 wires or a can bus with two.

My point was that you will probably get a better deal by getting one made for you than a genuine loom... but as stated earlier it could depend on the extent of the damage.

As another example an engine bay loom for one of my FM Volvo trucks (which has been can bus since 04) costs £750 genuine. My local auto electrician make them for me for under £300

The old adage ring true here...if you don't ask then you'll never know.

 

[ajr2007]

If someone can advise how to incoude pictures in the post I have some lovely ones of a 2006 loom

 

[jeff]

Once upon a time vehicles were fitted with simple fuses that went pop to prevent such things.. progress eh?

My K was pre canbus. Watched the loom smoke itself to death before I could get to battery to disconnect. Said same thing about fuses to auto-electrician. He explained that the fuses are to protect the loom against faulty appliances( his word not mine). If the loom has a fault there is nothing to protect it (although the fuses do protect the appliances from damage usually)

 

[Myke Rocks]

It's easy

If someone can advise how to incoude pictures in the post I have some lovely ones of a 2006 loom

The site owner (Paul) has a very large yecht, helicopter and private train to support, so attachments are only permitted after you give him a whole £12 for a year's subscription. (He takes paypal)

You also get to put up an avitar & can receive private messages.

It's as easy as that.

Myke

 

[ajr2007]

Just paid the bill for the repair, bie back tomorrow, lets hope for a trouble free (or relatively at least) riding career on the GS ..... £1100 but the way , for diagnosis, and to replace the loom.... but at least its guaranteed for 2 years..... thanks for all your answers they have been great....

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

There is a vast devide between a BMW Canbus harness and a XJ900

No there isnt, wires are wires. The only major difference between an old bike and a modern one in this case is the ZF unit that replaces a fuse/relay box. A wire still goes from one connection on the ZF/fusebox to say the headlight. An auto spark who is any good wouldn't have a problem with either system so long as he has a wiring/pin out diagram.