Multifunction display fault.

[Alcat]

Have any other owners experienced their LCD display coming up black when the ignition is switched on, and gradually coming up to full brightness after the engine has been running for a few minutes?
I pointed this out when the bike was at my dealers for its 12000 miles service, and was told the display was not repairable and a complete new instrument panel would have to be fitted, at a cost to me of £500 as the bike was two weeks out of its warranty.. I was not amused as the fault had started at least a month before, but I chose to leave it till the service, thinking it would be fixed by software..
The matter is with BMW at present.
But what interests me is that a few days later when I went to start the bike I found the battery was flat. This has never happened before with this bike. I put my Optimate to use for 24 hours, and when I started it the next day, lo, the display came up as normal! Are my dealers barking up the wrong tree, is this a battery/charging fault?

 

[Dinger]

May be an intermittent fault with the display.


OK peeps this would be a good point to talk about the sale of goods act with respect to motors. If you buy, say, a washing machine from Curry's and it chucks its hand in after about eighteen months you are still covered under the SOG act, because the item should reasonably be expected to last for longer than that. The difference between this and the warranty is that under SOG your beef is with Curry's rather than the manufacturer.
Does the same apply to vehicles?

 

[Malcvtr]

Definitely, mate. See below:

CAR PURCHASE (from a dealer)

If you buy a car from a motor dealer you enter into a legally binding contract governed by the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended by the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994 and the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002). When you buy from a motor trader you have the right to expect the car to be:


* of satisfactory quality
* fit for its purpose, including any special purpose made known to the seller
* as described

If you have bought a car from a trader which turns out to be faulty or which you think has been misdescribed, you need to take action straight away.

The Sale of Goods Act 1979 and the Consumer Credit Act 1974 say that if you can show the goods to be faulty or misdescribed, you have "for a short time after purchase" a right to reject the goods and get a refund of the purchase price.

You should contact Consumer Direct for advice. Telephone: 08454 04 05 06.

You may also want to contact Trading Standards for further advice.

If Consumer Direct or Trading Standards advise you that you have a strong case, you may need legal advice. For legal advice, you should start with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

 

[NeilG]

Have any other owners experienced their LCD display coming up black when the ignition is switched on, and gradually coming up to full brightness after the engine has been running for a few minutes?
I pointed this out when the bike was at my dealers for its 12000 miles service, and was told the display was not repairable and a complete new instrument panel would have to be fitted, at a cost to me of £500 as the bike was two weeks out of its warranty.. I was not amused as the fault had started at least a month before, but I chose to leave it till the service, thinking it would be fixed by software..
The matter is with BMW at present.
But what interests me is that a few days later when I went to start the bike I found the battery was flat. This has never happened before with this bike. I put my Optimate to use for 24 hours, and when I started it the next day, lo, the display came up as normal! Are my dealers barking up the wrong tree, is this a battery/charging fault?

Had exactly the same problem at about 1500 miles (new in Jul '04, now on 12.5k). Righted itself after a while (3k), returned briefly at about 6k, fine since. SLM (where bike was bought) continuously ignored the problem and made no attempt to rectify or explain.

Never found out what the problem was, but since the past 6k miles have been OK not too worried. Also have had plenty of charging / flat battery probs, now on 3rd battery. First flat was when the bike was three weeks old! Recent software updates allied to regular use of Optimate (connected across battery) have given eight months (since last battery change) of troublefree use and the latest battery seems to be holding charge OK.

Reckon the display fault was software related, definitely not hardware. Another CanBus mystery.

 

[Alcat]

Had exactly the same problem at about 1500 miles (new in Jul '04, now on 12.5k). Righted itself after a while (3k), returned briefly at about 6k, fine since. SLM (where bike was bought) continuously ignored the problem and made no attempt to rectify or explain.

Never found out what the problem was, but since the past 6k miles have been OK not too worried. Also have had plenty of charging / flat battery probs, now on 3rd battery. First flat was when the bike was three weeks old! Recent software updates allied to regular use of Optimate (connected across battery) have given eight months (since last battery change) of troublefree use and the latest battery seems to be holding charge OK.

Reckon the display fault was software related, definitely not hardware. Another CanBus mystery.

Thanks for that NeilG.
I'm inclined to think this display is very prone to voltage drop, a slightly sulphated battery might be the cause, once the alternator brings the voltage back up the display clears.
Makes you think though, my 26 year old Moto Guzzi is still plodding on with a battery of 1999 vintage.. Who says Italian electrics are suspect!

 

[Alcat]

As an update on this problem, today my dealership, Williams of Manchester, installed and programmed a brand new clock/display unit on my 04 GS12. And what an improvement, a bright and clear display! The unit differs slightly from my original, N instead of 0 for neutral, and a much crisper font.
BMW stood the cost of both parts and labour, which was a relief.
The battery proved to be a red herring..