Melted instrument housing

[GavinBucke]

I have a 08 R1200GS with an Adventure screen. After filling up with fuel yesterday I noticed that the top of the black plastic housing above the rev counter had a vertical line melted into it. As far as I can tell there are no wires directly behind the rev counter that could have shorted and heated up. After parking the bike outside in the sun I could see a line of sunlight focused onto the instrument housing from the top rim of the Adventure screen. Has something similar happened to anyone. For a bike that has been designed to go around the world in much harsher conditions than those found in SA this seems odd.

Regards
Gavin Buckle

 

[Rushy]

Sorry Gavin, it doesn't get that sunny here in the UK

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Feck me, it's a bit tough blaming BuMW for the strength of the sun

Park it in the shade

 

[SeanC]

Hasn't happened on mine!And we are closer to the Equator than you!!
Maybe some kid was passing by with a magnifying glass......

 

[Powerful Pierre]

You are not alone ! Just to prove that it does get hot enough in the UK to make these bikes melt I attach some pics of my 08GSA . It seems that every time I look at it a bit more of the cover has melted . I can only assume like you that it must be heat due to refraction on the screen edge . Didn't have this problem on my 06GSA or 04GS so I suppose the current instrument housings must be made of chocolate or something similar ! Now I know its not just me I'll query it with the dealer and see what BMW are going to do about it . B*gger all would be my guess . Don't remember seeing a "don't leave in direct sunlight " warning in the handbook .

 

[rc mad]

i think i remember something similar happening to a GS in the states, try over on advrider

Found it, it's here

 

[theop]

I have a 08 R1200GS with an Adventure screen. After filling up with fuel yesterday I noticed that the top of the black plastic housing above the rev counter had a vertical line melted into it. As far as I can tell there are no wires directly behind the rev counter that could have shorted and heated up. After parking the bike outside in the sun I could see a line of sunlight focused onto the instrument housing from the top rim of the Adventure screen. Has something similar happened to anyone. For a bike that has been designed to go around the world in much harsher conditions than those found in SA this seems odd.

Regards
Gavin Buckle

presto! bad design= at certain agles sunrays concentrate on plastic stuff around the place and set fires... The OE standard low screen on regular bikes doesn't do it... GSA, well its a problem highlighted in a couple of greek bike touring forums too.... ntg to worry abt, leave as is and try to park under shades or other angles.

As far as the bike designed to go around the world blah blah, then that will def not be yours mate! nuff time to trade in.... what you need is a HONDA! They used to make this particular twin 750.... has the word Africa in it...

OR: you need the 90s 1100 GS or later but GSA 1150.

Unfortunately for all of us, the 1200 bikes for all the praise (they are better to ride than all options above, and probably than all options of a trailee pedigree currently on sale full stop)

However they are unreliable and fragile... Not just worse than old tough as boots BM standards, but worse than most things this side of Ducati and other Italian exotica... Now you wouldn't take a Multistrada in Africa would you? Cause it will break down...

 

[GavinBucke]

At least I know now that I'm not alone!

 

[theop]

Feck me, it's a bit tough blaming BuMW for the strength of the sun

Park it in the shade

disagree Sgt! Its bad design mate, the fact that the sun rays get magnified through the screen.... Sh*te and poor design from BM yet again

Thats what sales and profitability make... Those bike are just not worth 12k, they should be selling them for 8k or frigging make them to their old over engineering standards....

I strongly believe BM is going through a phase of budget engineering like Mercedes cars did 10 years ao when standards went south.... I am worried.. very worried as their cars shoe similar non-BMWness too....

Rented a budget (literally) 1 series 118d the other day in Italy... OH dear... plastics and cabin quality was VW Golf Mk2 1989.... Should not be allowed to be that cr@p even at you lowest product in the range

 

[Tim Cullis]

There was a Spanish guy who warned about this. It's happened in a minor way on my 1200GSA, probably with the African sun.

 

[Horse1200]

Mine as well.

Hi Gavin, i have a `08 GSA, and spotted the same lines when i filled with fuel, first i thought i was going mad, and they were supossed to be there. Now i know im not going mad. I wonder what BMW will say, im going to take this up with them. P*~s Poor build i think is the term i will be using.

 

[Rushy]

Sorry Gavin, it doesn't get that sunny here in the North of the UK

Revised my statement .

 

[WindyChuffer]

Feck me, it's a bit tough blaming BuMW for the strength of the sun

Park it in the shade

Thats an odd thing to say.

Having a bike melt in the sun is not really on. I guess the screen could act as a magnifying glass. Deffo design fault.

Or should there be a statement in the handbook "Warning: Do not park this bike in the sun as parts of it may melt" ??

 

[Doofus]

I have a Vespa scooter with an OEM retro-fit screen. The screen itself has a sticker warning against bright sunshine focussing onto the instruments. In the case of the Vespa the problem is with reflection, so it warns against parking with the sun directly behind you.

For the GSA I guess it seems you need to avoid parking facing the sun.

 

[Aggy]

So, we can't park them in the sun becuase they melt, we can't ride too long in the wet because the electrics short out, we can't ride off road because bits of gravel get stuck and stop minor things like brakes working, we can't leave them ticking over at a stand still because they over heat.......... FFS they even have to be pushed on to the back of the break down lorry!!!

So, when can we ride them? I'm going to try and book a 20 minute slot sometime in May 2011

 

[BiG DoM]

I had this happen on my 06 ADV and also thought at first it was a cigarette burn or some thing??? But yes indeed is the sun refracting through the screen. I fixed mine by fitting a sexy Wunderlich annodosed instrument cowl
I subsequently reported in on Advrider (do a search and should find reports) where there were also sceptics but eventually there was agreement that it happens...obviously more prevalent where there is less SAD syndrome Some have reported that BMW have replaced it under warranty.

 

[Gavin Buckle]

Sad Syndrome?

 

[Tim Cullis]

Seasonal Affective Disorder, aka winter blues.

Or Churchill's 'Black Dog' (also Australian slang).