Losing the Faith !!

[ajtuk]

IN 2006 I bought a new BMW K1200r after 3 Electronic breakdowns and 1000miles I sold it as I didn't feel I could trust it to take me anywhere.

I bought a new BMW Adventure at the end of 2007 and then due to a back injury didnt ride it in 2008, so roll on to today I've ridden it 283 miles this year. I started it and moved it out of the garage went to restart it and it wont start and has broken down with the EWS illuminated. Its been pushed back into the garage and Ill deal it with it tomorrow.This is enough to make me want to get rid of it as Im starting to feel BMW can't make a decent bike.

I am fortunate enough to own other bikes and I havent experienced these reliability issues with other brands what is going on with BMW or am I just jinxed !

 

[Twotter]

You're jinxed!

 

[Timolgra]

There'll be plenty of owners jumping to the defence of new BMWs ( but then you would if you'd just spent £12k on one).
The EWS is a known fault and replacements apparantly don't fail..of course that's no help today!

BMW did make a good reliable bike, then replaced it

 

[ajtuk]

DO you know what has triggered this fault, what does it mean ?

 

[motoreiter]

...didnt ride it in 2008, so roll on to today I've ridden it 283 miles this year. I started it and moved it out of the garage went to restart it and it wont start and has broken down with the EWS illuminated.

Well it sucks you're having these problems, but if you didn't ride it for more than a year it's not really that surprising...sounds like your EWS ring might need to be swapped out (BMW recall) or maybe your battery is fried (lots of battery issues with these bikes). Lots of posts on both issues here and on ADVRider.

But don't give up on it yet, lots of us have had no problems and think the bikes are great! Good luck getting it fixed, and hope you have a great riding season.

 

[Pukmeister]

DO you know what has triggered this fault, what does it mean ?

Theres an electronic 'antenna' ring fitted around the ignition switch which talks to the ignition key, it's part of the bikes clever immobiliser system. Some bikes were fitted with a batch of unreliable components and these are now being replaced by dealers as a 'campaign'. If you phone your dealer they might be able to send someone out to fix it, or recover the bike to the dealership to do the same. The new part number is 61 35 7 705 247

As you haven't ridden your bike, the battery voltage is probably low, this could also be the cause of the electronics getting confused, hence the EWS (Immobiliser) warning. If you recharge the battery, it may clear the fault.

Only have one ignition key on the key fob as two keys in close proximity to the antenna can cause the EWS system to have a problem deciding why there are two keys in/near the ignition and hence play it safe and immobilise the ignition circuit.

If you aren't using the bike for a few weeks you must use a trickle charger to maintain the battery. It says as much in the owners manual, the bikes electronics, real-time clock etc drain the battery over time.

 

[ajtuk]

Thanks for all the help everyone, the bike has had the BMW can-bus charger in it all the time its been sitting so shouldn't be any battery issues, but ill get it recovered tomorrow and let the forum know the outcome.

Thanks again

 

[ajtuk]

Ok , BMW sent a tech out to look at it who confirmed the antenna ring had gone and that it was a well known fault on 2007 bikes but apparently not as common as the fuel pump controller which is very common.

The bike then collected no quibble and took it to the local dealers, there is a recall "campaign" item to change out the Key antenna on my bike in any event and hopefully will get it back soon.

 

[Wapping]

Ok , BMW sent a tech out to look at it who confirmed the antenna ring had gone and that it was a well known fault on 2007 bikes but apparently not as common as the fuel pump controller which is very common.

The bike then collected no quibble and took it to the local dealers, there is a recall "campaign" item to change out the Key antenna on my bike in any event and hopefully will get it back soon.

Then that will probably be the end of your problem. If it's any comfort my 'Super reliable, finely built' Honda Blackbird lost all its electronics. There was a fault with a batch of early Fi models, with water getting in.

I had two separate recalls on my FireBlade. I forget how many problems there were with the new Pan (engine lugs, overheating......??).

 

[Dicko]

Losing the faith too...

I think I'm losing the faith too. Just to say, I'm not normally a whinger and have taken all the previous threads of people complaining with a pinch of salt but everyone has their breaking point...

I've had two BMWs in the last 10 years or so.

The first was an R1100GS. I had this for about 7 years. During that time, the firnal drive failed once, replaced by a spare one I happened to have in the garage .

After about 85K miles the gearbox bearing failed and I got a new box fitted.

Apart from that it was just regular servicing @ Prestige.

Got an R1200GSA in 06. Now done about 18K.

Currently being repaired after FPC and final drive oil seal failure. Dealer has also found that both the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder are weeping and need to be replaced.

At the 12K service, the front gearbox oil seal was found to be leaking and was replaced (along with the clutch under warranty).

Shortly after that one of the centre stand bolts broke. Whilst that was being replaced they noticed that the rear gearbox oil seal was now leaking and that was replaced too. Again under warranty.

Add to that the new rear disk due to the pads wearing on in bu**er all time and it makes for a very expensive bike to run.

It seems that every time I put it in for a service it's never just a service. There's always an additional £500 of work needed.

Could it be the dealer? I understand they are owned by BMW themselves. Could that make them a lot better at spotting problems?

I don't think my next bike will be a BMW... Don't know what it will be though.

R.

 

[John Armstrong]

For some it seems that FD's and gearbox seals are consumable items

If you're one of those part ex the bike and hope the new one is better at least you'll have 2 years of warranty to see if it is. And if the rumours of the 1300GS are to be believed, then a late 1200 should have had all its beta testing done by now.

 

[Taff]

... BMW did make a good reliable bike, then replaced it.

Exactly.

What's that saying "If it ain't broken - don't fix it".

 

[original_concept]

Luddites....